Why Do Some Cars Have Antennas While Others Don't?

[VanBrandon]

Car antennas are devices that intercept high-frequency radio waves transmitted by broadcasting stations and transmit them to the car's radio, mobile phone, or radio navigation equipment receiver for demodulation. Every car is equipped with an antenna, but the reason some don't have visible external antennas is mainly because certain models use glass antennas. Here are the relevant details: 1. External Antennas: In vehicles produced in earlier years, the in-car radio used manually pulled or electrically retractable rod antennas to receive radio waves, enabling the vehicle to receive radio signals while driving. Since these antennas protrude from the car body, they are more prone to damage when parking in lots or during car washes. 2. Glass Antennas: Also known as hidden antennas, these achieve signal reception by printing conductive lines on the rear windshield. They offer advantages such as low cost, low failure rates, and high reception quality, making them the future trend for car antennas. Glass antennas use metal coatings as antennas, coupling electromagnetic signals through metal patches or printed silver paste, which are then fed to the signal amplifier or radio via tabs.