[kramermic]

does the 968 have a factory antenna booster?



thanks, mickey

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[Larry Currie]

The Cab has an antenna amp behind the gove compartment. Not sure about the coupe.

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[Richard]

The coupe has the AM/FM signal amplifier in the base of the Fuba roof antenna. Poor reception can be the result of a bad amplifier or not having the antenna hooked up correctly to the head unit.

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[Dirk]

And the power lead to the booster is molded on the outside of the coax antenna cable, you should find it behind the radio connected to some power point (usually on the radio).

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[perbal]

I have a problem with my AM reception which I believe is due to a problem with the antenna amplifier. Is there a DIY on how to fix or replace it. Also, someone told me it was located under the passenger seat, not in the roof. Can someone verify? <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/unsure.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Perbal

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[sasilverbullet]

Are you sure you have the power wire for the antenna booster connected to +12v?

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[Dirk]

[quote name='perbal' date='Aug 22 2005, 09:55 PM']I have a problem with my AM reception which I believe is due to a problem with the antenna amplifier.  Is there a DIY on how to fix or replace it.  Also, someone told me it was located under the passenger seat, not in the roof.  Can someone verify?  <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/unsure.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> 



Perbal

[right][post="9015"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]

The booster is mainly for FM but it does some good for AM as well.

In a cab the amplifier is underneath the dash because the antenna is a wire inside the windscreen.

The various coupes have the booster in the fat part of the roof antenna, it is a very standard VW, Audi, Seat etc. part and is relatively easy to change out once you have taken out part of roof's the liner. It only has a few inches of wire and a little plug to hook it up to the cable towards the radio.

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[Richard]

Here is a description of the Fuba antenna from a site selling them:



"There are two amps built into the base of the Fuba Betaflex-D antenna, one for FM and one for AM, each amp has dedicated filtering that boosts the 'wanted' signal (not just the noise) and at the same time rejects overlapping stations and other noise. The dedicated filtering gives the ability for the filter to be specialized for the characteristics of that band (AM or FM) (The effect is like a digital phone, the static is eliminated and removed totally from the broadcasted signal, real bad static is heard as dead airspace)."



So it might be that only your AM amp has gone bad. If you do a Google search for "fuba betaflex" will you see some sites that sell a replacement amplified base piece for about $25-30.

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[kramermic]

I think my problem may be a lose connection, but won't know till i have the time to investigate. If it is right, would there be any advantage in running a second or aftermarket booster?

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[flash]

multiple boosters will likely add noise



what exactly is the problem you are having?

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[perbal]

The problem I'm having is that AM stations fade in and out, even when I'm driving on a straight road, sometimes for just several blocks, other times for longer stretches. It doesn't do it on FM, only AM. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/ohmy.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Perbal



P.S. Found the base, FUBA 17237 on www.antennnaworld.com for $28. But you have to buy the gasket separately for another few bucks.

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[flash]

AM stations are generally low power, often as low as 5000 watts - they do bounce the signal off the ionosphere, but generally tend to have spottier reception that finds "holes"



FM, while being "line of sight" transmission, are generally higher power, often as high as 60,000 watts, and tend to have more varying degrees of reception, and not so much the "on and off" thing that can happen with AM



side note: both types of transmission can occur with either an 8khz or 15khz cutoff - AM is generally 8khz and often mono - this is why the fidelity is so different - most FM stations are at 15khz, and stereo



did you recently change your deck? do you have an aftermarket deck? if so, are you sure they connected the booster power wire?

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[sayporsha]

Definitely need to look into this, as my recepton is crap in my 95 Cab (both FM and AM). I think I get one FM station - country - not worthy for a car of this marque!

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[flash]

check the booster first - also check the local settings in your deck if you have an aftermarket one - you may be inadvertantly filtering out what you want



could be your antenna in the windshield - my antenna looked fine in my windshield, but it turned out to be less than that - i could get stations, but all were weaker than i expected - the new one works much better

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[smshirk]

I have an after market head unit placed ny PO. I have zero AM reception. Not even 50k watt stations. Should I start with amplifier? Are there separate connections for AM and FM at AMP? Any help appreciated, as I prefer to listen to sports talk radio if anything at all, especially in traffic to and from work when I can't listen to engine?

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[flash]

there is only one rf cable for both ANM and FM - i would check the power lead from the deck (blue wire) to the antenna booster (black and red i think)

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[kramermic]

I pretty much have crap reception as well through FM and AM.

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[Beachboy]

Ok I feel like a dimwit. I'm reading this topic and yup, that's my radio, no AM. I think I'll check that amp wire and get a new amp if I need it.

I take the removeable face off the radio and three screws gets the plate under that off. I see the silver colored radio frame that fits inside the car's black frame but after about 20 minutes I can't find any release tabs or screws and the black frame will not move out. Nothing accessible from the rear. I removed the two screws on the side of the forward end of the console. That doesn't effect the radio.

Any tips on getting this #%!!#@ radio out.

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[Beachboy]

OK now it's worse. I did a search and found a reply to this question that mentions two pins on the side of the radio frame. 30 more minutes looking for the pins. I'm obviously missing something simple.

The radio is a Sony XR U330, it came with the car. No manual.

Any ideas?

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[flash]

read up a couple of posts

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