Discussion
Now that the Chimerea is my new religion (supplanting diy as my usual source of Sunday worship) tomorrow I'll be mainly fitting Mr Beer's radio amplifier kit.
Any top tips / do's and don'ts?
Last weekend I swapped the old radio for a DEH-P77MP which rocks but I lost the front speakers, careless I know... again helpful suggestions most welcome.
Any top tips / do's and don'ts?
Last weekend I swapped the old radio for a DEH-P77MP which rocks but I lost the front speakers, careless I know... again helpful suggestions most welcome.
That's exactly the combo I have Tiger. The wire to the front goes through the left hand side of boot, and appears in the access panel behind the door. From there to the front is easiest under the edge of the carpet, where it will be completely hidden.
Speakers for the front, you need 6" not the much more common 6.5". JL make some, try ebay.
You will soon magically have decent radio reception.
Speakers for the front, you need 6" not the much more common 6.5". JL make some, try ebay.
You will soon magically have decent radio reception.
Mmmm, mixed results but far from ideal...
Installation was quite straightforward, earthed to the CD changer chassis as the fuel tank in not grounded on later Chimereas.
Reception has improved but is far from good, it doesn't drop out completely anymore but still fades a little and is very crackly. I threw away the copper strip aerial and replaced it with a VHF feeder which spans the whole boot and the sides too. Again a noticeble improvement but still a lot of interference especially when the engine is running.
There is defintely power to the amp (checked it) but performance is not much different without.
Any ideas where I go from here? I'm considering a DAB add on for my head until, at least that way I will have a clean signal?
Installation was quite straightforward, earthed to the CD changer chassis as the fuel tank in not grounded on later Chimereas.
Reception has improved but is far from good, it doesn't drop out completely anymore but still fades a little and is very crackly. I threw away the copper strip aerial and replaced it with a VHF feeder which spans the whole boot and the sides too. Again a noticeble improvement but still a lot of interference especially when the engine is running.
There is defintely power to the amp (checked it) but performance is not much different without.
Any ideas where I go from here? I'm considering a DAB add on for my head until, at least that way I will have a clean signal?
Are you sure about the tank? I have a 99 450 and had to scratch the edge of the tank and clamp the wire to it. Seems to work, so well I have forgotton all about it. Radio 4 used to fade in and out but is OK now, using the copper strip stretdched across the back of the boot opening.
If you say the autochanger is earthed, I could try that as I have one too. I changed my head unit at the same time so never did a true like for like comparison, but the combination of amp plus Pioneer DEHP77MP works great in my car.
If you say the autochanger is earthed, I could try that as I have one too. I changed my head unit at the same time so never did a true like for like comparison, but the combination of amp plus Pioneer DEHP77MP works great in my car.
Been reading up on this a little more. It appears that the amp will work without an earth but the aerial works better with an earth plane. The autochanger earth runs all the way back to the battery and apparently the long cable may pick up interference.
For interest when i press the boot release (key in ignition of course) the radio buzzes as the contact is made.
I'm going to disconnect the earth tomorrow and see if there is any improvement.
Is your R4 reception totally crackle free?
>> Edited by Tigertiger on Monday 7th February 23:32
For interest when i press the boot release (key in ignition of course) the radio buzzes as the contact is made.
I'm going to disconnect the earth tomorrow and see if there is any improvement.
Is your R4 reception totally crackle free?
>> Edited by Tigertiger on Monday 7th February 23:32
I must admit that I have had a similar experience. The amp improved matters but the radio still finds it difficult to find any stations at all when autotuning. The AM reception has improved to the point that I can now actually pick up 5 Live whereas I used to get nothing but static and engine noise.
I was going to play around with the connections one sunny day to try and improve matters - but when it's sunny I just want to drive the car and I forget all about the radio.
It will be good if you come up with any solutions.
Nick
I was going to play around with the connections one sunny day to try and improve matters - but when it's sunny I just want to drive the car and I forget all about the radio.
It will be good if you come up with any solutions.
Nick
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