What That Shark Fin Antenna Actually Does
Anyone blessed with the gift of sight has seen the so-called ‘shark fin’ antenna propagate on vehicles over the last few years. But what is its purpose? And does it do any tasks better than an old school whip antenna poking out from the front fender?
The short answer to the latter is a definitive ‘yes’ - most of the time. The things really started to appear when manufacturers began placing navigation functions and the like on modern vehicles. Receptive properties of the tools required to make those features operate with precision are more easily packed into (or at least guided) by a shark fin antenna. Same goes for services such as satellite radio.
[Images: Roman Vyshnikov/Shutterstock.com, Essffes/Shutterstock.com, svetlichniy_igor/Shutterstock.com, Boykov/Shutterstock.com, MakDill/Shutterstock.com]
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Aero plays a part. The streamlined shape of a shark’s fin doesn’t just pay dividends in Jaws, it also helps this type of antenna cut more cleanly through the air compared to a whip. In an age where automakers are chasing every decimal point of efficiency, it all adds up. There’s also an argument that shark fins are more durable in harsh conditions (or even in just an automated car wash) than a traditional antenna.
Alert readers will have noticed that manufacturers of some heavy duty trucks have begun sliding shark fin antennas in line with those amber clearance lights which sit above the pickup's windshield. The brawny Chevrolet Silverado HD shown here deploys this trick, with the shark fin showing up on its driver side. Machines delivered whose buyers did not check the option box for these clearance lights are left with an off-centre fin, though it's likely only Type A sorts who'd notice and complain (raises hand).
It is worth mentioning that not all shark fins look like shark fins. Some brands need to get creative, such as Jeep with its venerable Wrangler. That model has a removable top, meaning engineers couldn’t just slap a shark fin on the roof and call it a day - at least not without losing the likes of nav and satellite radio (at minimum) when customers left the roof at home. And placing a shark fin on the roll bar would interfere with the top’s fit. In this case, the crew developed a puck-like antenna intended to perform the shark fin functions. Initially, it suffered from a bit of signal degradation in some environments because it, you know, was technically covered by a huge slab of plastic (aka the hard top). Jeep has since revisited the approach.
Some models of new vehicles get creative with placement, either out of style or necessity. Some crossovers with a ‘lifestyle’ bent reposition the shark fin so it doesn’t interfere with the installation of a rooftop tent or the hauling of surfboards and the like on a roof rack. GM slips the shark fin on its heavy duty pickup trucks basically right above the driver, which looks strangely off-center by itself but is neatly camouflaged if the optional amber clearance lights are specified.
And, as you’d expect, car companies like shark fins because they tend to be cheaper. While they are typically constructed of durable materials, these antennas are said to be less expensive overall when considering all of the parts and pieces and wires needed to make a traditional whip effective. It doesn’t hurt that a shark fin is also typically quieter at highway speeds than an old-school antenna, cutting through the air with less racket.
