Has anyone tried installing a small 'shark fin' type radio aerial on an Octavia in the place of the usual whip variety? Is it feasible?

Yea this guy has one fitted here

Yea this guy has one fitted here

Yeah - but does it work? Something about the laws of physics suggests it would be pretty useless on FM and totally useless on AM. Speaking from ignorance, I thought this type of aerial was used for 1800MHz mobile radio, not FM/AM.

These are standard fitment for BMW radios these days. I dont know how they work, but all the bm's that i have been in with them get good FM reception. dunno about AM.

A quick Google suggests the shark's fin is a GPS aerial and that the main aerial is in a BMW's bumper, which sounds a bit unlikely. On an old BMW 730 I had the aerial was integrated into the rear screen as part of the printed circuit for the demister - could it be the same today?

I have several relatives who have new ish bmws, none have gps or hands free kits, and still have the fin. I suppose it could be that its not used, but i always understood that it was for the radio.

But the BMW has it std fit. The one from the Octavia is a cheaper aftermartket one so chances are it is not as good. Also the car in question is the New Octavia (well it's in this section) and the other Octavia was the old shape. they may have different attachments for the aerial.

Check on www.uk-mkivs.net in the golf mk5 section and see if anyone has done it there as it wouldf have the same fitment.

Even if it is suitable (which I hope it is), how do you feel about removing & replacing the headlining.

Not a job for the faint hearted I guess !!!!

Even if it is suitable (which I hope it is)' date=' how do you feel about removing & replacing the headlining.

Not a job for the faint hearted I guess !!!![/quote']

Piece of cake Mr Steptoe. Did it when I fitted DAB to the Fabia while I had it with no problems.

Piece of cake Mr Steptoe. Did it when I fitted DAB to the Fabia while I had it with no problems.

roo ,,,,, I hate you!

I always thought newer BMWs and such used the rear window heating element as an aerial

I always thought newer BMWs and such used the rear window heating element as an aerial

Sure you're right and the shark's fin is either/or/and GPS/1800 MHz mobile. Anyone got proof otherwise?

I have next to no radio reception on my Octavia 2 since fitting a Kenwood head unit. The same head unit worked fine in my Megane, but is next to useless for radio in the Octavia. The ICE dealer fitted an aerial amp but it seems to do no good.

Their final suggestion for getting decent radio reception was to fit an amplified bee sting aerial as fitted to an old Golf GTI. Does this sound like a sensible suggestion? They will do it for free but I'm slightly scared of them messing up the head lining.

Any thoughts on this much appreciated.

I also think BMWs and some Audis use the heater elements as the radio antenna btw.

The shark fin aerial fitted to my car does have poor reception but i fitted it cos i like the look of them and as i don't listen to radio then i'm not bothered about reception problems:D

I have next to no radio reception on my Octavia 2 since fitting a Kenwood head unit.

Is the std aerial definitely plugged in correctly/fully ?

So I'm told. I have to go on what they tell me and they've already had it back once and checked the inline amp.

Thought the one in the OCty I/II was an amplified bee-string arial. It's just that the headunit provides power to it.

If anyone can find out how the power gets to the amplifier in the headunit I will happily make up a batch of adapters to power them from standard head units assuming it is possible.

If anyone can find out how the power gets to the amplifier in the headunit I will happily make up a batch of adapters to power them from standard head units assuming it is possible.

You might have a job competing...

http://www.justkenwood.co.uk/install/show_model.asp?id=241 for a manufacturer selling one

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=9724230941 for an ebay seller (first search I came to, not an endorsement)