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Shark fin antenna which one to get?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Mrpcar, Mar 18, 2013.

  1. Mrpcar

    Mrpcar Active Member

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    Can't believe I am hearing this from my wife tonight, she is totally not a car person.

    She told me to go ahead and order the shark fin antenna for the Prius, I asked "Why?"

    She said today after she pulled into a parking spot another white Gen 3 Prius pulled up and parked to her right. She was saying to herself that she was going to walk up to the wrong car later when she get out.... When she got out there was another white Prius 3 parked to her left she said at that point she was really confused and can't tell which Prius is hers.

    She wanted to do something different to be able to tell which Prius is hers in the sea of white Priuses in southern California....
     
    #1 Mrpcar, Mar 18, 2013
  2. swich2mac

    swich2mac Go Hard or Go Home!

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    I want one as well but want to know if the OEM antenna is for am/fm only or does it also serve the satellite radio or navigation system? By switching to the shark fin, will I lose any functionality?
     
    #2 swich2mac, Mar 19, 2013
  3. wotcher

    wotcher Member

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    beatsonic or vg... both are good. some argue better reception on one over the other. it really depends if you have a solar roof. if you have a solar roof, then you need to get a smaller profile shark fin.
     
    #3 wotcher, Mar 19, 2013
    Mrpcar likes this.
  4. Mrpcar

    Mrpcar Active Member

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    I have solar, so which one is the lower profile? Since our car is white and the roof is black how would the white shark fin look as far as contract in color?

    TIA
     
    #4 Mrpcar, Mar 19, 2013
  5. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    The antenna is only used for the AM/FM radio. Satellite and GPS antennas are separate, under the dash. I think the cell antenna for crash assist (or whatever name Toyota uses) is also separate, as none of them can send or receive a signal through the amplifier on the stock radio antenna.

    The shark fin will not work quite as well as the stock antenna, but you probably won't notice in urban areas.
     
    #5 David Beale, Mar 19, 2013
  6. wotcher

    wotcher Member

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    fuzzy memory. im getting old. i think the beatsonic one is larger. there are a couple of threads here regarding this issue. when i get off work and have free time, i'll dig up the threads for you.

    consider vinyl wrap the white part b/c 80% of your roof is black. its what i did. then you can get a black shark fin.
     
    #6 wotcher, Mar 19, 2013
  7. Mrpcar

    Mrpcar Active Member

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    I see, that's an idea!
     
    #7 Mrpcar, Mar 19, 2013
  8. BCP

    BCP Junior Member

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    I'm not sure which is 'better' but Juiced Hybrid asks if you have the Solar Roof or not when choosing the options to buy the version they offer.

    Toyota Prius Shark Fin Antenna
     
    #8 BCP, Mar 19, 2013
  9. mnsweeps

    mnsweeps Member

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    Ebay fins from China / HK are so much cheaper but not sure of quality. They also don't ask about solar roof which I have ...what difference does it make if you have or not have a solar roof ?
     
    #9 mnsweeps, Mar 19, 2013
  10. Mrpcar

    Mrpcar Active Member

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    Maybe due to limited space from the solar panel the fins can't extend as far?
     
    #10 Mrpcar, Mar 19, 2013
  11. Mrpcar

    Mrpcar Active Member

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    Just ordered one from Priuschat shop, figured to give this forum as much contribution as possible. I've already ordered rubber mats, sunshade from priuschat shop prior.
     
    #11 Mrpcar, Mar 19, 2013
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  12. ralleia

    ralleia Active Member

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    I don't want to admit how much I spent in the shop last week when I finally ordered all the accoutrements to outfit my 2012.

    Yesterday I put all the Weathertech mats in.

    I'm just waiting on the Euro mudflaps to come in and then I'm going to schedule with a shop to put on all those external pieces.

    Still waiting on my fin to come in.
     
    #12 ralleia, Mar 20, 2013
  13. Mrpcar

    Mrpcar Active Member

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    Shark fun antenna arrived from Prius shop, I ordered the solar panel white version.

    [​IMG]
     
    #13 Mrpcar, Apr 6, 2013
  14. Mark Knight

    Mark Knight Junior Member

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    I ordered a custom made shark fin from priusaccessory.com, have not recieved it yet as it is custom made and painted to match car code color.
     
    #14 Mark Knight, Apr 6, 2013
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  15. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    I wanted to install a sharkfin antenna on our Prius, but my wife said, "where will the Mickey antenna ball go?" :D

    That's how she picks out her car in a garage or parking lot. Just look for Mickey. :)
     
    #15 xliderider, Apr 6, 2013
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