Radio antennae question

[1985RedTarga]

Ok you electronic and audio heads....my radio antennae is built into my windshield and sucks!!! I can't pick up anything. So I bought an $8 universal one, 18" long and rubber. I'm planning on hiding it under the dash with all the other wires. I realize this isn't ideal, but all I really want to pick up is 50,000 watt AM station that is about 10 miles away.

When I tried it, it wasn't really great at all. It was better, but not good enough. Does the antennae need to be grounded to the body since I have it free floating under the dash and not mounted on the body? And does having the antennae close/touching other wires under there effect it?

Please broaden my knowledge boys!!!

[HawgRyder]

Yes ...the antennae needs to be grounded at both the radio and the car body.
However...hiding it under the dash is not that great an idea...it will be shielded from the source by the body of the car.
An old trick with custom cars....use a chrome strip or outside mirror as your antennae.
By isolating the metal (on the outside of the car) from the car body (plastic supports...or nylon fasteners) you create a floating antennae.
Then all you need is a wire from the new antennae to the radio.
I once installed an inside ant. in a Corvette (fiberglass) under the headliner (a piece of tin foil) and it worked like a charm....the owner never did tell his friends how it was done.
Bob

[jmohn]

Your car may have an antennae signal amplifier (often over-looked when installing newer radios).
Is it connected and functioning?

JerryM
'78 SC

[1985RedTarga]

Originally Posted by jmohn

Your car may have an antennae signal amplifier (often over-looked when installing newer radios).
Is it connected and functioning?

JerryM
'78 SC

Huhhhh? lol I have no idea what that may be. Would that be something from the factory? I can take a look under there and see. I had the radio installed, so I'm not sure.

[porwolf]

Why not add a manual external one on the driver side fender? They are simple and reliable and cheap, about $15-$25 new. The original "Hirschmans" can be completely sunk into the body for car washing. They can be raised with a little key.

[1985RedTarga]

Originally Posted by porwolf

Why not add a manual external one on the driver side fender? They are simple and reliable and cheap, about $15-$25 new. The original "Hirschmans" can be completely sunk into the body for car washing. They can be raised with a little key.

I don't really want to cut holes in the body. The only station I want is an AM. I have sat radio, music on a SD card.

[Keithcza]

I replaced the amplifier with one from VW. Worked like a charm. You just have to make sure you can get to those wires from the antenna. I had to splice on some extra length to get to the amplifier.

[GH85Carrera]

Without that amplifier AM is dead. FM is weak. Mine was disconnected by a PO. I finally discovered the amplifier after I had owned the car for many years. With the amp plugged in and working my reception is great with a windshield antenna.

[1985RedTarga]

I had a new windshield put in a couple of months ago. I'm thinking that they forgot to plug the windshield into the ant cable. I still have the original one coming through the firewall, but I'm thinking they forgot to plug that extension cable into the windshield. That's how it would work right? I can't imagine the original windshield cable was ran from it's location straight to the radio.

[GH85Carrera]

The amp is in the very corner of the passenges side of the trunk back behind the strut that keeps the hood up. It is easy to figure out if it is unplugged.

[1985RedTarga]

Thanks all for the amp info. I did locate it and it is properly hooked up. I'm leaning towards the "homemade" and invisible idea. If anyone has details to help, that would be awesome!!