bad AM radio reception

[defcon65]

Just installed an Alpine CD/radio unit in my 85 Carrera - AM reception is really, really bad. It's got one of those wire-in-the-windshield antennas. Any suggestions on how to improve reception? I don't think I could bring myself to drill a hole anywhere to install a regular antenna. Maybe I will get that Sirius radio after all.

Thanks, Joe

[Kirk911SC]

Isn't there a "adjustment" screw on the unit to fine tune AM during the installation?

I seem to remember one on my Pioneer when I installed it.

Kirk

[defcon65]

Kirk, when I said 'installed', I meant I had it done at Best Buy. I'll look at my manual and see if there is an adjustment screw like you describe. I got lucky and found the senior technician who had actually done installs on several 911s before and he was able to do a professional job in a couple hours. Deck doesn't wobble in the dash, either. 20 year old Blaupunkt speakers will have to go, though - a little worn out to say the least!

Joe

[Kirk911SC]

My speakers were toast too........could poke my fingers through them!!

Kirk

[911 Rod]

The Bentley claims there is a booster in the car somewhere.
Anyone know where?

[Mothy]

Don't know about how your in glass antenna is configured (front or rear glass), but I have had problems in the past where the antenna was painted on the rear window glass (much like a demister) and had window tint film fitted. The tint film was conductive and was shorting the antenna (and the demister).

AM only effected - used to whistle and whine.

Tim

[defcon65]

Tim, this looks like it's embedded in the front window glass. GM had the same crappy solution with similar results on my '79 Olds Gutless - RIP at 57K miles. Maybe I'll just keep my Grundig Yacht Boy on the dash for sports and talk radio.

Joe

[Steve 82SC]

Joe,

Somewhere between the windshield antenna and the coax cable that plugs into the rear of your radio, there's some sort of an amplifier that came with Carreras that had that antenna setup. I have an SC so I can't say for sure where it's located......but I have seen it described on a search. Another alternative is a hidden antenna. The hot-rod guys always put these in their Ford coupes so there's no antenna showing. Check out what's available at a hot-rod shop.....I've also seen this online as I was one time considering patching my fenderhole and going with one of these. I ended up with a boosted power antenna and it solved the issue.

Steve

[jtratza]

Get XM. Nothing on AM anymore anyway.

[bell]

on the actual antenne behind the radio there is a thin black wire that splits off of it, that needs to be energized for the stock antenne booster to work (needs hooked up to the blue wire on the alpine harness)
however, if you have good fm then you may need to beef up the ground on the radio and possibly the antenne cable ground shield as am uses the cars chassis for it's "antenne". it's sometimes very difficult to get good am when dealing with aftermarket radios.

[HawgRyder]

All AM radios need to be "tuned" at the antennae.
FM is OK without tuning.
The difference could be great between tuned and not tuned....as much as not getting the closest station or receiving so many that you need to tune a bunch out.
Bob

[ruf-porsche]

Originally posted by defcon65
Any suggestions on how to improve reception? I don't think I could bring myself to drill a hole anywhere to install a regular antenna. Maybe I will get that Sirius radio after all.

Thanks, Joe

There a button that said am / fm on the radio. Push the button until you get a fm station. Viola improve reception. Don't need to buy a sirrius radio.

[kqw]

Originally posted by bell
on the actual antenne behind the radio there is a thin black wire that splits off of it, that needs to be energized for the stock antenne booster to work (needs hooked up to the blue wire on the alpine harness)
however, if you have good fm then you may need to beef up the ground on the radio and possibly the antenne cable ground shield as am uses the cars chassis for it's "antenne". it's sometimes very difficult to get good am when dealing with aftermarket radios.

What Bell said; re: the black wire needing to be connected. However "News Flash" AM reception will probably be less than stellar unless you are very close to the transmitters or the AM station transmits a very strong signal.

[defcon65]

Thanks for the info, guys! I'll look for that wire and see if it was hooked up. A buddy who is a shortwave guy mentioned the ground wire issue as well. As far as the power of AM signals in my area, the only one I really care or need to receive is AM 600 WMT, voice of the Iowa Hawkeyes and 100,000 watts from a tower 65 miles away. Comes in just great on the crystal set I built in the Cub Scouts back in '74!

[Flyer88]

Ditto on the black wire - it's about a 5 minute fix. Took me a year to figure it out.

[911 Rod]

Originally posted by Flyer88
Ditto on the black wire - it's about a 5 minute fix. Took me a year to figure it out.

This is the black wire that runs with the antenna wire?
What did you attach it to?
One of my manuals suggest it should be attached to a booster.

[bell]

Originally posted by bell
(needs hooked up to the blue wire on the alpine harness)

i never get to quote myself

the thin black wire needs to see 12v+ to turn on, the alpine should have 2 blue wires, one is solid blue for power antenne/antenne booster (this only turns on when you have tuner selected/shuts off when you switch to cd)
the other is blue w/white stripe to turn on amplifiers.