Antenna wiring - question for electrical guru's

skipdup · 10-01-2004, 08:49 AM

Currently, my stock Hirschmann antenna goes all the way up when the radio is turned on (for radio, CD or aux.) and goes down when either the car is turned off or the radio is turned off.

While I realize this may seem ridiculous to some/most, I'd like to have more control over the antenna operation. First, I don't want the antenna up while listening to CD's or the aux. (i.e. XM radio or MP3 player). Second, 30+ inches is esthetically (sp?)unpleasing to me - so I'd like to be able to manually control how far the antenna goes up/down. Most stations can be received with just a few inches of antenna up. And third, I always want the antenna to go down when the car is turned off. --operation/control by the radio power not important to me, since I rarely (but, not never) listen to the AM/FM radio.

So... Below is what my little mind came up with. Does this make sense? Am I going to melt my car by wiring like this? Anyone see a better (simpler) way to get the three functions I want?

BUZZ1981SC · 10-01-2004, 09:35 AM

Generally there is a wire that runs from the radio reciever to the antenna (power line) What I did was intall a simple on/off type switch on this line. Works great.

Grady Clay · 10-09-2004, 07:52 AM

Remember to put an in-line fuse or circuit breaker in the (blue) circuit at the battery. You don't want some simple failure to cause a major problem.

Best,
Grady

skipdup · 10-09-2004, 08:51 AM

The updated plan - with the fuse added... This give the ability for the radio to force the antenna down when powered off - v1.0 did not have that functionality.

EDIT: it just occured to me I may have too much free time on my hands.

Mouthpear · 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skipdup

The updated plan - with the fuse added... This give the ability for the radio to force the antenna down when powered off - v1.0 did not have that functionality.

EDIT: it just occured to me I may have too much free time on my hands.

I know this is old but JFYI

I do not know why you would want to have the radio turn on the antenna, when you say you don't want it on when listening to CDs or whatever else that does not require the antenna, since it does not matter if you are listening to a CD, the power to the antenna is still on. Unless yours works different.

In any case just doing it manually seems to be the best option.

However if you want the antenna to extend, initially when you turn on the radio and THEN operate it manually to retract it all the way or set at any height, that can also be done.

But for all that want to do this all you need is 1 relay and 1 Diode