What is the purpose of the antenna on a car?
2 Answers
Car antennas are primarily used to receive external signals. Here is some relevant information about vehicle antennas: 1. Features: Considering the conditions of arbitrary movement of the vehicle, except for devices like ETC used in specific locations, general vehicle antennas should be non-directional. Currently, there is active progress in improving radio and television receivers, with some models using two antennas for radio reception and 3-4 antennas for TV reception. 2. Types: Pillar antennas are installed on the front pillars and can be divided into pillar-embedded and pillar-mounted types. They have a simple structure and low cost, but due to inconvenience and lack of aesthetics, their usage is gradually decreasing. They are mainly used for AM/FM radios.
Having driven for over a decade, I know exactly what that little rod on the roof is for. The antenna mainly improves radio signal quality—back when there was no internet on long drives, it was all we had to listen to the radio for entertainment. Nowadays, many cars also use it to receive GPS signals for accurate navigation and positioning. In higher-end models, the antenna even ensures better call quality for car phones, keeping calls from dropping in underground parking lots. I’ve heard that some cars with emergency call features can automatically send location signals through the antenna in case of an accident. Many newer cars now adopt a shark-fin design, which not only reduces wind resistance but also integrates radio, navigation, and network signals—both practical and stylish.
