What is the function of a car antenna?
3 Answers
The car antenna is mainly used to receive external signals. Below is more information about car antennas: 1. Pillar-mounted antenna: The pillar antenna is installed on the front pillar and can be divided into embedded pillar type and externally mounted pillar type. It has a simple structure and low cost, but due to inconvenience and lack of aesthetics, its usage is gradually decreasing. It is mainly used for AM/FM radios. 2. Roof-mounted antenna: The roof antenna is installed on the roof. Since it is mounted on the roof, the angle of the rod can be freely adjusted via a rotating hinge. As an antenna for radio reception, antennas with a total length of less than 200mm are commonly used, considering underground parking lots and design aspects. It is mainly used for AM/FM radios and telephones. 3. Electric antenna: The electric antenna is installed on the front or rear fender and is motor-driven, allowing the rod to extend and retract automatically. It is divided into radio-linked and manual types, mainly used for AM/FM radios.
As a veteran driver with twenty years of experience, I've seen all kinds of car antennas. These things are far from just decorative. The most common function is radio signal reception. In the past, there was a thin metal rod sticking up from the roof, and the signal would turn staticky in tunnels. Nowadays, many cars have switched to shark-fin antennas, which look more streamlined. The key is that they conceal hidden features—GPS positioning relies on them to receive satellite signals; without them, navigation would be useless. Some more advanced cars also use them for data transmission, like automatic collision alert systems. Once, a friend's roof antenna got bent under snow, and the car phone had terrible static—that's when we realized even communication signals depend on it. Oh, and when passing through ETC toll stations, the sensors interact via the antenna too.
Last week, I accompanied my daughter to buy a car, and she even complained that the shark fin antenna was ugly. In fact, the antennas on new cars nowadays are multifunctional integrated marvels. At the most basic level, they receive broadcast signals, with the metal rod part acting as a signal amplifier. More functions are hidden inside that streamlined shell: the GPS module ensures precise positioning for your phone's navigation, and remote control features like preheating the car in winter also rely on it to send commands. I specifically asked the salesperson to disassemble a sample piece, and found that there's even a cellular network module inside, which powers the in-car WiFi hotspot. Interestingly, some sports cars integrate the antenna into the rear window heating wires, making it both concealed and reducing wind resistance.
