Electric Antenna Switch

[boom-monkey]

I would like to put a swith in near the hazard light swith that would allow me to put the antenna down when I have a CD in, and allow me to put it up when I use the radio. I'm tired of the antenna getting bent back while I'm on the interstate from the wind when I don't even use the radio that much.

Just unplugging the radio is not an option because I use the radio to get traffic updates.

What I would really like to know is how the antenna know's when to go up/down. Does the antenna stay up when there is power from the radio supplying it, then go down when there is no signal from the radio? If so then can I just put in a switch like the defrost/hazard switch?

Let me know what you have in mind, as I am pretty clueless on the electronic aspect.

[StereoInstaller1]

What deck is in your dash? Most upper end decks have 2 seperate switched outputs for just that reason. I can help you do what you want, no matter what, but lets start with the deck.

Luke

[ak96ss]

Cut the white wire coming out of the back of the radio and put a switch in there. I'm getting ready to do mine this week, if you want to wait I can post results.

Of course, I'll have to cut mine in the trunk area, since I am using the antenna power signal as the remote turn on for my amps.

[Purdue89E30]

I put mine in a while ago, I cut the wire to the antenna and put the switch on it, works great.

[f u z z]

i will be doing this tommoro!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!

lolomgzh4xorsftew!!!!!!!11

[Spencer]

I plan to do this also. Would either of the following switches work?

Foglight switch:


OR ... window breaker switch


-Spencer

[rwh11385]

1) my alpine puts down the antenna when the CD is in use

2) i get fine reception when the antenna is down anyway, so i simply unplugged the wiring to power it. if you don't, i'm sorry. see #1


i dunno. i'm plastered

[ak96ss]

Either should work fine, although I think the foglight switch will be easier to push.

[boom-monkey]

So what your saying is the antenna has it's own power source, and goes up when the radio sends a signal via the antenna wire.

There for by using a switch (fog light) in the antenna wire I can stop that signal from being sent when ever I want?

If so then it really is as easy as I thought, and thats awesome.

I wish my deck was able to retract the antenna on it's own, but alas, it came with the car, and I'm not that big into audio where I feel the need to change it.

Also the antenna gets OK FM reception when down, but AM reception is shit. The traffic updates that are reported most often and most accurately I've found to be on the AM dial.

[ak96ss]

So what your saying is the antenna has it's own power source, and goes up when the radio sends a signal via the antenna wire.

Yes

There for by using a switch (fog light) in the antenna wire I can stop that signal from being sent when ever I want?

Yes

If so then it really is as easy as I thought, and thats awesome.

Yes

I wish my deck was able to retract the antenna on it's own, but alas, it came with the car, and I'm not that big into audio where I feel the need to change it.

Also the antenna gets OK FM reception when down, but AM reception is shit. The traffic updates that are reported most often and most accurately I've found to be on the AM dial.

You could try a signal booster, but I find it's easier just to use the antenna. :)

[boom-monkey]

You my mang mang mang.

[ak96ss]

You my mang mang mang.

Aww, shucks... :) Anthing to help out a fellow M42'er....

BTW, I had to say that out loud to get it...

[MitchFong]

hmm, ive been wondering this for quite some time. But my antenna is always up? I think when the owner before me hooked up subs, amp, etc he unhooked the antenna or something? When i shut my car off i hear a motor or something(thought it was antenna retracting) but the antenna doesnt actually go down? And i hate the fast that i have a 3 foot piece of metal stuck up all the time..

[boom-monkey]

Something with the gear and the mast is fucked up. Just buy another antenna, way easier than taking the old one apart and trying to fix it.

I say this because used antennas are pretty cheap, not cause it's a hard job.