[acej80]

The antenna on my '10 Equinox is too long to fit in to my garage. I unscrewed the whip extension and it now fits fine.

I haven't noticed any degradation in fm/xm/gps/onstar functionality, so I'm curious what this antenna is actually for, anyone have insight?

Also, I do want to install a stubby antenna in it's place, but I'm not having much luck with my google searching in finding a replacement. Does anyone have information on what I need?

thanks!

 

[PA Dweller]

Yes that little whip antenna is just for the AM/FM radio, and possibly for the cellular feature of your On Star system. The base it connects to houses your GPS/Sat Radio antenna. May I make a recommendation? You might consider getting a Shark Fin Antenna. The ones made by Visual Garage have an antenna built into them so you do not lose your AM/FM signal strength compared to the OEM antenna. Plus recently they have come out with Shark Fin antenna's that actually fit over the base of antenna's like yours. Give them a call if your interested and they could probably find the right product to fit your needs. Good luck.

 

[acej80]

Thanks Dweller. I sent an email off to the company asking if they can make one for the Equinox. I'll let everyone know what I hear back.

 

[PA Dweller]

No problem Ace. I am eager to hear the response.

 

[acej80]

Quick update. I placed an order for shark fin antenna earlier this week. The company did not have specifications for the 2010 Equinox, so I sent them some photos and measurements to make sure their product would work. That took a few days to get sorted out. I'm now waiting for them to ship the unit, after painting. I'll post back again once I install the antenna and include a picture. cheers!

 

[PA Dweller]

Oh great, thanks for the update Ace.

 

[VALK83]

Quick update. I placed an order for shark fin antenna earlier this week. The company did not have specifications for the 2010 Equinox, so I sent them some photos and measurements to make sure their product would work. That took a few days to get sorted out. I'm now waiting for them to ship the unit, after painting. I'll post back again once I install the antenna and include a picture. cheers!

Yah post some pics I am curious to see if this is a DIY I want to do for my Equinox. Thanks for paving the way!

 

[87silver]

If you can update us with the FM performance of this product, it would be greatly appreciated. My experience with quarter wave antennas hasn't been exactly good, and these units may have a higher denominator in regard to its ratio to wavelength. Shark Fin may or may not have something interesting going on here, but I can't be sure. I prefer better radio performance than asthetics or shorter height if there is a tradeoff, which is the case with most fractional antennas.

If this unit proves to have BETTER reception than the stock unit, I may consider one as well. Thx

 

[acej80]

If you can update us with the FM performance of this product, it would be greatly appreciated. My experience with quarter wave antennas hasn't been exactly good, and these units may have a higher denominator in regard to its ratio to wavelength. Shark Fin may or may not have something interesting going on here, but I can't be sure. I prefer better radio performance than asthetics or shorter height if there is a tradeoff, which is the case with most fractional antennas.

If this unit proves to have BETTER reception than the stock unit, I may consider one as well. Thx

I'd been thinking how I could provide meaningful information for you, but I'm not coming up with anything. The day I brought my 'nox home, I removed the existing antenna whip, so I could fit the vehicle in my garage. I've not noticed any reduction in reception of FM or AM signals, going without "any antenna". Granted, I live less than 10 miles from the broadcast antennas for most stations I listen too. Soo, I'm not sure without taking a long drive (twice), how I could gauge performance. If you have any ideas, please let me know, and I'll give it a try.

 

[dwzemens]

My antenna hits my garage door, too. No big deal on the way in, because the antenna is naturally flexed toward the back of the car and it isn't forced too much. But backing out the door catches the antenna and forces it to "go against the grain", so to speak. I am disappointed that it catches like this and it can't be doing any good to the underlying mout.

I removed it today. My FM reception is still as it was, but I get basically no AM reception and I am in the middle of metro Detroit, so the signal is strong. I can live without AM. I suppose I should look into one of the aftermarket antennas.

 

[PA Dweller]

My antenna hits my garage door, too. No big deal on the way in, because the antenna is naturally flexed toward the back of the car and it isn't forced too much. But backing out the door catches the antenna and forces it to "go against the grain", so to speak. I am disappointed that it catches like this and it can't be doing any good to the underlying mout.

I removed it today. My FM reception is still as it was, but I get basically no AM reception and I am in the middle of metro Detroit, so the signal is strong. I can live without AM. I suppose I should look into one of the aftermarket antennas.

You might consider the shark fin antenna I recommended, I believe it can pick up both AM and FM. :yup:

 

[Eq2]

Just a bump and a comment;I saw my first Mocha Steel in person yesterday.Parked on the street,by the bay.A 2LT with the chrome package, the Mocha was even better looking than I had hoped...BUT,this is the fifth 2010 I've seen up close,including the four at a dealer's.And of the five, only one has had the full antenna.The one on the street did not.Is this an issue?

 

[acej80]

Maybe the owner of the one on the street has the same problem, and removed his antenna too?

Honestly, I can't comment for anyone else, just my own experience.


BTW: I received the shark-fin antenna this week, but won't have a chance to install it for at least another week.

 

[PA Dweller]

Maybe the owner of the one on the street has the same problem, and removed his antenna too?

Honestly, I can't comment for anyone else, just my own experience.


BTW: I received the shark-fin antenna this week, but won't have a chance to install it for at least another week.

Don't forget to upload some pictures when you get around to it. :yup:

 

[mot76]

I'm curious, too. My wife just purchased a Terrain and its antenna hits our garage door, too. I'm assuming it's the same one as the Equinox.

 

[PA Dweller]

I'm curious, too. My wife just purchased a Terrain and its antenna hits our garage door, too. I'm assuming it's the same one as the Equinox.

They're the same vehicles indeed.

 

[mot76]

They're the same vehicles indeed.

I know the vehicles are the same, it's the antenna that I was wondering if they're the same. The Terrain's antenna is located at the rear of the roof. I haven't noticed where the Nox's is located, though. I was assuming it's the same, but, you never know.
Thanks.

 

[PA Dweller]

I know the vehicles are the same, it's the antenna that I was wondering if they're the same. The Terrain's antenna is located at the rear of the roof. I haven't noticed where the Nox's is located, though. I was assuming it's the same, but, you never know.
Thanks.

They should be, I doubt GM would spend extra money on something so trivial to make them different. From the 2010 Equinox's I have seen on the streets their antenna's are in the back.

 

[acej80]

I know the vehicles are the same, it's the antenna that I was wondering if they're the same. The Terrain's antenna is located at the rear of the roof. I haven't noticed where the Nox's is located, though. I was assuming it's the same, but, you never know.
Thanks.

Yep, the 'nox antenna is in the middle rear of the roof.

 

[dwzemens]

I removed my roof antenna because it was hitting the garage door on the way out of the garage and bending something terribly "against the grain".

Aside from having poor AM reception, is there any reason to worry about rain infiltration or anything else because of the missing antenna?