Radio connections

[Big Les]

Just fitted a new radio to the 944 S2 - does anyone know which wire supplies the power to the antenna amplifier (does the antenna amplifier need a 12v supply?). I have a thin black lead that runs alongside the coax aerial lead, is it this one? Whilst on the subject the switched 12v supply (the grey one from the wiring loom) has a blue lead running alongside it - anyone know what this is for?

Radio all works fine, it's just the aerial signal comes and goes and I'm not sure if the antenna amplifier is working properly.

 

[Fen]

IIRC the black wire on the car is the aerial amp but it connects to the blue wire on an ISO stereo. which is accessory.

The additional blue lead you have I'm not sure a about. Does it look original? It could be power for an external amp or something, or it could be an unswitched live. Do you have a multimeter to check what it does?

 

[mik_ok]

Yes that's the one.

Without this connected I got virtually no reception.
When I connected it I got 5hit reception.

Not sure what is going on ~ under-windscreen booster is obviously working but I'm guessing the internal amplification in current head units is less than those of the 90's (?).

Dissapointing, as I can now play CDs but the radio is un-listenable. [:'(]

 

[Big Les]

I've now connected the black with the coax to the blue on the ISO connector (after checking it all with a meter first!) and reception is perfect - picking up stations I couldn't tune into before. Still don't know what the blue with the grey switched supply is though.

Mik_ok, you might need to check (if you can) the connection to the winscreen. I recently had a new windscreen fitted and the technician said the connection was almost not existent as the screen was delaminating.

 

[Fen]

I was going to suggest the same, mik.

There is a cover over the connection at the bottom driver's side of the screen. It's very common for that connection to be in a bad way but it can be repaired. The screen aerial takes a lot of stick but I think they work well when they are in good condition.

I couldn't live with a car that had no radio (nor analogue-only radio come to that [:-])

 

[mik_ok]

Radio reception was great on the OEM Alpine tape deck.

Haven't therefore checked the booster as:-

1. It was working before
2. It improved the signal markedly when I plugged in the black wire that runs with the coax into the +12V of the head unit.

Overall reception is still utter pants though. []

 

[carlmthompson]

Try one of these:-

Aerial Booster.

I had to put one of these in to fit an Alpine Radio in my last A4 and Passat.

Although I don't strictly need one in the BM, I use it anyway, as it boosts signal alot!

 

[mik_ok]

I've seen several guys on the SEAT forum talking about these following an ICE upgrade.

May well be worth a try Carl....

 

[mik_ok]

Just ordered. []

 

[carlmthompson]

Hope it works!

Remember to give it power (connect it to the solid blue wire from the head unit).

Not like dumbass me who forgot in the Passat and wondered why reception was pants for a month!

 

[mik_ok]

Worth a try for that price Carl.

I shall remember to power it []

Will post once fitted and let anyone viewing know the results. Need to get the radio sorted 'cos the wife keeps leaving seriously dodgy music in the slot [&:]

 

[mik_ok]

Bah! []

Reception has stepped up another level of clarity, but it still fades in and out.

Methinks my new head unit must have a fault. Will get in touch with Blaupunkt. []