Question re: power antenna and aftermarket stereo Options

[pandito]

Hey y'all.

A while back, I had come upon a post from a user that was able to wire his stereo in such a way that he power antenna goes up only when the radio is active on his aftermarket unit. For the life of me, I can't find it and I'm trying to get mine to do the same.

Basically, if the HU is on, the antenna goes up. It doesn't matter if I'm using the AUX or the iPod input - the antenna is getting the signal that the HU / "radio" is active and therefore goes up. I want to emulate his deal where it goes up ONLY when the radio is active.

Any help would be really awesome.

[Jmk91]

http://www.6gc.net/howto/install_s2000_antenna
Well sir how about you do this... Simple mod... Makes your car look 20x better and its so simple a caveman could do it. Also I'll link you do a much cheaper antenna that'll work off eBay for under 10$. You'll just need to get some good super glue. I used professional grade and have had zero issues. 100mph stays fine and high pressure car wash it still stays attached with zero play.

http://m.ebay.com/itm/221639708699?nav=SEARCH

I know this isn't the answer to your question butttt its a much better choice

[1994Celica]

Don't use the glue. I tried it that way and hated it. Get a 7th gen base, and do it the right way.
Here's a guide
http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=62139

[Jmk91]

I've never had one issue with the way I have mine done. Can't see any glue or anything, looks like it belongs there. Never knew you could use a 7th gen base tho.

[Noahwhite2014]

Hey y'all.

A while back, I had come upon a post from a user that was able to wire his stereo in such a way that he power antenna goes up only when the radio is active on his aftermarket unit. For the life of me, I can't find it and I'm trying to get mine to do the same.

Basically, if the HU is on, the antenna goes up. It doesn't matter if I'm using the AUX or the iPod input - the antenna is getting the signal that the HU / "radio" is active and therefore goes up. I want to emulate his deal where it goes up ONLY when the radio is active.

Any help would be really awesome.

Simplest way would be to put a switch between the power wire and the antenna, when you use the radio flip the switch on, when you're not using it, flip it off.

[Noahwhite2014]

Sorry double post

This post has been edited by Noahwhite2014: May 12, 2015 - 3:36 PM

[Noahwhite2014]

wire in an up switch and a down switch,
That would be the simplest way, but it won't be automatic

Now that I think about it, I'm not sure if our antennas have just a positive 12v control wire that makes it go up, if it does you can just wire a on/off switch between that and when it's off the antenna will retract? I'm not sure I'd have to check again

[pandito]

Thanks for the ideas / replies y'all! After going over the electrical schematics, I found that the Alpine HUs are all the same in that when power is active to the HU, it closes the circuit for the power antenna, regardless of input, and therefore raises it. Sony HUs can differentiate between sources and can open the circuit when not using the radio, thereby retracting the antenna. I kind of fancy the power antenna so I'll probably not swap it out for a stubby just yet.

[richee3]

wire in an up switch and a down switch,
That would be the simplest way, but it won't be automatic

Now that I think about it, I'm not sure if our antennas have just a positive 12v control wire that makes it go up, if it does you can just wire a on/off switch between that and when it's off the antenna will retract? I'm not sure I'd have to check again

I used to have a simple toggle switch interrupting the antenna wire in my car. Head unit turned on but the signal stopped at the toggle switch until I turned it on. It would still automatically retract when I shut the car off, due to loss of signal power.

[Stu37363]

Mine does this, and i didnt do anything special... I think my headunit just had an antenna wire that only powers when the radio is in use. If your head unit doesnt have that, then there is no automatic way.My head unit is an alpine, but its rather old at this point.

This post has been edited by Stu37363: Jun 10, 2015 - 2:31 PM

[sircalebwhite]

Mine did that with an older Sony Xplode deck i had in it for a while until i left it on while going through a car wash....