Thread: earth/aerial test

Are you talking interference or sensitivity?
If interference it can be via the antenna or the electrical input.

If it is injectors ,as I have heard is a problem with I assume TD5 then there is not much you can do except move the antenna as far possible away and ensure you have a good ground at both ends.

If electrical from the alternator, which is a "whining" sound that rises and falls , check that the capacitor is properly connected to the alternator output.
If its just a weak performance its probably a bit poor sensitivity of the stereo, and a poor antenna. If it is not Pioneer or JVC then its probably pretty poor.
You can buy a high gain FM antenna from AFAIR Mobile 1 but it is fibreglass and doesn't retract. I can get FM clearly for a couple of hundred Ks in flat country with mine.
Regards Philip A

Thanks Phillip A, it's lack of signal strength and interferance when I pass under powerlines etc. it's a new sony unit and compared with ome units in other vehicles it doesn't do well at sucking in a signal at long range. The earth is what the original factory unit was coupled to and I hooked it to that because it was there even though my preference is to screw the earth wire to some steel myself. The aerial is a telescopic aftermarket job with a spring base sold to me by a local auto electrician. I've heard of mobile 1 and if I replace the aerial, thats where I'll head. Don.

Sounds like you may have an antenna problem - perhaps the antenna is shorting.
do you have a multimeter ? if so you can do this

1. disconnect the antenna from the radio
2. put meter on OHMS range ( lowest ohms )
3. put one lead of your meter on the centre pin of the plug and the other on the antenna whip ( you might need to extend the lead with a bit of wire. )
4. you should get LOW ohms ( 3-4 ohms or so )
5. now turn your meter to the high ohms range - check between the plug centre pin and the outside sheath ( the earth.) You should get very HIGH ohms. ( I reckon you might find there's a short here )
6. now check between the outside sheath of the plug and an earth point on your car - you should get LOW ohms again.

Fail 4. - you have a break between plug and antenna
Fail 5 - you have a short between antenna and earth
Fail 6 - your antenna earth is not earthed to the car.