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Location:
Gawler, SA
Registered:
August 2003
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Car Antenna
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Thu, 11 December 2003 12:42
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The radio in my car seems to get a fair bit of interference and its starting to annoy me. Basically I want to know if there is such a thing as good and bad quality car antennas?
Other peoples cars, even with really cheap headunits get better reception then me. The antenna was broken on my sprinter when I bought it so I replaced it with a $20 from Roccas. Its not anything to do with the setup because its crystal clear playing cds. Already tried a signal booster but that amplifies the interference as well. Would an internal antenna be any better? Any recommendations from anyone?
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I supported Toymods
Location:
Perth, Western Australia
Registered:
December 2002
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Re: Car Antenna
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Thu, 11 December 2003 13:23
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Do you run suppressors in your engine bay? These help to cut out interference.
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Location:
Gawler, SA
Registered:
August 2003
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Re: Car Antenna
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Thu, 11 December 2003 13:28
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I have a 20 Amp Car Noise Filter on the headunit and I have tested it without the amp running and the static is still very noticable. There is no interference when a using the cd player so it seems to me it has something to do with the antenna.
It just fades in and out while driving with no particular pattern.
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I supported Toymods
Location:
Perth, Western Australia
Registered:
December 2002
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Re: Car Antenna
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Thu, 11 December 2003 13:37
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Definately check if you are running suppressors on the ignition and charging systems, also check your wiring for interference causes. If the problem still persists, jury rig an alternative antenna and try to replicate the problem - if it persists, you know it's not the antenna.
Having said all that, my Celica used to have a standard antenna where reception faultered through the hills, I replaced it with a centre mount roof aerial, and never had the problem again.
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Location:
Northwestern Sydney
Registered:
August 2002
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Re: Car Antenna
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Thu, 11 December 2003 22:44
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I had issued with the standard antenna. I tried a taller one which made a noticed a slight improvement, but then some cow bent it so I relocated it to a centre roof mount and it was very good.
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Location:
Adelaide
Registered:
September 2003
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Re: Car Antenna
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Fri, 12 December 2003 07:31
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curiously would the spark plugs make a difference, ie the resistive sort as opposed to non resistive?
i remember reading somewhere that if you get resistive sort of spark plugs then this is supposed to reduce interference. maybe that would make the stereo sound better.
just a thought, i have no idea but if you want to be a guinea pig...
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Location:
Menai area of Sydney
Registered:
June 2003
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Re: Car Antenna
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Fri, 12 December 2003 10:19
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If the sound fades in and out it sounds like a weak reception problem. Check that your aerial plug is pushed right into the socket in the back of the radio and if possible try another aerial if you can get hold of one - it doesn't have to be mounted in the car, just plugged in with the aerial extended outside the car. Also check that the metal wire/clip on the side of the aerial plug is sticking out and will push firmly against the side of the radio socket to provide a good earth. Weak signal will also be prone to interference as the radio can't lock onto the carrier properly (probably technically incorrect but the effect is the same).
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Location:
Gawler, SA
Registered:
August 2003
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Re: Car Antenna
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Fri, 12 December 2003 11:37
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Yer I know it would be weak signal out here as we are probably about 40 odd kilometers from the station but I havent heard any interference what so ever on other peoples radios. The volume level doesnt actually fade in and out, just the amount of background static, often loud enough to drown out the music.
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Location:
Menai area of Sydney
Registered:
June 2003
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Re: Car Antenna
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Fri, 12 December 2003 14:31
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If you have a multimeter, check that the metal case of the radio has is connected to the body of the car with no resistance. It may be earthed through the wiring but could operate better if the case is shrted to earth as well. Check the manual for the radio, if you have one, to see if there is a button for distant stations as well as stations. A lot of radios have them so that in low signal areas the radio is more sensitive and will pick up radio the weaker stations when you are scanning for another channel. The button may be called "Local", "Dist", "Loc", "ASX" or similar. If you are happy with the aerial and you don't just have the radio set for local instead of distant stations you may just have a radio with poor sensitivity. Does anyone else have the same brand/model radio as you - do they have the same trouble ? Can you borrow a different brand/model radio and try it out in your car ? Can you take yours back to the seller and replace it ?
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Location:
Gawler, SA
Registered:
August 2003
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Re: Car Antenna
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Sat, 13 December 2003 00:18
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Umm I was on a prosound unit for ages until it blew up and the radio on that was so poor you could barely pick up signal. That blew up and I upgraded to a Blaupunkt BPV660. Which gets a clear signal but as I am driving along there are points where the interference goes in and out.
Ill try out the distant/local station type.
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