[ARC5] BC sets and others

[Robert Eleazer]

"The short vertical antennas need a lot of RF gain."

True, and I read that in the cars of the 20's and 30's the top was often fabric.  The radio antenna was wire stitched into the fabric. 

And this brings up another question.  I believe that car radios use a rather unusual high impedance antenna input?  A friend of mine once hook up his car radio to his 2M 5/8 wave antenna, figuring it would beat the pants off of the original car whip antenna.  He was astonished that he got nothing at all.

Of course with FM the antenna is far less critical.  Just about anything will work.

Also as far as loops being directional, my 1978 Toyota Celica has an antenna built into front windshield, in a loop shape.  And it has shown itself to be rather directional.

Wayne