Amplified antenna wire
#1
LOCATED: Amplified antenna wire
997 TT with Bose. Crutchfield has their version of nav-tv unit for half the price. Works incredibly well but I noticed I have no or minimal FM radio reception since installing aftermarket head unit. I found somewhere a post about needing to wire 12v power to the wire for the antenna amplifier to get the best reception. I called Metra(Axxess) the makers of the harness I used and they said to run a jumper to the white wire in the harness that was the amplified antenna. However, if it’s the same wire I’m thinking of, that wire, I thought was 12v power, because that’s what I tied into to wire the tranzit blue I had in previously.
see 4th pic in this post.Tranzit blue install
so what wire is the amplified antenna ? Currently I wired the blue “antenna” wire directly to 12v and that significantly improved my reception but it’s not as good as with old PCM. The reality is I’m probably NEVER going to listen to the radio but I do want to have it hooked up correctly.
thanks
if you have FM bad reception after replacing the PCM. see my post below. I found the solution.
see 4th pic in this post.Tranzit blue install
so what wire is the amplified antenna ? Currently I wired the blue “antenna” wire directly to 12v and that significantly improved my reception but it’s not as good as with old PCM. The reality is I’m probably NEVER going to listen to the radio but I do want to have it hooked up correctly.
thanks
if you have FM bad reception after replacing the PCM. see my post below. I found the solution.
Last edited by ThomasShawn; 08-05-2018 at 05:10 PM. Reason: updated information
#2
Pelican parts has a write up that says it’s Black Connector A: Pin 5
Which appears to be the same wire. Which would make sense it has 12v going to the antenna amp FROM the PCM and when the radio is on and would then power the tranzit as well. But without power from PCM nothing in that white wire.I’ll put a volt meter on it and see, should NOT have power under my current wiring.
please feel free to chime in if anyone knows for sure.
Which appears to be the same wire. Which would make sense it has 12v going to the antenna amp FROM the PCM and when the radio is on and would then power the tranzit as well. But without power from PCM nothing in that white wire.I’ll put a volt meter on it and see, should NOT have power under my current wiring.
please feel free to chime in if anyone knows for sure.
Last edited by ThomasShawn; 08-02-2018 at 12:12 PM.
#3
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
I can't help with your question or how you'd look up the spec for the FM Sensitivity rating of the PCM radio, but it's possible the new head unit doesn't have as good an FM sensitivity and the reception may not be as good as with the PCM even if hooked up correctly.
#4
See the attached image. This wire is the wire that powers the antenna amplifier.
when the original PCM is installed accessory power comes out of the PCM and powers this wire. (that's why it works as a source for power for the Tranzit Blue). But once the PCM is out there is no power to that wire. So I confirmed with key/radio on there was no current in this wire. then tuned to a station I knew worked but I wasn't receiving, I touched this wire with 12v from the accessory power off the radio and immediately I had crystal clear radio. removed-static. replaced-radio.
So, I ran a short jumper from accessory power that powers the radio to this wire. ( I didn't remove it from the harness, I just spliced into it.) now I have radio reception as good, or better than with PCM.
Hope this helps someone ele with poor radio reception or static after putting in an aftermarket radio.
Shawn
when the original PCM is installed accessory power comes out of the PCM and powers this wire. (that's why it works as a source for power for the Tranzit Blue). But once the PCM is out there is no power to that wire. So I confirmed with key/radio on there was no current in this wire. then tuned to a station I knew worked but I wasn't receiving, I touched this wire with 12v from the accessory power off the radio and immediately I had crystal clear radio. removed-static. replaced-radio.
So, I ran a short jumper from accessory power that powers the radio to this wire. ( I didn't remove it from the harness, I just spliced into it.) now I have radio reception as good, or better than with PCM.
Hope this helps someone ele with poor radio reception or static after putting in an aftermarket radio.
Shawn
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myw (07-27-2021)
#5
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Thanks,
Pedro
#6
Burning Brakes
Does this mean that all PCM 2.1's have amplified antennas? Most of the HUR kits use/suggest a standard metra euro antenna adapter that doesn't have the power wire (at least that's what I used).
Maybe I should open up the dash and fix this.. but I'm too lazy now, and don't listen to radio that much.
But this is definitely good info to know. Thanks Shawn
Maybe I should open up the dash and fix this.. but I'm too lazy now, and don't listen to radio that much.
But this is definitely good info to know. Thanks Shawn
#7
I had the shop install my Alpine HU using th Bose nav tv MOsT adapter. I know there was a radio antenna adapter but don’t think any power was hooked up. I had some but very poor radio reception. I took it back in for that (plus and adjustment to backup camera) and the guy said it’s bdcause the window antenna is really weak and he actually just spliced in a strip of wire into the antenna plug - effectively makingbthe wire the antenna. Funny thing is it kind of worked. Although reception is still worse than if was with pcm.
I bet this power wire tap in is ghe trick. Funny that none of these adapters have this.
Getting the unit out and back in again is tricky.. debating whether it’s worth it but now I know how!
I bet this power wire tap in is ghe trick. Funny that none of these adapters have this.
Getting the unit out and back in again is tricky.. debating whether it’s worth it but now I know how!
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#8
yes i think it's more than just a a "wire" being used as an antenna it's actually powered antenna for better reception and for me adding that power wire made all the difference. great reception now on radio
I had the shop install my Alpine HU using th Bose nav tv MOsT adapter. I know there was a radio antenna adapter but don’t think any power was hooked up. I had some but very poor radio reception. I took it back in for that (plus and adjustment to backup camera) and the guy said it’s bdcause the window antenna is really weak and he actually just spliced in a strip of wire into the antenna plug - effectively makingbthe wire the antenna. Funny thing is it kind of worked. Although reception is still worse than if was with pcm.
I bet this power wire tap in is ghe trick. Funny that none of these adapters have this.
Getting the unit out and back in again is tricky.. debating whether it’s worth it but now I know how!
I bet this power wire tap in is ghe trick. Funny that none of these adapters have this.
Getting the unit out and back in again is tricky.. debating whether it’s worth it but now I know how!
#10
It looks like my Alpine actually has a “power antenna” wire (blue). So I should be able to use that without splicing into the 12v line, right? Or is this only for those motorized antennas (Eg will this wire send actual constant power or is it just a “trigger” to activate a motorized antenna?)
And this would go to the vehicle plug white wire? Does anyone have a picture of this connector?
And this would go to the vehicle plug white wire? Does anyone have a picture of this connector?
#11
Drifting
Yes this is what i was referring to in the other thread. The blue wire from the HU taps in to the white wire in the cars power harness as shown above - its as simple as that. You can hear the antenna deploy when its tapped in or at least i could
#13
The "Power Ant." lead should be constantly powered anytime the radio is on. On my 2006 997 I used the PCM adapter from Spiral Audio, and I didn't have any extra wiring to do or issues with reception. Furthermore, I think the reception is at least as good as the original radio.
#14
Drifting
Yes, when i tapped in to the accessory power wire (white) i heard a mechanical sound like the antenna was deploying, kind of like the old power antennas that used to deploy out of bumpers. Maybe it was something else but i dont recall hearing that sound before i tapped in to that wire.
#15
Drifting
The "Power Ant." lead should be constantly powered anytime the radio is on. On my 2006 997 I used the PCM adapter from Spiral Audio, and I didn't have any extra wiring to do or issues with reception. Furthermore, I think the reception is at least as good as the original radio.