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[Grizzly]

Has anyone installed one of the MoCo's new hidden antennas yet?  Is it any better than the rest?   

http://www.harley-davidson.com/gma/gma_product.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524448777097&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302491575&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302491575&locale=en_US&locale=en_US&bmUID=1306159390353&bmLocale=en_US

Just wondering how it compares to the Tune Trapper or Dakota Digital hidden antennas.

Thanks for your input.

[faceracer]

I tried the Tune Trapper on my 07 Street glide and it sucked. I have not tried the Dakota or the Harley. Now I wanted to share my research with you. I did a boat load of reading and found people who love both and hate both. I was puzzled and started looking a little deeper. What I found was that people who live in a metropolis area with lots of radio stations near by and generally good reception love them both. People who live in in rural area with poor reception hate them both. So if you have poor reception in your area already its only going to get worse with one of the hidden ant. I decided to leave the stock one and use my ipod 99.9% of the time. Good luck!!!!

[darth davidson]

I believe that is only for the bikes with  removable tour pak ?? 

[grc]

I believe that is only for the bikes with  removable tour pak ?? 

Nope, it fits all Touring models with a radio from 1998 to present, including trikes.  The blurb about the removable tour pak in the product description is just trying to point out a supposed advantage of not having to remove and remount the antenna each time you go from using the TP to running without it.

Faceracer is right on the money.  It will probably work fine in areas with excellent reception and strong stations, but it is unlikely to perform as well as a full size external antenna in fringe areas.


Jerry

[Booner]

I have a Dakota Digital and it works wonderful.

[StrokedRider]

Just wanted to add this food for thought.  DISCLAIMER: This comment is made for food for thought only. This is not a technical forum for Radio technology, i simply wanted to add to the basic understanding of why a person might choose a particular product based on performance over aesthetics.


Anytime you reduce collection capability you will in turn reduce the result. As we say in the Frequency Modulation world .... Garbage in, Garbage out!

RE: Loss of Signal
 You've probably noticed, particularly if you listen to FM radio on your bike, that eventually you will lose your signal. The simple reason for this is that the short wavelength of FM radio waves cause them to travel in straight lines. The earth, however, is curved. Therefore, as the earth curves, FM waves continue in a straight line into the atmosphere and are no longer receptible. The short waves are also affected by obstacles like mountains. Radio station strength also has an effect on reception hence, the Metro Vs. Rural debate. Your stock antenna is only a portion of the actual radio wave length which in turn is already less than fully effective as a whole. Reduce the length IE: half wave, quarter wave etc. and reduce the capability of the antenna to be efficient. More on the subject of antenna gain can be found everywhere on the web.

Thank you for you time. Brochures will be handed out at the door. 

[49445CVO]

I had one like it a few years back and it did not work that well. I can't remember where I bought it from.

[TwoToes]

Get XM and problem solved. The antenna is hidden and reception is across the entire country. On a rare occasion you loose the signal but it only lasts a few seconds and rarely happens.

[forlizrd]

I tried the HD hidden antenna and had them take it out the next day and went with the whip antenna.

[lv2ride56]

Got one through Kuryakyn. Does nearly as well as stock, even weather stations. If you listen to iPod 99.9% of the time you don't need an antennae at all so just figure out how much you really need one. Admittedly when I am in a fringe area youn may get nothing where with the stock unit you can get scratchy reception. With a quick detach on my Ultra Classic I can get radio all the time. I like.

[dadof2]

I tried the J&M and was very disappointed. I went to a local audio shop and got a Marine antenna. It worked much better, but still not as well as the whip. I eventually went back to the whip. It came down to how much I was willing to sacrifice when it came to reception.

If I were to go back to a hidden antenna it would be the marine one. It was an easier install also. The marine ant is about 1" square by about 4" long with no wires to wrap around top of fairings.