My shark fin

[Captfx]

Here is a picture of my 2011 kona blue metallic Explorer with my new Visual Garage shark fin antenna.

It sure looks great but it really decreases my FM reception, lots of pops and static that I didn't have before. And it practically wiped out my AM reception completely. I have Sirius but I do (or did) occasionally listen to terrestial radio. So I guess I know why Ford put that big ugly antenna there. I got very good reception with it. Since VG does not give refunds I may wind up removing this and writing this off as an $81 lesson. To it's credit VG does state "the stock antenna will usually still provide better reception" and they are right.

 

[mindspin]

Here is a picture of my 2011 kona blue metallic Explorer with my new Visual Garage shark fin antenna.

It sure looks great but it really decreases my FM reception, lots of pops and static that I didn't have before. And it practically wiped out my AM reception completely. I have Sirius but I do (or did) occasionally listen to terrestial radio. So I guess I know why Ford put that big ugly antenna there. I got very good reception with it. Since VG does not give refunds I may wind up removing this and writing this off as an $81 lesson. To it's credit VG does state "the stock antenna will usually still provide better reception" and they are right.

I will say it does look a lot better than stock, kinda sucks that it ruined the reception. It was on my short list of mods for the Explorer, now I may reconsider.

 

[cnsheets]

Bummer, I installed one also and have no reception problems on both Am and FM.

 

[willwitten]

Bummer, I installed one also and have no reception problems on both Am and FM.

I have had mine for 7 months. Reception is fine in all areas (AM, FM, SIRIUS, NAVIGATION).

 

[Spengracin]

No issues, had mine since August, I see no difference, check the screw vs washer used, make sure it has good contact to stem base.

 

[Captfx]

No issues, had mine since August, I see no difference, check the screw vs washer used, make sure it has good contact to stem base.

I put the washer on the screw, put the screw through the ring connection, pointed the ring connection downwards and tightened. Step 7 of the installation procedure doesn't mention the washer though. Should I have done screw through ring connection then washer? Or left out the washer altogether. I would like to retry making the connection. However, my concern is reattaching the fin.
Has anyone removed the fin and successfully reattached it after a few days? I really wanted this to work but I do listen to some AM and FM stations.

 

[Blueflame16]

Thumbs up.

Installed my shark fin the other day. So far no problem with signal and hd signal comes in with no problem.

 

[Blueflame16]

I put the washer on the screw, put the screw through the ring connection, pointed the ring connection downwards and tightened. Step 7 of the installation procedure doesn't mention the washer though. Should I have done screw through ring connection then washer? Or left out the washer altogether. I would like to retry making the connection. However, my concern is reattaching the fin.
Has anyone removed the fin and successfully reattached it after a few days? I really wanted this to work but I do listen to some AM and FM stations.

I did it the same way and have no problem with signal.

 

[cnsheets]

Same as most it seems, I also did screw through washer, then through ring connector.......no problems.