QuestionQUESTION: Hello Brian, I have a question about my antenna and my Kenwood HD Radio, ever since I installed my Kenwood KDC-X891 Head unit it didn't get as many station my stock 97 Audi Blaukput Head Unit I then ungraded to the HD unit and often loose the HD and Sub station even in the same city the station broadcast from. My main question is how can I run my antenna to get the best signal and why switching from a stock head unit would change the the reception that much?
Thanks,
KevO
ANSWER: Hi KevO,
You don't say what vehicle you have, but I'm guessing your AM/FM aerial is either embedded in the rear window glass, or a short "bee sting" antenna located on the rooftop. If that's the case, then your vehicle was probably also equipped with a factory antenna amplifier. When a new head unit is installed, you typically have to power a wire in the factory radio harness to activate the antenna amplifier. This is something that's very often overlooked during the after-market head unit installation. If the antenna amplifier isn't turning on, then AM and FM reception will suffer, and this will affect both the HD broadcast and standard analog radio.
Another possibility is that the antenna adapter used for the installation is faulty, or not the right one for your application.
If you can follow up with the year and model of your vehicle, I might be able to provide more specific information.
Hope this helps!
Brian
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QUESTION: If you can follow up with the year and model of your vehicle, I might be able to provide more specific information.
Yea that might help, thanks for the quick reply, its a 1997 Audi A4 I've read something about the antenna amplifier, is this something I have to buy or can I wire something in? I am both mechanically and electronically inclined so with some direction I can wire something in if it's possible.
AnswerHi,
It looks like the activation wire for your vehicle's antenna amplifier is integrated into the antenna cable. You'll need an antenna adapter that includes a power wire for the amplifier activation. Metra makes two different adapters that will work in your car; the model numbers are 40-VW53 and 40-VW54. Either will work; it looks like the 40-VW54 might be a little easier to fit behind the radio if you have limited space.
If your existing antenna adapter didn't have the power wire, then you'll just need to purchase the new adapter and install it in place of the old one. The power wire will connect to the blue wire in the Kenwood plug; no other wire connection is required. It should be a quick and easy job.
Brian
