Adding real am/fm antenna

I haven’t found a thread doing exactly what I want to do. I want to add an old fashioned fender mounted antenna to improve my FM reception.

I haven’t pulled the head unit to find what kind of connector is there to accept the current “shark fin” antenna.

I assume I will need to use some kind of splitter to keep the XMradio capability.

I have over 40 years experience in electronics and every type of radio communications known to man.

Can anyone offer any advice before I tackle this project?

 

You are the guy! Most folks here have 0 years of experience compared to yours. I once managed a guy at a cell startup. We hired a guy with about 30 years of ham and antenna design.

 

I would think the XM/Sirius antenna is separate from radio antenna. I just had my head unit out of my car and it had three distinct RF connectors.

 

Thanks for the quick reply and especially the pic. The blue connector appears to be the only RF connector I can tell with 100% certainty.

I was hoping to not have to be a trailblazer with this job. I’m going have to see if connectors even exist for what I want to do.

So much for a weekend project.

 

check out this thread "installing amateur and cb radios in 2016 tacoma" sorry, dont know how to link thread so do a search for that. yet another mod todo as my am/fm reception sucks. Relentless Fab makes the brackets that can be used for a suitable am/fm antenna.

 

Not sure if this is the antenna adapter part you need or if it fits, but it may be close...

Finders fee? Please post how it went so we can maybe do the same for our radios!


https://www.crutchfield.com/S-OaUBGBcFl0J/p_12040LX21/Metra-40-LX21-Antenna-Adapter.html

 

You don’t need any splitter, there are 2 separate antenna wires from the shark fin.

Here is the back of the unit, 3 antennas. #1 Black, bottom right, #2 white middle left (large), #3 just right of #2.

 

I thought the shark fin acted as a multiband antenna, didnt know there is a seperate wire comming out of it as the AM/FM antenna. If he wants to install a hood or front fender mount antenna, splitting off from the radio would be easiest for running the coax to it.

Do you know the pinouts for these?

 

Pinout? There are only 2 pins to each of those, center and ground, just like a coax cable.
There are 3 antennas in total, XM, Sat, AM/FM. Sat is under the dash, XM & AM/FM is on the shark fin and it has 2 separate coax style wires coming from it.

 

Thanks for the photo, its helpful. Sorry I wasnt specific, I meant which of the input jacks in the back of the radio go to which antenna?

 

Sorry, I believe the larger one is FM/AM and the smaller GPS. But that’s from memory, not from wiring diagram.

 

Thanks!

 

Like others have said on here it does have 3 different antennas but to add a fender antenna all you would need besides the antenna of course is (google this)

$25 Best Kits BAA45 Toyota/Lexus 2010 Car Stereo OEM Radio Antenna Adapter Plug-Best Kits

Best Kits BAA45. It’s the antenna adapter that would plug in the back of the radio. It’s the tall white plug on the far right side. I am using the same adapter to put the same radio in an 07 Tacoma

 

Here is a couple pics of antenna adapter

 

Thank you all!

This job doesn’t look so imposing now. The photos are a great help and I had no idea where to start looking for adapters.

Hopefully this will be a piece of cake.

 

Following...the FM reception from the shark fin kinda bites sometimes.

 

Ok I know this is an old thread, but I have a 2019 and my radio signal blows. I mean downright terrible, My wife drives a rav4 and it gets every station. I'm parked next to her and I can only get a handful. I'm looking to make the change to a new antenna. Any updated on how this worked for your guys? Pictures?

 

nice bmw, what is it? I have an f30

 

Honestly, I just haven’t had time recently for this project.

I’m hoping to get back to it when the weather gets a little warmer and the days longer.

 

2014 w/stock fender antennae. Wouldn’t mind something better or a signal booster. Not interested in a stubby unless it’s better which I doubt. Would actually rather go with a retractable. Subbed to see what you do.