C5 X7 Radio aerial

[Ceenine]

I have lost the rubber extension to the aerial at the centre rear of the roof. I replaced it temporarily with the like item from one of my other Citroen cars. The radio reception is quite adequate with or without this extension. Are they in fact superfluous?
Don

[Paul-R]

If your X7 is a Tourer then the little stub aerial on the roof is nothing to do with the radio. The aerials for the radio are printed on to the RH rear window like a heated rear window. The roof aerial is for the satnav and something else I forget what.

Don't know about the sedan (saloon) though.

[GiveMeABreak]

That's not actually correct Paul. It's only the FM2 aerial that is screen printed. FM1, AM, GPS and GSM (Where relevant) are via the stub roof mounted aerial.

[GiveMeABreak]

I have lost the rubber extension to the aerial at the centre rear of the roof. I replaced it temporarily with the like item from one of my other Citroen cars. The radio reception is quite adequate with or without this extension. Are they in fact superfluous?
Don

I don't seem to have the VIN for this X7 (plenty of others for donor cars the C4 and DS's but not one for your current C5 X7 despite searching), so can't confirm exact equipment fitted.

[Paul-R]

That's not actually correct Paul. It's only the FM2 aerial that is screen printed. FM1, AM, GPS and GSM (Where relevant) are via the stub roof mounted aerial.

Are you sure about that Marc? In order to get decent radio reception on AM and FM you need a decent amount of metal in the air. A stub just isn't enough.

Some years ago, before I knew what the setup was, I tried screwing a regular length antenna into the base to get better long wave reception whilst travelling through France. It made not one jot of difference.

And I've been out to the car now, tuned into a weak MW station and then unscrewed the stub antenna. Again it made no difference. I'm pretty sure that neither of the radio aerials are in there.

[GiveMeABreak]

Yes, sure.

Don, do you have the VIN yet (it's on the lower left passenger exterior windscreen cut out)? I want to check the audio / telematics system fitted. RT6 and RD4 are both as I described

[xantia_v6]

For FM reception both antennas are used concurrently for diversity reception, so reasonable reception is possible with either disconnected.

[Paul-R]

Yes, sure.

Mmm, well my experience tells me different. We'll have to disagree on this.

[GiveMeABreak]

Well I'm just telling you officially what's what - up to you what you want to believe.

Note: Below shows saloon, there is no separate Tourer info, for RT6.

(11) is the amp for the FM1 and (8) is the amp for FM2, which likely boosts the signal from the FM2 screen printed aerial (12).

So if one is getting poor FM reception, I'd be looking at water ingress into the harness, or the FM1 or FM2 amplifier modules to start with.

(1) Audio amplifier (*).
(2) Front right tweeter.
(3) Front RH woofer speaker.
(4) Carphone microphone.
(5) Right hand rear speaker.
(6) Rear RH tweeter speaker (*).
(7) GPS aerial / FM1.
(8) Aerial amplifier FM2.
(9) CD player (*).
(10) Subwoofer speaker (*).
(11) Aerial amplifier FM1.
(12) Antenna FM2 screenprinted into the rear screen.
(13) Rear LH tweeter speaker (*).
(14) Rear left loudspeaker.
(15) Front LH woofer speaker.
(16) Radio-navigation RT6.
(17) Front LH tweeter speaker.
(18) Independent telematic unit.

* (according to optional equipment)

Mike is right about the diversity function using the separate FM aerial, with the following RT6 caveat:

The radio navigation RT6 has 3 tuners:

• A tuner for radio reception, which enables the TMC function, the manual list function
• A tuner for the diversity function (Only if the vehicle has two FM antennas)
• A tuner for the RDS function, the automatic list function, and the TMC function

[Paul-R]

As I said, I don't know about the Sedan, just the Tourer and on mine there are two screen printed aerials, one on each of the rear side windows. Nothing on the rear screen that isn't part of the HRW. It's a shame there isn't any separate info for the Tourer as if it existed I'm sure it would show I'm correct.

Diversity reception I'm familiar with on a technical basis. On a related note I remember a member of our radio club musing about building a special radio for our club VHF DF hunts. It would have four aerials and comparing signal strengths would enable him to zero in on the fox quickly. It was never built and I doubt it would have worked!

[GiveMeABreak]

On tourer models they just screen printed to both the rear quarter panels (only on models with dual tuner audio units of course) instead of the rear tailgate window.

[Paul-R]

I know, that's what I said.

[Ceenine]

Marc, vin is VF7**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff]. Sorry for late reply as o’nite here and have been asleep apart from toilet breaks.

[Ceenine]

And by the way, AM reception is practically non-existent although every now and then I can pick up 774 which is Melbourne based ABC (government financed and left wing staffed) being 300 km away across Bass Strait having interesting interviews and worth trying to pick up every now and then. I have been told that modern radios have weak AM reception and I can only agree.

Thanks to all for great response. British aren’t so bad after all, contrary to popular belief here.

[GiveMeABreak]

Ok, so everything I've said is relevant to your vehicle, as it's a saloon and has the RT6 system, so dual tuners. So possibilities are the FM1 & FM2 Amps or the aerial itself for FM1 or the screen printing aerial for FM2.