Aerial Aggro!!

[Paulgo]

Hi

Im trying to get to the bottom of my p*ss poor radio reception – its never worked and I can see from an old post by the previous owner that Girlracer too had problems which never got sorted out. Been reading up on previous posts again re the usual detached white wire to finally try to crack this problem! But cant find all the answers!

I installed one of the aftermarket in line boosters a while ago that cost about £9 off ebay – and it never made a difference! Wired up correctly as far as I can tell to a switched 12v source – but in this post here it mentions making sure to “avoid amplifying the booster and the aerial” when wiring these units in - which it is possible that I have done.

Additionally, at the aerial end its always puzzled my that the amplifier base on the car has a metal ring around it – non of my other two coupes had this and I cant say Ive noticed it on others. Would this make it either a later / after market or even a Vauxhall base? Reason is that there’s also mention of later bases sending the 12v down the aerial cable itself and not separately down the illusive white wire. (I need to check again but Im not 100% sure if mine has a wire in that respect).

Finally does anyone know it the inline booster will work and provide good reception if the aerial base amplifier is burnt out? I would’ve thought it should as the aerial is in effect just being amplified at the other end i.e at the head unit, but have heard that it might somehow!

There's been some pretty.. erm.. inventive (!!) wiring carried out in the past - original ISO block is long gone & I coudlnt locate the white wire. Its also possible that the aerial cable itself is disconnected somewhere I cant see at the moment – but all thoughts welcome!

Cheers

Paul

[Jamo]

You need to check if the aerial base is getting 12v.

If it is, replace the aerial base as it's probably burnt out.

[CoupeWannabeS2]

I Havent seen any metal rings round beesting bases. I ended up getting a Vauxhall one and this totally sorted the problem. These are totally black and are slightly more upright when the aeiral is screwed into it. Initially I thought I had sorted my poor reception with an in-line booster, but soon things were back to normal.

The vauxhall ones are less the £30 and are no hassle to fit. The electrical plug is different to the Audi one, so I just cut the wires and went with a connector block.

Good luck with sorting yours out.

[philS2]

i got a vectra one from the scrap yard.totally sorted it.

[Jamo]

The thing about the vauxhall ones is the aerial sits at a 60 degree angle and look pants on the S2 IMHO.

Think the OEM one is 45 degrees

[philS2]

nah,vectra one sits at 45 still.

[Jamo]

nah,vectra one sits at 45 still.

Its not it's at a higher angle I had one and threw it away because of it. 90% of all new cars that have bee stings now sit at 60 degree angle.

[philS2]

it's not new by any means it's off a 98 ish vectra.i even screwed the original aerial into it.

[s2driveruk]

i sorted mine with a vectra base no need to change any of the connectors, mine just plugged in. Mine does sit slightly straighter and looks 'pants'