Factory Fitted antenna

[Father Ted]

Hi All.
As I've noted on other threads, I've replaced the factory fitted stereo with a touch screen double DIN unit as my original failed and it was only a little more expensive to upgrade rather than repair.
However, I now need a permanent solution for an antenna. I currently have a cheap windscreen antenna, but this is very much a stop gap.
I want to use the roof antenna. I can probably run a coax to this unit and solder onto the terminals straight off the antenna. But! I understand that the factory unit has an amplifier. Does anyone know if there is an RF take off on this before it goes into the tuner, or is it all one package?

Thanks to this bleeding virus I've been "furloughed" from work for at least a month, so I'll have a bit of time to play with this (if the Mrs lets me! ) but I figured I'd ask before re-inventing the wheel.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Father Ted

Hi All.
As I've noted on other threads, I've replaced the factory fitted stereo with a touch screen double DIN unit as my original failed and it was only a little more expensive to upgrade rather than repair.
However, I now need a permanent solution for an antenna. I currently have a cheap windscreen antenna, but this is very much a stop gap.
I want to use the roof antenna. I can probably run a coax to this unit and solder onto the terminals straight off the antenna. But! I understand that the factory unit has an amplifier. Does anyone know if there is an RF take off on this before it goes into the tuner, or is it all one package?

Thanks to this bleeding virus I've been "furloughed" from work for at least a month, so I'll have a bit of time to play with this (if the Mrs lets me! ) but I figured I'd ask before re-inventing the wheel.

the aerial tuning unit is in the rear roof under the outside plastic panel,
I have never ever had any problems with these so not looked myself , the tuner sends the audio down to the front via fibre optic cable so no good to you .

[SwissXC90]

The rear roof antenna is for pre-facelift models. You don't have much option here, you will need to fit an external antenna somewhere.

For facelift models, from about 2007, the FM antenna is an on-glass antenna.
Actually 2: one on the left hand, and one on the right hand rear side windows. For these cars the antenna runs to the dash board over normal coax cable. Each antenna contains an amplifier powered separately.
You can use one or the other of the two antennas with a corresponding adapter.
PS the left hand is also AM - it's the one with the more complex on-glass design.

[john langrick]

Just a suggestion, but how about mounting the aerial on the panel where your existing aerial is fitted in the roof? Something like this

https://www.incarconnections.co.uk/c...l-antenna.html

It could be that this very position may be beneficial.

You could also sell your old aerial assembly on the bay?

In any case thanks for the conundrum to give me something else to think about in these lockdown days!

John l

[Father Ted]

Originally Posted by john langrick

Just a suggestion, but how about mounting the aerial on the panel where your existing aerial is fitted in the roof? Something like this

https://www.incarconnections.co.uk/c...l-antenna.html

It could be that this very position may be beneficial.

You could also sell your old aerial assembly on the bay?

In any case thanks for the conundrum to give me something else to think about in these lockdown days!

John l

That's such a simple solution, I should have thought of it myself!

I have a windscreen antenna, currently mounted on my windscreen. I can easily extend this through to the rear and mount it to the roof panel. If the location proves a good one (and why wouldn't it?) then I will look to invest in a better quality one.
And, as I've got not work for a month or two, I'll have time to do it!

[Father Ted]

So. I have the roof lining out and the aerial removed. Then I had a thought.
Could I use the antenna part, disconnect the Antenna Module and fit my own amplifier (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-Car-T...cAAOSwqB5cz~w- )
I presume Volvo would have put a bit of thought into the pattern of tracks.
This leads to my next question.
What are the different patterns for? There seems to be 7 different patterns, with 3 connections going into the Antenna Module. One of these connections is ground, but the other two must be associated with FM / AM reception.

I'm thinking of linking these two, connecting them to my amplifier and running the output to my radio.
But! It's a long time since I've done much with radio (other than listen). If, as I think, one is FM and one is AM, would wiring them in together compromise their effectiveness?