Radio/Antenna Question?

My CD player just bit the dust today in my '01 Trooper. Instead of paying $400 for the repalacement from Isuzu, I went and had an aftermarket CD player installed. Here's the problem: The factory antenna has two seperate connectors that went into the back of the factory stereo/unit. Anything aftermarket only has a single connection built into the unit. I have notice that my radio reception for both AM and FM are just awful compared to the factory radio. Is there some sort of connector/splice fix to help me out here?

I would contact the folks at Crutchfield.

Here is what a brainstorming session with my brother turned up... The antenna in my Trooper is actually located in the rear quarter windows.
Since they are in the windows, they don't receive as good of reception without an amplifier. Therefor, the factory unit has two connections, one for the amplifier and one for the actual signal. Does this make sense to anyone else... if so, is there a good aftermarket unit that will plug right in?
ps- I am going to contact crutchfield as soon as possible.

Update:
Crutchfield has no solution.
Isuzu has no solution.
Radio Shack has no solution.
I have no solution. :(

http://forum.planetisuzoo.com/viewforum.php?f=7&sid=b4665a14532231989e5df5e226b7b8ff

search and post to the above site.

Please look here:

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=456579

soonercntry.
I did the same with my trooper...i.e. replaced stock AM/FM cassette with nice CD player, in which I ran into the same problem. In the trooper there are two antennae located in each of the rear side windows. These antennae are powered....that is they are connected to RF amplifiers located in the body panels just below the windows. I suspect that you do not have these powered up, as I didn't initially....the antennae are basically not functional without powering the amp. All you have to do is trace the power wire from the amp to the radio connecter and connect it to your new unit's power up signal (the power lead from your new radio that is enabled when you turn on the radio/CD). This is not a high power source, maybe a few hundred milliamps. Most units have this available for powering an antenna mast (raising or lowering) or to power an external RF amplifier. As far as the two antenna connections, you can simply use one of them. Don't connect them together unless you are using a special RF combiner.

Hope this helps!

soonercntry.
I did the same with my trooper...i.e. replaced stock AM/FM cassette with nice CD player, in which I ran into the same problem. In the trooper there are two antennae located in each of the rear side windows. These antennae are powered....that is they are connected to RF amplifiers located in the body panels just below the windows. I suspect that you do not have these powered up, as I didn't initially....the antennae are basically not functional without powering the amp. All you have to do is trace the power wire from the amp to the radio connecter and connect it to your new unit's power up signal (the power lead from your new radio that is enabled when you turn on the radio/CD). This is not a high power source, maybe a few hundred milliamps. Most units have this available for powering an antenna mast (raising or lowering) or to power an external RF amplifier. As far as the two antenna connections, you can simply use one of them. Don't connect them together unless you are using a special RF combiner.

Hope this helps!


How do you trace the power wire to know which one you have to hook up?

Hi,
I have a solution, Find the unused spot in harness (#12) that is the amplifier lead for the diversity antenna, connect the power antenna or amp turn on wire (blue wire)from your new radio to this, run a new wire through the harness don't cut the wire from the factory harness if there is no wire there as most aftermarket connectors (Metra) do not have this lead and there you go, that's all.
Just use the larger antenna lead and tape off the small one as it is not needed.

Thanks devil. So If I understand correctly, I should run the blue wire from my new radio to the empty slot on the harness?

I will have to take another look at the harness but it sounds like I need to rewire into the harness somehow without cutting any wires.

I made the mistake of cutting off the small antenna connector (stupid, I know) Is there a way to fix this or do I not need the small antenna wire anymore, similar to taping it off.

Thanks.

Hi,
Yes, take the blue wire (power antenna or amp) and thread it thru the aftermarket harness, make sure it's # 12 ! should be about top center if I remember, It will be the only one in the factory harness that does not have a matching wire in the aftermarket harness. Don't worry about the small antenna connector, just tape it off as it is not needed.