Frank wrote:

Hi all

Let me preamble this by saying I am new at this, and need your
help. But I am a quick learner!

I have a few specific questions and perhaps you can help. I am
trying to troubleshoot a Fm static problem

1) Is the car coax cable lead one or two wires? I am quite sure
it is two (one outer (the ground) and one inner wire) but I'll
ask to confirm

"Coax" is short for "coaxial conductor", i.e. two conductor one outer
one inner.

2) Should a "in-glass" rear winshield antenna be grounded to the
car's body? If so, from which end of the coax cable? (see Q 3)

That depends on the antenna, but if yes it would almost certainly be the
outer conductor. If the antenna has two symmetrical conductors then it
should either have a balun (which would be a little gizmo, probably
cubical) between the coax and the antenna.

3) Does the expression "grounding the antena" (in the case of a
glass mounted antenna) be as simple as soldering a grounding wire
from the outside coax lead end that plugs into the HU to a metal
ground of the car? Or should it be done closer to the actual
antena? SUch as at the junction of the end of the coax and where
the antenna starts...

"HU"? Yes, grounding in a car means to the car body.

Here is more detail on my problem if this helps: inconsistent FM
reception ( static) with in-glass antenna where I use to get
crystal clear reception with old car. However, there is a twist
to my problem: I noticed that the coax cable (inner cable) from
the HU is not truly connected to the antenna even if it looks
like it is. I tested it with a continuity tester and it is not.
When I try to connect the inner coax wire directly to the antenna
(using a wire and soldering), then I can test it and it is well
connected. In other words, the inner wire of the coax makes a
continuous circuit from the HU's to the end of the antenna. Yet,
I still get some static on some FM station (which is not induced
by the engine or the car's electrical systems).

Any suggestion? It is an RSX 2004 (Acura). I changed the HU twice
(two models) and the problem persists (same issue with the OEM)

TIA


It may just be a crappy antenna. If you were really determined you
could try a mag-mount external antenna just to see. If it were a
symmetrical antenna I'd build a balun for it (actually I'd probably
_think_ about building a balun for it any time I drove it, but wouldn't
get around to it for years).

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com