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Bad Radio Reception Bad Radio Reception
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  #1  
Old 12-02-2006, 08:02 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Montana
Vehicle: 2000 Ford F250
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Bad Radio Reception
I have a 97 f150. The radio has always had really bad reception. Only very close fm stations would come in. I bought a alpine unit and installed it. I made sure that the antenna was plugged in. The alpine doesn't get any better reception. 3 or 4 miles from town and I lose the radio station. I unscrewed the antenna from the base and it did make it slightly worse. Any ideas what could be wrong. The antenna wire is connected to the base of the antenna.

Budman

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  #2  
Old 12-03-2006, 01:29 PM
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Have you looked over the whole wire?
Maybe the antenna wire got cut/chewed inhalf somewhere?
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  #3  
Old 12-03-2006, 02:07 PM
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I'll have to check that next. Is the outer wires of the coax cable grounded? If the inner wire is touching the outer wire would it change the reception? Thanks for the help.

Budman
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  #4  
Old 12-03-2006, 05:44 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Budman1962
I'll have to check that next. Is the outer wires of the coax cable grounded? If the inner wire is touching the outer wire would it change the reception? Thanks for the help.

Budman
The outer jacket (shield) must be grounded at the antenna base.

The inner conductor must NOT show any resistance to the outer conductor. If it does, it's not an antenna anymore.

Steve
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  #5  
Old 12-03-2006, 06:12 PM
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Vehicle: 2000 Ford F250
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Thanks for the info. Any idea how to remove the base from the fender?


Budman
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  #6  
Old 12-03-2006, 07:28 PM
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You have to pop off that black cover first. Get a flat blade screwdriver and take your time so you dont mark it all up. Once you get that off, there are three phillips screws under there that need to come out, then you can just pull the base off the fender.
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Eclipse CD 8053
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Arc Audio 4050XXK
15" SI Mag, 2.5 sealed
Arc Audio 1500XXK
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  #7  
Old 12-03-2006, 08:14 PM
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Thanks for the help. I'll go check it out right now.

Budman
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  #8  
Old 12-13-2006, 01:38 PM
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Same problem very poor reception
I have a 97 F150 lariat. Back in April I had a new head unit installed. Back when it was installed i had great reception. My stock radio had really good reception and now the new hu is getting bad reception. what could be the problem?
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  #9  
Old 12-21-2006, 02:43 PM
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Location: Fayetteville, GA
Vehicle: 1997 Ford F150
Posts: 33
I have the same exact problem. Installed a new hu and the reception went to crap, reinstalled the original and the reception is still crap. Reception was great up untill the new hu install.
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  #10  
Old 12-24-2006, 01:01 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: VA
Vehicle: 1996 Ford F150 4x4
Posts: 88
I have a 1996 and since I have had my HU installed my reception has static at times. I was blaming the mountains, but my car tunes in fine.

Think FM boosters would help?
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