Boosting antenna

[chrismoore701]

Is there a way to boost the antenna in my 79? It is in the windshield. I installed a custom autosound and the reception is terrible.

Any ideas?

[tucsonjwt]

I would check your connections. I have owned 3 squares with antennas in the windshield and all had good reception. I currently have a base model Alpine head unit and it has good reception in my 83 C20.

[andrewmp6]

Or worse case get a hidden car antenna theres many styles and brands.

[cadillac_al]

I always thought the windshield antennas were the best. My old Clarion stereo has the best tuner in the business and always worked great in my Cutlass with windshield antenna. I put it in my Cadillac with fender antenna and the reception wasn't as good. I immediately determined that windshield antennas were better. I bought another cheap fender mount antenna and that was the same. I then went to the tried and true metal coat hanger sitting on the trans hump and that was slightly worse than a fender antenna but still very usable.

I would be curious how a basic coat hanger would compare to your antenna. If it's better, then there must be a problem with your antenna connection. My trucks just have cheapo radios in them so I haven't put them to the test in years trying to get those distant stations. I hope Custom Autosound doesn't use cheap tuners because I am close to buying one myself. Keep us posted if you find a solution.

[chrismoore701]

It fades in and out real bad when I drive. I plan to try a piece of wire stuck in the back of the radio. I checked my connections and they are good. Would like to know if there is a way to check continuity

Chris

[tucsonjwt]

I suppose you could check the continuity in the windshield antenna itself. I never heard of an antenna break inside of the windshield, but I suppose it is possible. As I recall, there are two wires under the button style cover at the windshield base. You can use a multimeter to check continuity on the two wire ends. You can check Youtube for some good instructions on how to check continuity and detect an open circuit if you are unclear on this.

[roger97338]

I haven't looked through it, but here is a link to a Delco radio service book. It probably has something in it on testing and/or troubleshooting antennae problems.

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resi...int=file%2cpdf

If that link doesn't work, you can find it with all the other tech manuals on that other Chevy pickup forum. (I'm not sure if it's cool to name drop or not.)

[Jrgunn5150]

They actually used to sell antenna boosters for these thing's. I recall my dad putting them in his truck and my mom's Grand Prix back in the 80's, have you checked Amazon?

[chrismoore701]

See link

Amazon.com: Actpe Audo Car Inline Antenna Radio...
I have a power antenna lead from my painless harness. Worth a try

[chrismoore701]

Do you think this is a good option

[tucsonjwt]

I know that cell phone antenna boosters work well since I have used them in the past. The problem with the powered boosters is that they do get very hot.

I used a Wilson trucker antenna for a cell phone and it worked great on an old cell phone which I used inside my aluminum sided office trailer (think Faraday box, with zero reception.) I used the cell phone as a modem for an internet connection and it was excellent - 5 bars all the time. I would check the Wilson website to see what they might have for a radio. That trucker antenna is designed for a CB radio, but it probably has an adapter to work on a car radio, and would boost cell phone reception also if you got a two way connector - but then you would have to attach it to your exterior mirror - 10-4 rubber ducky.

I would still verify that your windshield antenna is intact first.

Trucker-Spring-Mount-Antenna/dp/B00L1UKRP6/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1463677647&sr=8-4&keywords=antenna+wilson

[BB72CHEVKT]

It is the radio. I have one that is brand new and they get terrible reception.

[chrismoore701]

Originally Posted by chrismoore701

See link

Amazon.com: Actpe Audo Car Inline Antenna Radio FM & AM Stereo Signal Amp Amplifier Booster (Works for Both AM and FM Radio Stations): Car Electronics

I have a power antenna lead from my painless harness. Worth a try

Did not work. Maybe the antenna wire is broke between the radio and windshield. How do you test this?