Xantia Radios again

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fastred
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Xantia Radios again

Post by fastred »

Does anyone know whether any Xantias were ever fitted with amplified radio aerials?
I have a March 2000 V6 Exclusive, and have just replaced the mediocre Phillips head unit with which late Xantias were originally fitted with a new Kenwood unit. Result - no MW or LW.
Aerial connections are clean, and the centre pin on the DIN connector is still there. The Phillips set did pick up M and LW, although reception was never brilliant, and when I swap it back into the car it still does so.
The local car audio place checked the Kenwood with an external aerial for me and it was fine, but they (understandably) will not investigate the car aerial system without charging me.
The Internet supplier of the Kenwood suggests that the problem may be due to an amplified aerial not getting a power feed though the adapter leads required to get the unit to work with the steering wheel controls. This sounds quite possible IF the amplifier exists.
Anyone able to help?

fastred
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AndersDK
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Post by AndersDK »

Its always the other way round : L & MW easy to receive on radio sets, while FM is the trouble maker.
A car radio antenna is about the minimum criteria for any radio set to function at all - compared to a domestic roof antenna.

The Kenwood radio set is simply less sensitive than the Philips radio set is on L & MW reception. Thats the conclusion.

If your Xantia radio antenna had a dead amplifier - it would not work on either unit - either reception modes.
Anders (DK) - '90 BX16Image
THELABMAN
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Post by THELABMAN »

Hi, I to replaced my factory fitted unit with a Kenwood last July (KDC-W4031) and like yourself MW/LW reception was non existent, luckily I had purchased mine from Argos so a phone call to the installers resulted in an arial booster beeing fitted, problem solved....cost about £10 or so from Halfords etc.

Sadly reception has gone out the window again and the installer checked the system out the other day but it's working fine so he reckons the co-ax cable has a poor connection somewhwere at the roof mounted arial so I'm going to have to try and find time to get it looked into.

Hope this helps you a little.
Citroen C5 2.0 HDI SX Hatchback - 2002 (52)
Xantia Sensation 1.9TD (T) Mallard Green (Gone to the breakers)
KevMayer
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Post by KevMayer »

Could it be a problem with the way your new Kenwood is earthed.

Take it out and try putting an earth connection onto the radio chassis.

These thoughts suddenly came to mind when I read your post. I'm sure something like this happened to me some time ago.

Good luck.
Cheers, Kev

02 plate C5 2.2 Hdi Exclusive SE (now 170k miles 03/21).

Used to have:- Xantia 1.9 TurboD SX. 1996 Blue & 1998 Silver Activa. + 1992 BX TZD Turbo.
easterroad
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Post by easterroad »

I also had the Phillips unit which I replaced with an Alpine one, as happened to you MW and LW reception went out the window. I then added one of these and instantly got fantastic reception.

ISO to ISO Antenna Booster in this link or similar http://www.nexxia.co.uk/head_unit_fitti ... aptors.htm
easterroad
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Post by easterroad »

ok the link does not seem to work but if you search the nexxia site for a ISO to ISO Antenna Booster you will get what you need.
fastred
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Xantia radio problem solved.

Post by fastred »

Just to complete the thread in case anyone refers to it in the future:

Thanks for the advice Labman and easterroad - putting in an Autoleads PC5-52 ISO adaptor solves the problem completely.

In spite of what the car audio "experts" and Halfrauds "specialists" I visited insist, some late Xantias do have amplified aerials. As a check put a multimeter on resistance range across the DIN aerial plug - if this reads infinity there is no amp - mine reads about 1.5kohm.

fastred

2000 V6 Exclusive
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