Anyone upgraded their car aerial?

[Bandit12]

Hi Guys

I've just bought off ebay a 'shark type' car aerial as I want to use the roof bars on my C5 estate but the original black wire one was getting in the way. I've looked up on CitroenDoc backup how to remove the old aerial and base and was surprised to see it has 4 wires going into it. I only expected 1 or possibly 2.

The new one only has 2, 1 for the aerial and the others a 12v power supply for the inbuilt signal booster.
Any idea what these additional wires are for on the original aerial and can I get away with leaving 3 of them unplugged? Is a lexia required as part of the setup process?

Any advice is appreciated
Bandit

[c.morewood]

Anyone upgraded their car aerial?

No, But I've thought about it after hearing stories of rust in the roof mount affecting the earthing and recption.
Thanks for bringing the multitude of wire to my attention Bandit.. I'd have done the same, assumed, bought and then asked the question on here.
I'd be interested to hear the answer.

[waynedance]

Could the the extra wires be for the sat nav when fitted? I would also like to know the answer as I did think about changing mine due to poor signal.

[Peter.N.]

Fitting a smaller aerial is I'm afraid a retrograde step, generally the more metal there is in the air the more signal you will receive and if you do away with the pre amp it will be worse still.

Peter

[myglaren]

Fitting a smaller aerial is I'm afraid a retrograde step, generally the more metal there is in the air the more signal you will receive and if you do away with the pre amp it will be worse still.

Peter

Very much common sense but - there's always a but - although I am loath to have to listen to the radio - any radio - I discovered that mine works perfectly well with the aerial removed.
Further to that, when Steve (trainman) cleared the fault codes and initialised my autochanger at the National, one fault code that couldn't be cleared was "Defective Antenna" or words to that effect.

My estate was the same. Used it for ages without an aerial. (Used to try and listen to Classic FM until the adverts and presenters irritated me enough to drive in silence).

[Peter.N.]

You must have a very good signal there then, it wouldn't work down here.

Peter

[c.morewood]

Nor up here!!!

[myglaren]

I do live within sight of the Pontop Pike transmitter, maybe that's why.

[vborovic]

If it helps ...



I didn't have time to dig out the electrical wiring of the antenna

[Bandit12]

Hi Guys

Many thanks for the info, thoughts and the page from Cit.Doc.backup. Very uselful.

Here is the item I've bought

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CITROEN-C2-C3 ... 0929218339" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;?

It is advertised for C5 so I thought i would give it a punt.

Regarding the fault codes- I keep getting one for the aerial too. I clear it via lexia then it pops back again! Was kinda hoping that an aerial upgrade may help.

when the new one turns up I'll fit it and let you all know how I get on:-)

Bandit