I know this probably belongs under the audio section, but it kind of fits under the mods category as well. I wanted to see if some of you with the 2k2's that replaced your factory radio system if you have or thought about doing something with the 2k2 diversity radio antenna system. Some of you may feel that the hidden antennas look better, but I did a search and it sounds like I'm not the only one that gets lousy FM reception (<30 miles) with this system. I've tried different adapters and FM amplifiers with no luck and the FM tuner specs in my radio shows it being fairly sensitive(Pioneer DEH-P9300, 9dBf). With my previous '99 max, I had a similar aftermarket radio with the factory power antenna and it got great reception. I'm considering adding the XM satellite radio, but I do a lot of travelling and occasionally like to listen to the local news/weather.

I don't know for sure what year they changed from the power antenna to the diversity antenna system, but I have seen some 5th gen's with a mast sticking out the back. I'm seriously considering going to the wrecking yard and seeing what would be involved putting one in the 2k2. If the interior brace that the power unit bolts to is still in our 2k2's, I would think the toughest part would be cutting the hole in the right shape and place in the rear quarter. It would be pretty simple to make a template off of a car with the antenna out of it and transfer it to the new car. With most aftermarket radios, it has the power antenna relay lead and I would think this would be a fairly simple mod to make. I would appreciate any comments or input you may have on this. Also, if you did install the XM satellite radio, where did you mount the box, which antenna did you use, and is it well worth the monthly subscription fee?

 

those masts are fake.. my div. ant. works great. you just need the $11 div. ant. converter. Many people are having problems with the current bose/non-bose (OEM clarion) radios, you might just have a bad tuner section...


OR
have you installed tint? sometimes installers cut the wires on the back glass, or they cover the top part with metallic tint, which kills reception

 

Tim - Thanks for the post and I'm sorry if I didn't explain it very well in the topic. I don't have tint and the mast I was referring to was the factory power antenna that's in the 2k0 or 2k1's. The factory Clarion radio I took out got about the same reception as the other ones I've tried on the dealer lots and the Pioneer radio I installed. I have tried 3 different brands of the diversity antenna converters as well as "Antenna Specialists" FM booster. I have played around with a fixed mast antenna I had from another project car and the reception is much better. I didn't want to "rice" the car with a goofy looking antenna like some of the fake ones you're referring to and was wondering if anyone else had tried installing a 2k0 or 2k1 power unit in the factory location on a 2k2. I know this may seem like a trivial topic to many, but I live in a mostly rural area and the selection of radio stations are far and few in between. I do travel a lot and unlike my previous '99 max, i'm constantly looking for a station with decent reception.

 

2k's and 2k1's have the same antenna's as the 2k2's.

I may have been lucky with mine i guess. I also have metallic tint (20%) in the back to boot but the reception is just as good in the city as it is outside the city (Clarion OEM headunit)

 

I live in Little Rock and drive to Dallas, Memphis, Nashville, OKC, KC, STL, you name it. I rarely have any trouble with reception between large cities (rural areas). However, most of those trips are fairly flat. :/

 

my stock clarion head unit had incredible reception... i could get radio stations going thru the midtown tunnel, or for those that dont know, an underwater tunnel about 2 miles long... but since i changed my head unit, i have absolutely terrible reception... i cant even get local stations. i also tried an fm booster, but all it did was blow fuses and make my radio come in mono... any help would be appreciated as well

 

hmm i did have problems in my 2k2..with my aftermarket headunit...but all i did was attatch the Power antenna wire (blue or blue with white stripe) to the Power antenna lead/amp turn on, on the nissan harness i used. I got great reception after that. Bascially the Nissan antenna's in the glass..or any IN GLASS antenna for that matter needs to be treated like a power antenna when wiring up a radio.