FM Radio Reception
FM Radio Reception
Author
Discussion

smithsi

Original Poster:

511 posts

258 months

Sunday 15th October 2006
quotequote all
I know that FM radio reception is poor in the Cerbera when it comes from the factory.

How many people have been able to get a decent fix for this/fix an external ariel?

Is Carl Baker the man for this? I understand that he is very good at alarms/audio installtions?

c3ber

4,714 posts

252 months

Sunday 15th October 2006
quotequote all
Have a DAB system fitted in mine with the antenna at the rear on the roof... Sounds great and looks good to.

350matt

3,896 posts

308 months

Sunday 15th October 2006
quotequote all
Fitting a screen mounted aerial from Halfords to replace the exisitng one helps, as it's got a signal booster built in. Its better than before but still not great however I'm waiting for DAB head units to come down in price a bit before I try that option

Matt

kevin63

4,661 posts

282 months

Sunday 15th October 2006
quotequote all
Open your window and listen to that music.

smithsi

Original Poster:

511 posts

258 months

Sunday 15th October 2006
quotequote all
kevin63 said:
Open your window and listen to that music.


I see you spent near enough a grand on your own Kenwood in car system. Are you telling me you never switch the radio on?

headcase

2,389 posts

246 months

Sunday 15th October 2006
quotequote all
Does anyone know why the reception is poor after all the car is not made from metal therefore should not offer much resistance to radio frequency? Is it just a poor aerial setup, doe the engine produce too much interference or something else?

smithsi

Original Poster:

511 posts

258 months

Sunday 15th October 2006
quotequote all
headcase said:
Does anyone know why the reception is poor after all the car is not made from metal therefore should not offer much resistance to radio frequency? Is it just a poor aerial setup, doe the engine produce too much interference or something else?


There is no ariel as standard for starters.

headcase

2,389 posts

246 months

Sunday 15th October 2006
quotequote all
No aerial at all? I know that there is no external aerial but this can be said for alot of cars, some use the heated rear screen or front screen or an extra twirly bit of print on a rear window or you could just use a piece of wire chopped to the correct length!

Ireland

3,517 posts

243 months

Sunday 15th October 2006
quotequote all
smithsi said:
There is no ariel as standard for starters.



Are you sure?

Where does the other end of that aerial cable go to so?

I swapped around head units over the weekend and there definitely is an aerial cable in the dash.

I just assumed it was to an internal unit somewhere.

Am I wrong?

jensena

5,671 posts

259 months

Sunday 15th October 2006
quotequote all
There have been threads on here before about fittilg an aerial, but since the Search function on here changed to a Google search (or is that only me?) I can never find anything!
As fas as I remember it was buying an ordinary car aerial and somehow fitting it up inside the roll bar.
As it happens the reception on my Cerb is really good. although my last one had terrible reception, but the mew owner of it (Byker28i aka Dave) jas cured it - if he reads this I'm sure he will tell you.

kevin63

4,661 posts

282 months

Sunday 15th October 2006
quotequote all
smithsi said:
kevin63 said:
Open your window and listen to that music.


I see you spent near enough a grand on your own Kenwood in car system. Are you telling me you never switch the radio on?


Your right, I use the auto changer, Mp3 or DVD but yes never the radio.

Far Eastender

1,362 posts

247 months

Monday 16th October 2006
quotequote all
FM reception is poor and AM is non-existant!!

ireland

3,517 posts

243 months

Monday 16th October 2006
quotequote all
Does anyone know what do they actually use as an aerial?

And where is it?

alinton

965 posts

265 months

Monday 16th October 2006
quotequote all
The aerial connection goes to a wire thats often (in my 2 Cerbs anyway) layed along under the rear window behind where the CD player goes.

Mine actually works OK.

However On my previous Cerb I got a new aerial from Halfords, the roof type, 2-section telescopic. Extended it, covered it in sleeving to insulate it.

Then I attached a bit of earth wire from its body mounting nut.

I shoved the aerial up the C pillar on the passenger side from the boot, so effectively it went up that pillar and along inside the body above the door.

Connected the earth wire to a convenient chassis point.

This arrangement worked well. I'm not a fan of active aerials as they amplify the noise as well as the signals you want; This arrangment is not active and works well.

Andy.

byker28i

91,557 posts

246 months

Monday 16th October 2006
quotequote all
Morning.

On my 1997 4.2, the aerial lead disappears into the wiring loom and I believe just runs along the front dash under the windscreen.

I spent a little time playing with various cheap options, such as a rubber wing mount aerial in various positions such as under the dash, up the c piller etc.

Then I tried the Home Hi-Fi FM aerial, but finally finished up with the Halfords Amplified FM aerial. This is meant to be stuck to a windscreen, but I have mine stuck under the lip of the boot, above the fuel tank, so it's hidden from view. Make sure you earth it. This also has the advantage of being two fairly small wires (one power, one aerial lead) to feed down the centre console and behind the helmet holder into the boot.

Signal strength is reasonably good, but i'm guessing not as good as an external aerial would be, but that would ruin the lines/design philosophy. Mostly I get a good reception and it's as good as the reception in my wifes Eunos/Mx-5.

Hope this helps.

CMG

29 posts

240 months

Monday 16th October 2006
quotequote all
When I bought my cerb last month the dealer mentioned that the rear window de-mister was also the FM ariel...............he also mentioned that it was cr*p!! I've been trying to work out away to get my Ipod connected directly to my head unit(tried using an itrip, but reception useless). The only option I've been offered is to disconnect my CD changer and plug it into there. But would still mean having a cable hanging out of my dash, which I'm trying to aviod. Wanted to get the ipod wired into the boot but apparently no one makes the specific cable required long enough. Anyone else had any solutions? (sorry bit of tangent I know)

jensena

5,671 posts

259 months

Monday 16th October 2006
quotequote all
Theres lots of Head units available now with iPod (or any Mp3 player) connections, they just plug in.

Ireland

3,517 posts

243 months

Monday 16th October 2006
quotequote all
CMG said:
....tried using an itrip, but reception useless..............


Absolutely dire, isn't it?

Must be down to the lack of a decent aerial.

betty_swallocks

199 posts

243 months

Tuesday 17th October 2006
quotequote all
smithsi said:
kevin63 said:
Open your window and listen to that music.


I see you spent near enough a grand on your own Kenwood in car system. Are you telling me you never switch the radio on?

never
and i get annoyed when my daughter puts it on
thermal underwear and the window down for me

hbeck

424 posts

252 months

Tuesday 17th October 2006
quotequote all
Ireland said:
CMG said:
....tried using an itrip, but reception useless..............


Absolutely dire, isn't it?

Must be down to the lack of a decent aerial.




I use an itrip in mine no probs