FM Antenna Amp? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

sparker · 06-21-2009, 09:23 PM

Hi guys,

I have read that the FM radio reception uses the windscreen as the antenna. I have also heard that there is an amp that plugs into this to boost reception. Can anyone tell me where this plug is? I have bought a boxster that has had the windscreen just replaced and the FM reception is nearly non existant and I believe that they haven't plugged the antenna amp back in. Anyone able to help with this? AM reception seems to work fine?

Sam

70Sixter · 06-22-2009, 08:52 AM

Just make sure the amp doesn't amplify the noise. Filtering required otherwise.

But really sounds like windshield install problem. Reception is good on mine.

j.fro · 06-22-2009, 06:11 PM

I had the exact same problem. The antenna amp is in the passenger side A pillar. Pull the visor, then the trim, then use an 8mm ( I think) wrench to remove the metal panel beneath. The amp is a small black rectangular box... mine had about 1 cm left of the wire that should have been attached to the windshield antenna. I've got a feeling that if the windshield was installed without knowledge of the antenna hookup and that the wire hookup from the windshield was probably buried in the adhesive used to seal the windshield in place. I "fabricated" my own antenna from a piece of copper speaker wire that I routed up the A-pillar, across the top of the windshield, and down the driver's side A pillar. My reception is better than it was stock! Go figure.

sparker · 06-22-2009, 11:10 PM

Thanks J.Fro - I'll be sure to check it out soon, thanks. I wonder when you say the passenger A pillar, if it will be the drivers A pillar for mine (RHD)?

Any tricks to the copper? Might have to fabricate something as you say...

Sam

j.fro · 06-23-2009, 01:55 AM

16 or 18 gauge speaker wire. garage engineering at its finest

sparker · 06-23-2009, 05:17 AM

Cheers mate, will check it out on the weekend.
Sam

damelioj17 · 11-14-2010, 02:03 PM

All:

HELP!

I recently installed a Kenwood KIV-700 which is a great single DIN receiver. I also have the add-on HD module (Kenwood KTC-HR300). Everything works great on the receiver exception that I now have NO am reception. FM reception works great and it picks up HD on FM no problem. I think I've done my due diligence here:

1. I have hooked up the power lead wire for the antenna from the HU to pin 5 of the black harness. This is a blue wire from my HU and I mated it to the Metra harness I'm using. The black plug in the car then plugs into the Metra.

2. I've double checked and from what I can tell, no grounding issues. Also, all other wiring works great (i.e. dimmer, memory on HU is fine after ignition is turned off, etc.)

3. AM reception was FINE with my old Becker CDR-220.

4. I have not tried the "AM antenna hack" listed on several boards because the AM reception worked fine with the stock Becker HU.

I'm at a loss here, guys. When I say there is zero AM reception, there is ZERO. Just a whining noise with a lot of static on every station. Again, from what I can tell, the amp antenna IS getting power.

This is a shame because it's such a great HU otherwise.

Any thoughts, tips, etc. are greatly appreciated!

JD

mill2978 · 07-22-2011, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.fro

I had the exact same problem. The antenna amp is in the passenger side A pillar. Pull the visor, then the trim, then use an 8mm ( I think) wrench to remove the metal panel beneath. The amp is a small black rectangular box... mine had about 1 cm left of the wire that should have been attached to the windshield antenna. I've got a feeling that if the windshield was installed without knowledge of the antenna hookup and that the wire hookup from the windshield was probably buried in the adhesive used to seal the windshield in place. I "fabricated" my own antenna from a piece of copper speaker wire that I routed up the A-pillar, across the top of the windshield, and down the driver's side A pillar. My reception is better than it was stock! Go figure.

I had the same problem on my new 01 S. The trim pieces are much more firmly clipped in than I thought they would be. Other than pulling so hard that I thought I was going to break something it was a piece of cake. When the windshield was replaced they disconnected the antenna so I was able to connect to the factory wiring. The reception is much better.