MOD SHACK MOD: Amplified external antenna
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Uber User
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 53,281
Likes: 2
MOD SHACK MOD: Amplified external antenna
<center><img src="http://images.fotki.com/v5/photos/7/7305/112601/modshacklogoalt-vi.jpg"></center><p>
<img src="http://images.fotki.com/v5/photos/7/7305/123014/DSCF0040-or.jpg">
Intstalling the Zender Miniracing amplified antenna requires the following:
1) Popping out some trim panels to access the old antenna hole
2) Splicing the antenna lead to the one in the car already leading to the radio
3) Running the power lead from the Zender up to a switched 12V source.
Results: Kinda mixed actually. AM reception is slightly better (not a lot of AM here, and only slightly worse than my Toyota truck). FM is slightly better as well, but not a real dramatic improvement over the tinted over stock antenna. Better pick-up of fringe signals, but it requires manual tuning as the auto scan is just not sensitive enough. I'm sure in a metro area cleaner reception would be the case. My conclusion is that the stock head unit reception is generally Not that great, particularly here in rural NC. Probably a much larger antenna would be the hot set-up for reception difficulties here but I was reluctant to go that route. Overall some improvement and a marginally acceptable bang for the $39.95 buck. More pics at the link below.....<ul><li><a href="http://public.fotki.com/ttschwing/antenna_mods/">Amplified antenna install</a></li></ul>
<img src="http://images.fotki.com/v5/photos/7/7305/123014/DSCF0040-or.jpg">
Intstalling the Zender Miniracing amplified antenna requires the following:
1) Popping out some trim panels to access the old antenna hole
2) Splicing the antenna lead to the one in the car already leading to the radio
3) Running the power lead from the Zender up to a switched 12V source.
Results: Kinda mixed actually. AM reception is slightly better (not a lot of AM here, and only slightly worse than my Toyota truck). FM is slightly better as well, but not a real dramatic improvement over the tinted over stock antenna. Better pick-up of fringe signals, but it requires manual tuning as the auto scan is just not sensitive enough. I'm sure in a metro area cleaner reception would be the case. My conclusion is that the stock head unit reception is generally Not that great, particularly here in rural NC. Probably a much larger antenna would be the hot set-up for reception difficulties here but I was reluctant to go that route. Overall some improvement and a marginally acceptable bang for the $39.95 buck. More pics at the link below.....<ul><li><a href="http://public.fotki.com/ttschwing/antenna_mods/">Amplified antenna install</a></li></ul>
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Uber User
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 53,281
Likes: 2
That's what I think Dave......>>
I don't think that the tuner section is all that good in the Bose Concert unit. After playing around some more with manual tuning though, I'm getting More stations on FM than I could before, so the antenna is an improvement. AM still stinks though, but after checking th Tacoma, I can't get much on that either so a big part of it is the fringe area I'm in. I'm sure the antenna is better than my initial impressions led me to believe.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
TTschwing
TT (Mk1) Discussion
4
Jun 22, 2002 06:33 PM
MKonchar
S4 / RS4 (B5 Platform) Discussion
0
Oct 29, 2001 05:46 AM
