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Conference terri::cars_uk

Title:Cars in the UK
Notice:Please read new conference charter 1.70
Moderator:COMICS::SHELLEYELD
Created:Sun Mar 06 1994
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2584
Total number of notes:63384

134.0. "car aerials gripe" by MARVIN::COCKBURN (Live fast, die happy) Sun Apr 24 1988 20:27

 Does anyone know why some manufacturers go in for roof mounting aerials
 in such a big way? I don't see any advantage at all in having it up there.
 I've got a peugeot (my own) and I'm a bit niffed at having the aerial bent 
 every time it goes through a car wash, cause it doesn't retract or come off.

 Why can't all car manufacturers use some sense and build fully retracting
 aerials? It's not as if you gain very much from the height either, cause 
 roof aerials are mounted at an angle.

			Craig.
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134.11MAJORS::QUICKWouldn't you like to knowTue Apr 21 1992 15:186
  The car I've just bought has a Bosch windscreen ariel; the "radio" end
  has the normal ariel plug, plus a red lead with a spade connector - 
  anyone know what this is for? Is it a power lead?

  JJ.
134.12A semi Wild Guess....COMICS::COOMBERInverted Flight ExpertTue Apr 21 1992 15:279
    This is a semi wild guess, but my bmw has a bosch ariel , not the sort
    of thing I'd fancy on the windscreen. It has a normal antenna lead plus
    a single wire, can't remember the colour, but that is the power wire
    for the antenna pre-amp. My guess is that it may serve that same
    purpous.
    
    
    
    	Garry
134.13Antennae....RDGENG::MOAKESRTue Apr 21 1992 15:349

The pre-amp idea sounds good,  those windscreen antennae need quite a bit of 
help.

The best use for it would be to combine it with another regular automatic aerial
and use a diversity tuner... (loadsa bucks..!)

_Richard
134.14MAJORS::QUICKWouldn't you like to knowTue Apr 21 1992 16:037
	So do I stick 12 volts up it, that's the question???

	I'll probably replace it with a normal ariel in the long run
	but just to get things going this'll do...

	JJ.
134.15Could check....COMICS::COOMBERInverted Flight ExpertTue Apr 21 1992 16:548
    
    I also have a damaged  version of the same antenna in the workshop. I
    use I can firstly tell you what colour the wire is and secondly what
    happens with the wire disconnected . I must go down there this evening
    ,I left the lathe looking like a pig stye. I'll post a reply tomorrow.
    
    
    	Garry
134.16And it looks like this...COMICS::COOMBERInverted Flight ExpertWed Apr 22 1992 11:0830
    Ok, if the thing you have is anything like the antenna I looked at this
    is what it looks like.
    
    coming direct from the bottom of the antenna are 2 wires 1 grey(
    antenna lead ) and a second single wire which is red. The red wire is
    the power to the pre-amp. I don't know if car radios have a standard
    wiring but it connects to a yellow wire off the radio, I think this is
    the power source that would normally power an electric antenna. I
    suspect that it only make a diffence when the signal is marginal. I
    tried it with the pre-amp disconnected it made little or no difference,
    but then again I only tried it on capital radio and I was in London.
    
    
    
                                     |
    				     |	
                                     |
                                     |
                                     |
                                     -
                                    | |
                                    | |-----------------------> Pre amp pwr
                                     ---------------------------> Antenna    
    
	Thats what it kinda looks like.
    
    
    Hope that helps 
    
    Garry
134.17MAJORS::QUICKWouldn't you like to knowWed Apr 22 1992 11:514
	Great, thanks!

	JJ.