SQLGuy

Hmm... just tried the GTS. Tuned to a relatively weak station, then disconnected power from the antenna. No difference. Tried on a few other stations. Still no difference.

Looks like either the amplifier makes little difference, or both cars have dead amplifiers. FM reception in the GTS is pretty decent, though.

jcorenman

Try that on AM.

Schocki

My GTS had nearly no reception unless it was a very strong station. The same thing happened to my 944 S2 after around 15 years. I think the temperature differences on roof mounted antennas are taking their toll after a couple of years. Had to replace both antennas meanwhile and all is good again. Both use the same "power through the antenna cable" setup now, no problem.

Could be that a working amplifier makes little or no difference...

Randy V

I'm in the process of replacing my roof antenna.

The new antenna has the standard radio connection but the original antennal has a threaded connector that attached to the amplifier. See pic.

Any sources for an adaptor? The one referenced above at crutchfield is not a threaded end.

Hilton

I just snipped my one of them off last week and switched to the standard motorola connector (which is what my new antenna base had) for my 89 S4.

My original base had the same issue described above - the alloy had corroded really badly taking out the electronics inside too, so the signal amplifier was doing nothing.

After seeing what the core of the factory cable was, I also replaced the whole antenna cable too.. it was a single filament of very very thin wire. I replaced it with RG62 (low capacitance, 93 ohm impedance), to get the best possible AM reception.

Randy V

Not clear on that - what did you snip off?

So did you run a new antenna cable from the head unit to the roof mount location?

Hilton

Initially the threaded connector on the harness side (I'd removed the old fubar'ed antenna base). However, when I discovered the wire was hair-thin, I decided rather than trying to crimp or solder it to a new Motorola connector (the standard car radio antenna plug these days), I decided to replace the cable while I was at it.

Yes - although actually I bought some old BNC network cable (coax cable used for computer networks), as it was the easiest way I could find locally to get hold of RG62 cable (93 ohm).

I also ran a single wire of 10amp rated automotive wire with it, for the antenna power lead - taped to the main coax.

Randy V

An FML moment today when I realized there is NO separate amplifier for roof antenna setups - the amplifier is built in to the antenna!

PET describes the roof antenna as 'antenna with amplifier'!

928porschemangreg

Is the new antenna better than the old original one, even though it doesn't have an amp?

928porschemangreg

Maybe this is in order. I'll be doing the job you did later this spring. http://www.ebay.com/itm/12v-Car-Ante...-/220873703748

The Forgotten On

I found the perfect replacement

Randy V

The replacement antenna I bought (VW part) also has a built-in amplifier - just like the factory original.


Somebody on here has that style antenna installed on his car - looks OK.

Bilal928S4

I think Roger has it on his GTS.

Randy V

Finally installed the new antenna. I ended up cutting off the original threaded antenna coax end and installing a solderless female Motorola plug that the new antenna could plug in to.

Not as whippy as the original, I think it looks more updated.

Bilal928S4

How does it perform?