bad fm reception from aftermarket radio ??

the ambush · 10-01-2007, 06:06 AM

since i swapped my stock head unit to an aftermarket one (blaupunkt),the radio reception is about 30% of what it was with stock unit. on highway is no problem, but within the city, its not good at all (the stock unit was at least 3 time better). i`ve double checked the antenna and it is properly connected .

did i buy the wrong brand (blaupunkt)?
is it the same with all aftermarket radios?
should i have asked for a new antenna also ?

any advice is appreciated.
thanks

halfbr3d · 10-01-2007, 07:14 AM

IIRC, there is an antenna wire (not the actual antenna) that needs to be hooked up.

For most cars, it's used to power the motor for raising and lowering the antenna, but I think it's used as an amplifier for the antenna on our cars.

Hope that helps.

atomicfire · 10-01-2007, 07:56 AM

Yep our cars have a hidden antenna that requires an antenna amp. Make sure you hooked up the antenna amp so it gets power, w/o it your FM reception will be horrible.

scubadiver424 · 10-01-2007, 08:09 AM

I have the Kenwood NAVI DDX7017 and have decent reception its not great though, sirius FTW though

**boxtwo** · 10-01-2007, 08:16 AM

I agree with the above. I did NOT conenct it when I test ran my 7100 install. Noticed the reception was horrible. I connected the wire and bam, reception. I think it's purple...

the ambush · 10-02-2007, 05:53 AM

so there would be 2 wires for the antenna? (antenna and antenna power)

**boxtwo** · 10-02-2007, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the ambush

so there would be 2 wires for the antenna? (antenna and antenna power)

Yes, there is the actual antenna wire (plug style) and the power antenna wire which is actually for the FM amp.

**lackskill** · 10-02-2007, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boxtwo

Yes, there is the actual antenna wire (plug style) and the power antenna wire which is actually for the FM amp.

These people are correct. I had the same issue.

**boxtwo** · 10-02-2007, 10:22 AM

Look in the install guide for the radio, it will have a wiring diagram with colors. It will say something like "power antenna" for the wire that needs to be connected for the FM amp. The instructions were a little ambiguous as to what they mean, since we have no power antennas (thinking of the retractable type.)

Check out: Subaru WRX radio harness pin-out

Specifically #14 on the pinout description matrix. For MY07 (at least) it is for the FM amplifier.

Goood luck!

10-01-2007, 07:14 AM	#2
halfbr3d STI Driver Car: 06 Subaru WRX STI Fav Mod: air freshener (mmm...squash) Location: San Diego Posts: 276 IWSTI Addict since: May 2006 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: bad fm reception from aftermarket radio ?? IIRC, there is an antenna wire (not the actual antenna) that needs to be hooked up. For most cars, it's used to power the motor for raising and lowering the antenna, but I think it's used as an amplifier for the antenna on our cars. Hope that helps.

10-01-2007, 07:56 AM	#3
atomicfire STI Driver Car: 05 OBP WRX STi Fav Mod: Right Foot Location: Port Orange, Florida Posts: 284 IWSTI Addict since: Dec 2006 Trader Rating: (5)	Re: bad fm reception from aftermarket radio ?? Yep our cars have a hidden antenna that requires an antenna amp. Make sure you hooked up the antenna amp so it gets power, w/o it your FM reception will be horrible.

10-01-2007, 08:09 AM	#4
scubadiver424 S204 Racer Car: 06 WRB GOLD STI Fav Mod: NRA Sticker Location: US of A Posts: 3,600 IWSTI Addict since: Mar 2006 Trader Rating: (8)	Re: bad fm reception from aftermarket radio ?? I have the Kenwood NAVI DDX7017 and have decent reception its not great though, sirius FTW though

10-01-2007, 08:16 AM	#5
boxtwo Gold Member Car: 07 OBP STi Fav Mod: Venison front Bumper mod Location: Pennsyltucky Posts: 1,404 IWSTI Addict since: Jun 2007 Trader Rating: (2)	Re: bad fm reception from aftermarket radio ?? I agree with the above. I did NOT conenct it when I test ran my 7100 install. Noticed the reception was horrible. I connected the wire and bam, reception. I think it's purple...

10-02-2007, 05:53 AM	#6
the ambush Senior STI Driver Car: 06 sti wrb Fav Mod: trading the svt for an sti Location: canada Posts: 325 IWSTI Addict since: Nov 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: bad fm reception from aftermarket radio ?? so there would be 2 wires for the antenna? (antenna and antenna power)

10-01-2007, 06:06 AM	#1
the ambush Senior STI Driver Car: 06 sti wrb Fav Mod: trading the svt for an sti Location: canada Posts: 325 IWSTI Addict since: Nov 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	bad fm reception from aftermarket radio ?? since i swapped my stock head unit to an aftermarket one (blaupunkt),the radio reception is about 30% of what it was with stock unit. on highway is no problem, but within the city, its not good at all (the stock unit was at least 3 time better). i`ve double checked the antenna and it is properly connected . did i buy the wrong brand (blaupunkt)? is it the same with all aftermarket radios? should i have asked for a new antenna also ? any advice is appreciated. thanks This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

10-02-2007, 10:22 AM	#9
boxtwo Gold Member Car: 07 OBP STi Fav Mod: Venison front Bumper mod Location: Pennsyltucky Posts: 1,404 IWSTI Addict since: Jun 2007 Trader Rating: (2)	Re: bad fm reception from aftermarket radio ?? Look in the install guide for the radio, it will have a wiring diagram with colors. It will say something like "power antenna" for the wire that needs to be connected for the FM amp. The instructions were a little ambiguous as to what they mean, since we have no power antennas (thinking of the retractable type.) Check out: Subaru WRX radio harness pin-out Specifically #14 on the pinout description matrix. For MY07 (at least) it is for the FM amplifier. Goood luck! This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

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