1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Shark fin installed on my blizzard pearl "v"

Discussion in 'Prius v Accessories and Modifications' started by Mike500, May 3, 2012.

  1. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2012
    2,593
    764
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    It was easy. It was 90 degrees outside, yesterday,

    And, it gets clear reception. It sure looks better than the "rubber duckie."
     

    Attached Files:

    #1 Mike500, May 3, 2012
  2. Rh0

    Rh0 Junior Lurker

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2012
    33
    15
    0
    Location:
    N. CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Beautiful! How is the color match? I am thinking of doing the same thing. I assume this is the item in the PriusChat shop? There are no instructions for installation. What does installation consist of? Thanks!
     
    #2 Rh0, May 3, 2012
  3. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2012
    2,593
    764
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two

    Yes, it's the same antenna sold by Priuschat shop. It's actually made in Canada by Visual Garage. I got mine in 10 days delivered from the date that I ordered it. The color match is good. It looks a little lighter, because my car is dirty wilh pollen dust. The painting is superb.

    Here's a link to the installation instructions;

    VG Shark Fin Antenna - Installation

    Cleaning the mounting surface and aligning it took more time than the actual installation.

    THANK you for your interest.
     
    #3 Mike500, May 3, 2012
  4. hyperion666

    hyperion666 New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2012
    5
    0
    0
    Location:
    Montreal, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    N/A
     
    #4 hyperion666, May 3, 2012
  5. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2012
    2,593
    764
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    :welcome:
     
    #5 Mike500, May 3, 2012
  6. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2009
    4,050
    730
    5
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I don't know why more people don't buy this product. It's one of the best 80 bucks I ever spent.
     
    #6 macmaster05, May 3, 2012
  7. bagwell

    bagwell Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2005
    592
    49
    0
    Location:
    the woodlands, tx
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    looks great!

    IMO tho, the shape is a little funky.
    Still much much much better than the standard antenna.
     
    #7 bagwell, May 3, 2012
  8. btcompute

    btcompute Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2012
    46
    7
    0
    Location:
    Central NH
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Mike, did you replace the original antenna to change the look of the antenna, or did you have poor reception with the stock one?
    Just wondering how the reception compares to the original antenna.
     
    #8 btcompute, May 3, 2012
  9. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2012
    2,593
    764
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two

    The reception is about the same. I can't tell the difference. The "rubber duckie" had an internal coil about 8 inches long. The shark fin antennal is acuually a "square wave" zig zag pattern ablout 5 inches long printed on the right side of the inside of the sharl fin.

    Both of them are 1/4 wave ground plane antennas with a total length of about 27 inches. They are made complact either by winding it into a helical coil in the "rubber duckie" and a "square wave" in the shark fin.

    I'm sure that a vertical mast rising 27 inches above the toof would have better reception, but the shark fin is effectively the same, performancewise, as the "rubber duckie."

    Hiope this 'splains it clearly. And, NO, I didn't have poor reception.
     
    #9 Mike500, May 3, 2012
  10. ProximalSuns

    ProximalSuns Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2012
    1,877
    21
    27
    Location:
    PNW
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Thanks on that. Good to know on the reception.

    I got a black one for my Blizzard Pearl. Fits the black/white look of the car with the black room and back hatch. Waiting to put it on.
     
    #10 ProximalSuns, May 3, 2012
  11. maverickf

    maverickf New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2011
    113
    9
    2
    Location:
    Southern California
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Three
    I definitely want to see how they match. :D
     
    #11 maverickf, May 3, 2012
  12. Guill

    Guill Member

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2012
    165
    23
    1
    Location:
    Italy
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Looks great Mike! I installed a Shark Fin on my V about 2 months ago and it's performed great. No issues with reception--works perfect!
     
    #12 Guill, May 4, 2012
  13. skwcrj

    skwcrj Member

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2011
    278
    68
    5
    Location:
    Gig Harbor, WA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    Before installing my Sharkfin antenna, I checked the difference in reception between the OEM antenna and the Sharkfin antenna using a distant (weak) FM station and noticed no difference at all. The paint matching is perfect.
     

    Attached Files:

    #13 skwcrj, May 7, 2012
  14. joeruo

    joeruo Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 30, 2012
    25
    1
    0
    Location:
    boston ma
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Does the shark work well with sat radio and also the nav system?
     
    #14 joeruo, May 13, 2012
  15. LEGO9V

    LEGO9V New Member

    Joined:
    May 11, 2012
    14
    2
    0
    Location:
    Connecticut
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    The shark fin antenna has nothing to do with the sat radio or the navigation system!
     
    #15 LEGO9V, Jun 13, 2012
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)