RadioBanter - View Single Post

February 2nd 06, 05:49 AM posted to rec.radio.amateur.equipment

On 1 Feb 2006 17:57:42 -0800, wrote:

I installed a VFH/UHF radio in a 1997 Grand Cherokee. The RF antenna
is approximately two feet horizontally, and slightly higher from the
Jeep's radio receive antenna. If I was listening to the vehicle radio
and keyed the VHF radio, it would mute the vehicle radio.

In our 1996 Chevvy Cavalier have a 50W VHF / 35W UHF rig into a
dual-band mag-mount on the roof and the vehicle radio antenna is on
the rear fender, about 3 feet away. I have never had the type of
front-end overload that you describe.

The vehicle
radio finally is no longer working, except for one station. I am
assuming an induction problem.

Not an "induction problem". Maybe perhaps the rf did damage to the
auto radio's front end, reducing the sensitivuty of the radio, or
did some damage to the digital circuitry used to tumne and control
the radio. You did not specify if the problem was with the AM or FM
bands.

Of course, that's the high-tech discussion. Perhaps the problem is
a bad antenna-to-auto radio connection. I had that happen once in a
1976 Plymouth where the radio's antenna socket was not soldered to
the radio chassis.....

Technically, what exactly happened, how, or not to fix the vehicle radio.

It may be cheaper to have a good quality after-market vehicle radio
installed rather than pull the old radio, have it repaired, and
reinstall it. If we decide to keep the Chevvy much longer, we need
to do that to replace the jammed cassette tape portion of the radio.
We'll take it to Circuit City or an equivalent radio shop - the days
of standing on my head to repair car radios or install 2-way rigs
are long passed, and I wouldn't have a clue how to disassemble the
Chevvy to take it out. I'll leave that to others - it's worth the
price.

How to prevent this problem in the future.

We had this happen when a 100W VHF radio took out the front end of a
very expensive spectrum analyzer which was connected to an antenna
on a mast 10 feet away from the comm antenna. The solution was not
to key the comm radio unless we were sure that the analyzer was
disconnected from the antenna lead.

There should be some front-end protection in a high-end auto radio.
Check it out before you buy.

I raise this question not so much for the sake of the
Jeep, but because I am proposing to a put a VHF/UHF rig in the lady's
2005 Honda Accord. The only viable place on the car is a trunk mount.
It appears the car radion antenna is embedded in the rear glass and I
believe this area is also where the XM radio antenna is located. I
have tried to contact Honda on various levels but have had no success.
I am wondering if I put the VHF radio in the car, will it "burn out"
the other radios. This should give something for a lot of
conversation. I hope I can get some help.

Why can't you put the antenna on the roof "as God intended it" ??
I prefer the mag-mount because with a flick of the wrist I can take
it off to go through the car wash or leave the car in the shopping
center parking lot for an extended time and not have it be a break-in
target.

BTW - I understand that Honda cannot be bothered to answer such
questions from buyers of their products. Don't take it personally.
Perhaps your dealer can help you better than "Honda".

--
73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane