Hidden antenna kit, does anyone have one?
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I went ahead an ordered one, I get so tired of that ugly antenna and having to put it down at the car wash.
#5
Here ya go... Hidden Antenna Kit 1998 thru 2004 Jaguar XJ8 | eBay
I went ahead an ordered one, I get so tired of that ugly antenna and having to put it down at the car wash.
I went ahead an ordered one, I get so tired of that ugly antenna and having to put it down at the car wash.
Keep us posted on how this works out for you.
I pulled the fuse on my antenna.
Could Jaguar have made the stock antennas any longer?
These things are waaaaaay too big and ruin the looks of the car IMHO.
Stewart
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I received the piece, but I am out of town for a couple weeks. The device comes with an additional connector cable (coax connector type).
#9
#10
This link Hidden Antenna Kit - 1997 thru 2005 Jaguar XK8 shows an additional wire that apparently has female connectors on both ends to be used between the car's antenna cable and the hidden antenna cable. If this is the "coax" one mentioned above, this would be an easy install in the trunk.
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Ok, I finally made it back home....after install I found the FM signal to be pretty descent, I get all my local Orlando stations. The AM is kinda weak, because of the all steel body.
As for the antenna connectors, if you are using the direct connection to the head unit, you won't need the additional lead provided. If you are using the antenna in the trunk, then you will need the coax connector.
I couldn't find a reasonable location on the front wind screen for it to be camoflaged.
The best place I found to put the antenna is on the upper back window where the rear defroster blackout is. Put it to the right looking out away from the wire so as not to catch something on fire if you use the defroster. It is practically unoticeable there and looks like it belongs.
You then take the wire and fish it under the headliner to the passenger side pillar. Pull the cover back (not necessary to remove it completely) and using the top hole with the black round cover tape, its the largest. Then using a flexible thin rod of some type, you tape the antenna lead onto the rod and push it down inside the pillar hole. I do this for a living and the rod is called a 'green rod' or 'glow rod/stick', you can pick them up at Home Depot electrical.
So once you push the rod down it will bottom out. Go into the trunk and reach up the cavity behind the antenna and there will be a hole to the left and the rod should be there. Pull the wire and the rod down to the trunk and untape it and pull the rod back out.
Once the wire is pulled down (I left about 6" in the headliner) put the tape back around the pillar hole and reinstall the felt liner.
Now unplug the white antenna power lead and hook up your coax lead connectors. Using a red inline splice, connect the 22 guage wire from the lead to a hot wire. I used the brown/green wire. Once you do this and if you have the radio on you will instantly hear a difference from the amplified antenna being powered. If you hook this directly to the battery (not recommended), you may be charging it later if you don't drive it for a spell. You need a power source that shuts down after turning the car off. That's why I used the antenna wiring, it only comes on when the radio is on.
The pics match the process and I included a final pic that shows how well hidden it is where I recommended.
As for the antenna connectors, if you are using the direct connection to the head unit, you won't need the additional lead provided. If you are using the antenna in the trunk, then you will need the coax connector.
I couldn't find a reasonable location on the front wind screen for it to be camoflaged.
The best place I found to put the antenna is on the upper back window where the rear defroster blackout is. Put it to the right looking out away from the wire so as not to catch something on fire if you use the defroster. It is practically unoticeable there and looks like it belongs.
You then take the wire and fish it under the headliner to the passenger side pillar. Pull the cover back (not necessary to remove it completely) and using the top hole with the black round cover tape, its the largest. Then using a flexible thin rod of some type, you tape the antenna lead onto the rod and push it down inside the pillar hole. I do this for a living and the rod is called a 'green rod' or 'glow rod/stick', you can pick them up at Home Depot electrical.
So once you push the rod down it will bottom out. Go into the trunk and reach up the cavity behind the antenna and there will be a hole to the left and the rod should be there. Pull the wire and the rod down to the trunk and untape it and pull the rod back out.
Once the wire is pulled down (I left about 6" in the headliner) put the tape back around the pillar hole and reinstall the felt liner.
Now unplug the white antenna power lead and hook up your coax lead connectors. Using a red inline splice, connect the 22 guage wire from the lead to a hot wire. I used the brown/green wire. Once you do this and if you have the radio on you will instantly hear a difference from the amplified antenna being powered. If you hook this directly to the battery (not recommended), you may be charging it later if you don't drive it for a spell. You need a power source that shuts down after turning the car off. That's why I used the antenna wiring, it only comes on when the radio is on.
The pics match the process and I included a final pic that shows how well hidden it is where I recommended.
Last edited by Highhorse; 10-18-2013 at 04:23 PM.
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Platinum XJR (10-18-2013)
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