why does my radio reception suck after a new HU?

[ken_vs_ryu]

why doesn't my radio sound as good as before?

a new sony cdx-mp70 mp3 HU and while the sound is great...the radio reception has gone down...

is there something that can be done?

[segal3]

same - haven't had time to take it into the place that installed it to yell at them

~Matt Segal

[ken_vs_ryu]

i'll do the yellin when they install my bazooka...

i wish i could get the e46 sharkfin antenna...

[DOO]

my reception sucks too. i have the kenwood MP919

[abakos]

Most of you guys are probably running E36's, but I found this blurb on an E34 website-- right here!

If nothing else, read the little bit at the bottom. I can't comment on the wire colors...because I've never dealt with them

[X'z95M3]

You guys need to hook up a lead for the amplified antenna -
That you disconnected when you removed the factory head unit..

[mikeinsanmarcos]

I have been trying to figure out a solution to this crappy radio problem for a while now and here is what I have so far...

I am pretty sure the main problem lies in the fact that our cars use what is called a "diversity" antenna. This is an antenna system which uses multiple antennas (2 in our case) and actively switches between them trying to get the best reception possible.. Our two antennas are in the back window (I think)... When you see the stock head unit, it has two antenna inputs but when you get an antenna adapter, it only uses one.. I have been trying to find some sort of inline device that would allow the use of these two antennas but so far I have had no luck. The problem is that our stock radio has a built in comparator that looks at the signal strength of the station you are tuned to and can switch between the two antennas ensuring optimal reception. Only two solutions I can think of, get another antenna or figure out a way to build an external diversity tuner that could do this comparison for you (but it would have to be tuned to the same freq. that the radio is on so this would be a pretty lame solution)

Of course, I could be totally off here as I have been know to have my head up my ass from time to time..

Anyway, thats my 2 cents

Mike

[nat325i]

I was having the same problem with both of my radios (one was stolen). In the E36 the antenna amplifier lead is white. I connected that to the power antenna lead coming out of the radio and it opend up a whole new listening dimension ...AM. Try it and see if that helps.