Aftermarket head unit radio reception problems.

[weevil]

It’s the classic story, fantastic radio reception with the stock head unit, terrible with the aftermarket unit.

I know that my 2013 Yaris has an active antenna. I have tested and confirmed that I am supplying 12v to the correct pin in the radio harness. Still very average FM reception and very poor AM.

There must be something I am missing, something else I can test. Anyone have any ideas?

[IllusionX]

I believe there are 2 wires to join to the blue wire of the new HU to make this work correctly

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[WeeYari]

It’s the classic story

^ says it all.

I'm on my second aftermarket HU, wired correctly, and neither has had reception as good as the OEM unit.


Sent from my Elite_5_5_Octa using Tapatalk

[Whiplash]

I'm surprised that there are people who listen to the radio still. It makes sense for some sports and news I guess though.

[weevil]

I believe there are 2 wires to join to the blue wire of the new HU to make this work correctly

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk
Well that's a very tantalising post 'n' all Illusion. Any clue as in which two? ;)

This is the harness the manufacturer sent me. it actually has two wires, they told me to connect both of them to 12v. They are not actually connected to the blue wire on the head unit but surely that does not matter.

https://static.carjoying.com/media/catalog/product/cache/small_image/270x203/beff4985b56e3afdbeabfc89641a4582/1/-/1-1.jpg

The wiring going into the antenna looks like this with the 12v going to the pin in the middle of the plug.

https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1EYYZOFXXXXcKXXXXq6xXFXXXC/Car-font-b-Radio-b-font-Antenna-Adapter-for-font-b-TOYOTA-b-font-Connector-Wire.jpg

[weevil]

I'm surprised that there are people who listen to the radio still. It makes sense for some sports and news I guess though.
There is a great news and documentary station here in Australia.

[Whiplash]

Nice. here its 70% commercials and 30% shitty songs. (IMO)

[kevinj93]

Well that's a very tantalising post 'n' all Illusion. Any clue as in which two? ;)

This is the harness the manufacturer sent me. it actually has two wires, they told me to connect both of them to 12v. They are not actually connected to the blue wire on the head unit but surely that does not matter.

https://static.carjoying.com/media/catalog/product/cache/small_image/270x203/beff4985b56e3afdbeabfc89641a4582/1/-/1-1.jpg

The wiring going into the antenna looks like this with the 12v going to the pin in the middle of the plug.

https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1EYYZOFXXXXcKXXXXq6xXFXXXC/Car-font-b-Radio-b-font-Antenna-Adapter-for-font-b-TOYOTA-b-font-Connector-Wire.jpg

The blue wire in that adapter is the power feed to the antenna amplifier. From memory, this is a black wire parallel to the actual antenna cable. The radio normally feeds 12v to this wire. If there is no 12v feed to this, you will have very poor radio reception. Look for a switched power output from the radio. This will possibly be labelled as being for amplifier switching. Connect this to the antenna amplifier wire.

I missed this one when I installed an aftermarket radio. Once I found it, the reception was almost as good as the stock radio.

[weevil]

The blue wire in that adapter is the power feed to the antenna amplifier. From memory, this is a black wire parallel to the actual antenna cable. The radio normally feeds 12v to this wire. If there is no 12v feed to this, you will have very poor radio reception. Look for a switched power output from the radio. This will possibly be labelled as being for amplifier switching. Connect this to the antenna amplifier wire.

I missed this one when I installed an aftermarket radio. Once I found it, the reception was almost as good as the stock radio.
Yep that is my understanding too, I have tested the wire and it’s definitely getting 12v but the signal is still nowhere near the factory unit.