As I have found out it is called a corona ball. Fun facts aside, does it serve a purpose?

My truck antenna hits the garage door when backing in. I can buy a new antenna for $30 but I found online I can simply cut off a few inches of the factory antenna.

Im getting mixed results if I need to replace the corona ball after trimming the antenna. Some say its only there so you dont poke your eye out. Others say its there to release static build up caused air resistance on the antenna when the vehicle is moving.

So what does the SF brain trust say?

quote:

Originally posted by gpbst3:
Others say its there to release static build up caused air resistance on the antenna when the vehicle is moving.

That sounds like grade-A pseudoscientific bullshit to me.

It's to keep the blinker fluid from spouting out the top of the antenna if you over fill it through the kaneuter valve.

Lightning rods have a very sharp point for a reason. Anything to make your car antenna less like a lightning rod is a good thing.

quote:

Originally posted by maladat:

quote:

Originally posted by gpbst3:
Others say its there to release static build up caused air resistance on the antenna when the vehicle is moving.

That sounds like grade-A pseudoscientific bullshit to me.

It would--to somebody who doesn't understand how this stuff works

See Controlling Static

Btw, OP: If you shorten the antenna your radio might not work as well. Then again it might make no difference at all. This is apart from the corona ball's function.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:

quote:

Originally posted by maladat:

quote:

Originally posted by gpbst3:
Others say its there to release static build up caused air resistance on the antenna when the vehicle is moving.

That sounds like grade-A pseudoscientific bullshit to me.

It would--to somebody who doesn't understand how this stuff works

See Controlling Static

Btw, OP: If you shorten the antenna your radio might not work as well. Then again it might make no difference at all. This is apart from the corona ball's function.

It looks like if the OP neuters his antenna, he can use that 1" aluminum ball to have better protection. If a bigger corona ball is better, maybe try a stainless steel ball around the same diameter as a common bowling ball..

My theory...

As kids my friends and I all had garage forts in the rafters. To get up/down we had to climb a rope.

One of my friends fell while he was climbing down and fell onto the antenna of their car. The antenna bent and grazed his skin versus impaling him probably because of the "ball" on the end of the antenna.

Hence is the ball a "Ralph Nader" safety feature?

Don't know but is sure helped my friend.

My theory is it keeps it from whipping side to side in a wind stream, but instead bends straight back.

Let us know after you cut off some what you find!

This article goes another way, but isn't supported by any cites.

quote:

If you said static discharge, you are correct! While you are driving down the road static discharge builds up and collects on your radio antenna. Without the ball on top of the antenna the static will continue to collect until eventually it forms a visible ball of static sparks known as a "corona discharge" in radio speak. This static discharge will travel through your radio antenna wire causing that annoying popping sound you hear through the speakers on a dry cold night.

Linky

Its made of Tin Foil, compressed into a ball to keep aliens from infiltrating your radio and sending subliminal messages to the occupant of the car while driving.

Cut it off. Shouldn't hurt the receive. If it does you were going to buy another one anyway, right? If it was an antenna used for transmitting then it would be another story, resonance and all that.

Just add one of these to have the coolest antenna on the block ...

Can't you buy a shorter aftermarket antenna?

They make all variations of short antenna - here is one example

https://www.amazon.com/Antenna...EPTION/dp/B01M71Y6D4

Lots of guys on the F150 forum cut down the OE antenna, remove the ball & reattach it to the cut down portion.
I went with a cravenspeed stubby & living in Houston, have very little FM signal degradation.

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Actually, it looks like the ball has a purpose aside from keeping you from getting poked. Something about static electricity

You're just going to have to buy a new house with a taller garage!

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:
Can't you buy a shorter aftermarket antenna?

I sure can but I dont want one of those little 6 inch nubs. I hear too much about reduced radio coverage. I only need to nip off 3-4 inches so I figure why pay $30 for a shorter antenna when I could do it at home in 15 mins.

I just need to know if it's worth the time to put that little ball back on

quote:

Originally posted by gpbst3:

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:
Can't you buy a shorter aftermarket antenna?

I sure can but I dont want one of those little 6 inch nubs. I hear too much about reduced radio coverage. I only need to nip off 3-4 inches so I figure why pay $30 for a shorter antenna when I could do it at home in 15 mins.

I just need to know if it's worth the time to put that little ball back on

Unscrew it. Listen to the radio. If it sounds fine while driving, then it wasn't helping anyhow.

Cut it, then replace the ball with this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/LOT-O...OUNTED-/261288478476

quote:

Originally posted by Oz_Shadow:

quote:

Originally posted by gpbst3:

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:
Can't you buy a shorter aftermarket antenna?

I sure can but I dont want one of those little 6 inch nubs. I hear too much about reduced radio coverage. I only need to nip off 3-4 inches so I figure why pay $30 for a shorter antenna when I could do it at home in 15 mins.

I just need to know if it's worth the time to put that little ball back on

Unscrew it. Listen to the radio. If it sounds fine while driving, then it wasn't helping anyhow.

Damn your smart. I'm going to give it a try