The Original i30 Owners Club

MODIFYING OR DETAILING YOUR I30 => ELECTRICAL | ELECTRONIC | AUDIO => Topic started by: rcflyers on April 16, 2017, 06:37:25

Title: What is this?
Post by: rcflyers on April 16, 2017, 06:37:25: I have been having poor FM radio reception on my 2009 i30 so I removed the radio head unit to check the antenna connection was ok, it was.
I dropped down the back of the headlining in the boot so I could get to the antenna mounting. As well as the coaxial cable (that goes to the radio) there was another cable plugged into the antenna base.
Does anyone know what this does please?
Title: Re: What is this?
Post by: CraigB on April 16, 2017, 07:00:59: I'm guessing it would be external powered antenna amplifier :undecided: is it a twin or single core cable? if single it could be a pickup for phone signal :undecided:
Title: Re: What is this?
Post by: rcflyers on April 16, 2017, 07:10:07: Yes, possibly, it is a single core cable, I'm sure it was red/yellow.
Can anyone trace it on a wiring diagram please?
Title: Re: What is this?
Post by: tw2005 on April 16, 2017, 07:28:07: Quote from: rcflyers on April 16, 2017, 07:10:07
Yes, possibly, it is a single core cable, I'm sure it was red/yellow.
Can anyone trace it on a wiring diagram please?

How about some imagery
Title: Re: What is this?
Post by: tw2005 on April 16, 2017, 07:47:22: could it be yellow wire, orange trace? looks like there could be an amp built-in tp the antenna. , and that's the 12V supply, chassis provides the ground.
Title: Re: What is this?
Post by: tw2005 on April 16, 2017, 07:53:37: definitely a power connector, says so in the workshop manual.
Title: Re: What is this?
Post by: tw2005 on April 16, 2017, 08:05:08: (http://i.imgur.com/PpLft17.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/OeKPirI.jpg)
Title: Re: What is this?
Post by: cruiserfied on April 16, 2017, 10:57:28: Bit late but yeah :wss:
Title: Re: What is this?
Post by: rcflyers on April 16, 2017, 19:12:27: Ok, thanks guys,
I checked the yellow/orange wire and it had 10 volts with the engine off.
Is there any way of testing that the amplifier is actually working?
Title: Re: What is this?
Post by: The Gonz on April 16, 2017, 22:58:04: Listen to radio with power to antenna applied and not applied. :confused:
Title: Re: What is this?
Post by: tw2005 on April 16, 2017, 22:58:21: Quote from: rcflyers on April 16, 2017, 19:12:27
Ok, thanks guys,
I checked the yellow/orange wire and it had 10 volts with the engine off.
Is there any way of testing that the amplifier is actually working?

not without some specialised gear. What if you tuned into a weak AM station and then remove the power see if there is any change like no reception
Title: Re: What is this?
Post by: tw2005 on April 16, 2017, 22:59:15: :whsaid:
Quote from: The Gonz on April 16, 2017, 22:58:04
Listen to radio with power to antenna applied and not applied. :confused:
Title: Re: What is this?
Post by: rcflyers on April 21, 2017, 16:36:45: I tuned into a weak MW station and removed the wire at the antenna base and it immediately lost signal so I guess the antenna amp is working ok.
Title: Re: What is this?
Post by: yodm on April 21, 2017, 19:16:41: do you have a phone charger or anything plugged into the 12V outlet?
these things have a massive effect on radio reception quality.
Title: Re: What is this?
Post by: rcflyers on April 21, 2017, 19:18:47: Actually, yes, I do have a twin USB charger plugged in permanently.
I will try to unplug it and see, thanks for the tip.
Title: Re: What is this?
Post by: The Gonz on April 22, 2017, 07:09:30: Even the budget USB adapters just use a regulator, so I wouldn't be expecting reception problems (usually to do with frequencies, impedence and interference) unless it impacts power supply. If you come up empty, start looking at the integrity of the cabling and its insulation.