Shark Fin Antenna

[Razorman]

Another question about my recently inherited S40.
It has a shrk fin antenna on the roof. Stupid question really is this for the car radio?
Someone at work said that they are usually for a bluetooth phone, but this car does not have that facility?

[gareth153]

Hi
I work in a Volvo dealership and the fin is associated with the fact that the car has been prepared for Satelite Radio. Hope this helps.

[Razorman]

Thanks for the reply, but I don't really understand what that means?
As far as I am aware the radio is just a standard AM/FM radio with a single CD player.

I have posted another question to say that my stand alone sat nav won't work in the car and I asked if anyone knows why. Could the fact that it is "prepared for satellite radio" have anything to do with that?

[555ST]

gareth153 said:

Hi
I work in a Volvo dealership and the fin is associated with the fact that the car has been prepared for Satelite Radio. Hope this helps.

[anorak] In the UK, most P1 cars (C30, S40, V50) and all P3 cars (S80, V70, XC70, XC60) currently have the shark fin. It houses the Sat-Nav aerial if the car has RTI fitted, and is fitted to all cars because it is more cost effective to produce all the cars the same.

The two cars which don't have the fin are the XC90, and the C70 if it doesn't have RTI - the C70 will have the fin on the boot-lid (rather than the roof) IF it has RTI fitted. [/anorak]

[T5R+]

555ST said:

I work in a Volvo dealership and ............

Good to see a Salesperson "know their onions"

[Razorman]

Thanks 555ST.
Indeed it is good to know that someone at Volvo knows what they are talking about.
So a few more questions :-
1) Any idea why my Sat Nav won't work in the car?
2) If the Antenna is there for the Volvo Sat Nav if fitted do you know if it is actually wired as standard?
3) If it is could I use it as an external arial?
4) If the answer to 2) & 3) is yes any idea on how I would recognise the aerial wire?

I don't want much do I !!!!!

[555ST]

Razorman said:

Thanks 555ST.
Indeed it is good to know that someone at Volvo knows what they are talking about.
So a few more questions :-
1) Any idea why my Sat Nav won't work in the car?
2) If the Antenna is there for the Volvo Sat Nav if fitted do you know if it is actually wired as standard?
3) If it is could I use it as an external arial?
4) If the answer to 2) & 3) is yes any idea on how I would recognise the aerial wire?

I don't want much do I !!!!!

Thanks for the compliments chaps!

(1) Honestly don't know. I thought it might have been something in the windscreen that was blocking electromagnetic radiation (filtering out UV & IR, also potentially RF in the case of your sat nav) but if your service department has ruled that out they're probably right.

(2,3&4) From experience of other manufacturers, I think it is very unlikely that the RTI aerial is actually fitted inside the shark fin if your S40 doesn't have RTI. I can ask one of our technicians and post back for you.

[555ST]

Right, sorry it's taken a while to get back to you - been a busy week!

The shark's fin contains the RTI aerial and/or GSM phone aerial if these options are fitted to the car. If no RTI/GSM, then no aerial inside.

If the car has IR reflective windscreen fitted, the edge of the glass will be bright blue. If you email your reg. no. to me, I can check the build spec of your car on the Volvo system. [e-mail]

Hope this helps!

Edited by 555ST on Thursday 5th March 10:58

[Razorman]

555ST you have mail.

Or rather you would have mail, but it has been returned as undeliverable. I know I got the address right as I copied it direct from your post. Is it correct in your post?

Edited by Razorman on Friday 6th March 00:09

[555ST]

Razorman said:

555ST you have mail.

Or rather you would have mail, but it has been returned as undeliverable. I know I got the address right as I copied it direct from your post. Is it correct in your post?

Sorry! That should be [e-mail] Still haven't got used to my new email address! Please resend.

I have today off but will pick it up tomorrow and check for you.

Edited by 555ST on Friday 6th March 10:36