[Guest]

Well I just put a new alpine unit in my car, but now the radio reception is worse then before. How can I get my FM signal to be strong in my GS?

 

[samblaze]

Did you plug in both antenna cables or just one?

 

[RedLegend92]

Huge antennas with foil balls at the end lol..jk R u sure that all your plugs are all in? Maybe the wire shorted out? Idk just some ideas. Good luck. Personally I would just unplug the antenna power and use an Ipod man. Thats what I did.

 

[Guest]

Aftermarket headunits only take one antenna wire not both. I hate ipods like the plague so much that my headunit will NOT work with it no matter what

 

[samblaze]

Aftermarket headunits only take one antenna wire not both. I hate ipods like the plague so much that my headunit will NOT work with it no matter what

Which one did yours take? The power antenna only I'm assuming. Check the antenna itself for connections (ground resistance etc), but without the rear glass antenna boosting the signal your options are limited. Does your HU have FM sensitivity adjustment on it?

Some info here: Improve FM Reception

One of the amplifiers mentioned in that article might be an option for you.

 

[mellofelow]

I have the same experience changing to an aftermarket radio. Is it possible to Y the two antenna together into one?

 

[D_Nyholm]

I too have terrible reception with my 91 LS sedan. I think it has to do with the antenna itself. I unbolted the motor unit and sanded down the grounds to the body and I also cleaned up the antenna mast with WD-40 and it got slightly better. I think I am going to try to replace the unit with a standard whip antenna and hope that fixes it. Has anyone else done that with success???

 

[nino418]

there are two antenas????? Thats why my reception sucks. How do you connect that second antenna to an aftermarket headunit?

 

[D_Nyholm]

The second antenna is in the back window. I am probably wrong, but i heard it was for the AM reception. I don't beleive there is any way to attach it to your aftermarket head unit. It is basically a smaller version of a standard plug.

 

[nino418]

I was wondering what to do with that second antenna plug. I saw the back window and it reminded me of the 1998 Accord my mom had which and an antenna in the back window, but the Legend has a power antenna so i was like :wtf:

 

[DevanTheDude]

Aftermarket radios generally get poorer reception. Alpine being the worst, Eclipse usually the best. When customers came into my shop looking for better am/fm reception, we would generally tell them to keep it stock.

 

[mellofelow]

Interesting... what is it about the OEM unit that gets better reception? I have switched radio in many cars and the Legend was the worse. The odd duck uses 2 antennas maybe that's why.

Whatever it is, I'm about to try this Y adapter and see if the reception is any better. All I have to do is to built up a metal sleeve to fit the smaller antenna.

 

[Guest]

If you make it work let us know!

 

[DevanTheDude]

Interesting... what is it about the OEM unit that gets better reception? I have switched radio in many cars and the Legend was the worse. The odd duck uses 2 antennas maybe that's why.

Whatever it is, I'm about to try this Y adapter and see if the reception is any better. All I have to do is to built up a metal sleeve to fit the smaller antenna.

From my understanding, most aftermarket companies spend the money on the cd section and amplifier section (what most consumers want and use the most) so they use cheaper tuners. The Legend factory radio has a nice, robust built-in tuner. Most factory radios certainly don't have 2 ant inputs. At the time, Acura didn't spare many costs with these cars, or the electronics in them.

Great idea with the ant splitter, let us know if it works!

 

[xpressive]

Along with the antenna Y merge, you can buy an adapter that makes that smaller plug a bigger one. GM's use the smaller plug, the adapters are sold at wal-mart, schucks/kragen/checker, autozone, pepboys, etc.. Makes it all plug and play!

 

[mellofelow]

Along with the antenna Y merge, you can buy an adapter that makes that smaller plug a bigger one. GM's use the smaller plug, the adapters are sold at wal-mart, schucks/kragen/checker, autozone, pepboys, etc.. Makes it all plug and play!

GUYS!!! (and Gals)...

Amazingly, the combo worked beautifully. Everything wired up as planned above and the reception to my Alpine is now as good as OEM.

 

[Guest]

ok where did you get them haha

 

[mellofelow]

Splitter from Ebay.

Antenna Y-Adapter Splitter 1 Male/2 Female

And the small adapter from installer... Circuit City or Best Buy should have them. This is typical of GM cars.

 

[b-easy20]

I have my stock radio in and my reception is terrible. it works cause when i am in the heart of the city my reception is good but everywhere else its terrible. what can i do?

 

[TonyTheBullet]

This is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!