i heard about an antenna delete with rear defroster. true? or false?

[kinvodA]

And offer insight into " behind the radio" connections. A lot of us would love to delete our antenna. Just one less motor to fix or replace. Thank you sir.

Save weight too! ;)

[StereoInstaller1]

luke can you offer insight on relays to toggle between the two functions? i'm up in MA and definitely will be needed the defrost, but I currently have no antenna. it sux when my phone dies and I forget to bring a couple CD's

Man, I wish I knew how to draw spiffy diagrams on this stupid confuser thing!

OK, so here is the basics: First, look at page 6100-4 of your ETM (this example is from the '87, seems to be the most comprehensive of all the ETMs).

You will see at the back of the switch there is a black wire that runs all the way to the rear window, says it is pin 6 on that diagram.

Let me make a quick disclaimer here: I have NOT done this actual procedure, if this fucks up, don't whine at me...but this is what I would do if I were doing it.

OK, so somewhere, you need to cut that wire and connect it to a relay (normal SPDT 12v relay, MUST have "87a" in the center), so make sure you have some slack somewhere.

So here are relay connections:

Pin 85 = Ground
Pin 86 = black wire from defroster
Pin 87 = again, black wire from defroster, but MUST be "switch side"
Pin 87a = center pin of motorola style antenna plug (ONLY the center wire of the co-axial cable) and maybe not a bad idea to use a 1a fuse on this wire to protect your radio
Pin 30 = black wire going to window (MUST be the "window" side, NOT the "switch" side)

So, here are the basics of how this works: Normally, when you are listening to radio, the connection will be from pin 87a to pin 30 on the relay, meaning the antenna lead would be connected to the defroster grid, and thus to your radio. (uses the N.C. or "Normally Closed" connection)

When you turn on the Defrost switch, the black wire goes to +12V, which will switch the relay so that now, pin 87 is now connected to the rear window grid (you just closed the "Normally Open"...make sense?)

I am pretty sure I said you can't have both on at the same time, but if I didn't, I will say it again: you cannot use both at the same time. Soon as you turn your defrost on, you lose reception.

So again, let me make this clear: I HAVE NOT DONE THIS PROCEDURE, THIS JUST MIGHT BE STUPID! IF YOU BLOW SHIT UP BLAME A GODDAMN MIRROR!
I SAY BUY A GODDAMN ANTENNA IF YOU WANT YOUR RADIO TO WORK! DON'T SCREW UP AND TEST SHIT FIRST! NOW IS THE TIME TO USE THAT STUPID DIGITAL METER TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE NOT SENDING VOLTAGE THE WRONG WAY INTO THE RADIO!

Bleah

AGAIN, TEST SHIT AND DON'T BLOW IT UP!

OK, enough disclaimers. Good luck, fellers.

If I can help, let me know. I am desperately trying to salvage my business and keep it afloat rather than getting a job at WalMart, so I am trying to get shit done in the shop, it might be a day or three until I can respond here with tech help.

Luke

[evilnickwong]

If I never want to use the defroster (not much use for it here in Malaysia), would I just need to:

1. Disconnect existing wires from spade connectors on both sides of the defroster grid
2. Disconnect antenna cable from rear antenna in boot
3. Route said cable onto parcel shelf instead and connect the middle conductor of the coax to either side of the spade connectors on the defroster grid
4. Done?

*EDIT* The Corvette link on first page mentioned that the also grounded the coax cable's ground conductor by mounting it to the bare frame using a self tapping screw. Is this required?

[StereoInstaller1]

If I never want to use the defroster (not much use for it here in Malaysia), would I just need to:

1. Disconnect existing wires from spade connectors on both sides of the defroster grid
2. Disconnect antenna cable from rear antenna in boot
3. Route said cable onto parcel shelf instead and connect the middle conductor of the coax to either side of the spade connectors on the defroster grid
4. Done?

*EDIT* The Corvette link on first page mentioned that the also grounded the coax cable's ground conductor by mounting it to the bare frame using a self tapping screw. Is this required?

The grid is grounded on one side and should have adequate resistance to make a good antenna overall...but it MIGHT need to have a relay open that ground too, at which point you would need to do that at the back window.

Someone do this and test it, see how the reception is. The worst that should happen is the antenna circuit sees a ground and won't allow reception...the guide I posted should do fine, but again, I have not tried this yet, nor will I ever, so we have to count on you guys doing it to prove this.

[evilnickwong]

The grid is grounded on one side and should have adequate resistance to make a good antenna overall...but it MIGHT need to have a relay open that ground too, at which point you would need to do that at the back window.

Someone do this and test it, see how the reception is. The worst that should happen is the antenna circuit sees a ground and won't allow reception...the guide I posted should do fine, but again, I have not tried this yet, nor will I ever, so we have to count on you guys doing it to prove this.

I'll probably try this when I next get back to my home. I'll try hooking up my antenna cable to one side of the defroster and leave the other side unplugged and see if that works.

Planning to get rid of the antenna this way. Already bought delete plugs from jaywood. :)

[cikisdeadly1]

thanks man. ima try and... well if i screw up i am getting a new radio anyway so it wont really matter to much. now for the relay switch, could i just get that at my local auto zone or parts store? or is there a spacific type i should get? i dont want to end up buying the wrong one and then not being able to return it. that would suck and i dont want to waist money because race car. and race car is expensive.

[cikisdeadly1]

?

[evandael]

check out the 'frequently bought together' in this link:

http://www.amazon.com/Absolute-RLS12.../dp/B0002KR9GG


that includes socket w/ pigtails for easy crimping, the relay itself, and an inline fuse for the radio power (like luke suggested)

[g.ruff561]

Anybody get this done yet?

[jrobie79]

bump

[nmlss2006]

It would be possible to isolate say the bottom two elements and use those as an antenna. The hardest part would probably be getting a contact on the separate part,but it woudln't be unfeasible.

[mmire30]

From the corvette guy who did it above, wouldnt it just be easier to use a capacitor? And would this allow both to be functional at the same time?

[e30slidewayz]

random bump, I'd like to see if anyone's tried this yet

[e30slidewayz]

Just found this, looks like a fun project... then shaving the antenna http://www.ek9.org/forum/resource-ar...r-antenna.html

[Northern]

might do this in the iX while it still has a stereo, since someone shaved the antenna.