Shark Fin antenna: unboxed and installed

[anguyen]

Had the shark-fin antenna put on today. It looks GREAT!! Ford should do this as a stock antenna. Photos of the old & new are in my photo album, or click on this link for a photo of the new SF antenna.

http://fordfusionhybridforum.com/gallery/image/1233-new-ant-1/

I love Ford, but they are too cheap to have things like Shark Fin antenna, hood strut etc, i mean how much more could it cost.

[Skydogz]

I like my squiggle antenna, its more futuristic..... :)

 

[Akonikui]

Newbie here, been lurking for a few weeks. I just got a 2013 FFH Titanium in Tuxedo Black a week ago.

Love. It.

 

Their website is down but I just ordered one through sales@visualgarage.com - $87, free shipping. Better than juiced hybrid or amazon. Can't wait!

I live in the SF Bay Area and will post my finding about HD radio once it's installed.

[Akonikui]

Ordered 9/11. Shipped 9/13. Received 9/16! Same as others - shipped from Washington.

 

I just installed it, following the cardboard cut-out method others used.

So far, I do notice radio reception is a touch less - a little fuzzier on back roads. However, this is only until the HD radio kicks in! I haven't noticed any loss in HD radio, thankfully. I live in the Bay Area and so none of the towers are too far, but driving on the 280 from SF to SJ it only cut out once, and very briefly.

[GrySql]

Just had my first noticeable problem since I installed the Shark Fin many months ago.

Today we had dropouts with the Sirius reception.

We were driving in very steep mountainous terrain and dense conifer forest, I think the Sirius satellite got blocked a few times. Up here there are few AM or FM stations so that is mostly static anyway.

 

In the broader valleys there has been no Sirius reception problems.

Edited September 18, 2013 by GrySql

[murphy]

I used to have an XM radio two cars ago and never had dropouts. When I got my 2010 Fusion Hybrid traveling the exact same route I had dropouts in the area where trees line both sides of the road. The dropouts continued with the 2013 before I installed the Shark Fin. They are the same after the installation of the Shark Fin. My conclusion is that the Sirius satellite transmitters operate at a lower power level than the XM satellite transmitters. Yes I know it's the same company now but it used to be two separate companies. The satellite networks are separate and always will be unless they decide to shut down one of the services which would anger a lot of people and probably get the FCC involved.

[smr2112]

You'll see when the leaves disappear from the trees, reception tends to drop out much less.

It's the position of the satellites too and I find when I drive facing west and there is a bridge

or mountain or large building, it tends to drop out briefly. Tree lined street - I've had the

same thing.

 

Not a SharkFin issue, but may be the overall antenna/radio design in the FFH. My Acura has the

same issues - just the nature of satellite radio.

[Bob Teddy]

You'll see when the leaves disappear from the trees, reception tends to drop out much less.

It's the position of the satellites too and I find when I drive facing west and there is a bridge

or mountain or large building, it tends to drop out briefly. Tree lined street - I've had the

same thing.

 

Not a SharkFin issue, but may be the overall antenna/radio design in the FFH. My Acura has the

same issues - just the nature of satellite radio.

 

If I remember reading about it correctly, the Antenna is purely for the AM/FM Raido, and without it you still get perfect Satellite & Navigation reception. If so, its obviously not possible to be a sharkfin issue :)

[wmpwi]

FYI, I just salvaged my shark fin from my recently totaled '13 Fusion and checked w/ Juicehybrid.com Responded to my e-mail 4 hours later (Saturday at 4:30 pm) and they'll sell me a replacement adhesive gasket for $12 + SH. Happy to pay it over the $89 it originally cost earlier this month.

Edited September 28, 2013 by wmpwi

[clummus]

I have the shark fin sitting in my office. I don't have the nerve to try to install it for fear it won't be straight. I know that sounds crazy!