creating an antenna up/down switch in a gen 2

[HoustinoJillian]

hey all, when i installed my new head unit, i wired the power antenna to the aux source, so it goes up whenever the HU is on, down when off, etc. heres the thing, i don't like having the antenna up all the time when i'm listening to my ipod. i'm going to wire in a switch to control the antenna, so i have 2 questions- 1) how does the up/down work, is it when the antenna motor recieves power it goes up, and when the power is cut it goes down? or how does that all work. also, what are my options for switches that would not be ugly. i was considering using a power lock window switch, so it would blend in to the car, and suggestions?

 

[NiNeTy Fo SHO]

When the motor receives remote power it goes up. When the remote power source is cut off it goes down. It works much like amp with a 12+ wire, ground, and a remote wire.

As for switches...any switch pretty much will work. All you need is something to put in the remote wire line to cut the juice whenever you dont want the antenna up.

 

[HoustinoJillian]

switch...

awesome, i thought thats how it worked... anyone taken apart a window/lock switch? i'd like to use one and then fabricate it into somwehere by the radio, its not the fabrication thats the problem, its the switch- do those door switches work like a light switch does (contact, no contact) or is it more than that

 

[jelloslug]

Well the "easy way" would be to get a 1st gen antenna and 1st gen button. Where to mount the button would be the question. If you did away with the fog light button (wired them to come on with the headlights) you could mount it there (I think it would just pop in). The 2nd gen power window button would work fine also. The wiring is a bit odd since there are 5 connections on the switch but I have a simple diagram that sorts it all out. The biggest problem with the 2nd gen power window button it that it is rather large so mounting it would take some room.

 

[HoustinoJillian]

how large is it? i'm thinking of mounting the button in place of the redundant radio controls, since they are useless right now

 

[EXP1787]

how large is it? i'm thinking of mounting the button in place of the redundant radio controls, since they are useless right now

That's a good idea. I would be interested in rigging this up if fitment works out.

 

[MelectroK]

You could not use a power window switch to do this unless you do some extra rewireing of your power antenna, since a power windown switch has no maintained position.

To use one of them you would have to make one side power remote turn on and main power.

On the other side you would power the main power only.

This way you would hold the button one way or the other, and if you let go it will stop where it is at.

However doing this multiple times will get the antenna out of sink and will require you to cycle the switch all the way up and all the way down a few times to resink it.

 

[jelloslug]

how large is it? i'm thinking of mounting the button in place of the redundant radio controls, since they are useless right now

It should fit there.

 

[GR8SHO]

hey all, when i installed my new head unit, i wired the power antenna to the aux source, so it goes up whenever the HU is on, down when off, etc. heres the thing, i don't like having the antenna up all the time when i'm listening to my ipod.

Are you using something like a DLO dock for the iPod and the FM transmitter, or a hardwired connection?

 

[Ishodu]

Won't be hard to put a switch on at all. I was going to do the same then I got my Alpine and didn't need too.

 

[n8rsk8r]

how does the Ipod work? Doesn't it work in the Aux setting on the stereo? Most new head units have a seperate circuit for the ant. It would/should only come on/go up when the Radio option is used, not the Aux.

 

[GR8SHO]

how does the Ipod work? Doesn't it work in the Aux setting on the stereo? Most new head units have a seperate circuit for the ant. It would/should only come on/go up when the Radio option is used, not the Aux.

The JBL doesn't have an AUX input, so I use the FM transmitter on the dock. Since the transmitter is in such proximity the receiver, I was hoping I could also install a switch to lower the antenna with the HU on but still be able to play my IPOD.

 

[HoustinoJillian]

i have the poineer deh-p 4600 mp head unit. the ipod is hardwired through an input adapter (i forget the name, but it plugs int othe CD changer plug, and has both RCA inputs and another extension plug for a CD changer, which i do not have/want. i fabricated a mount for it in place of the ashtray so when i'm parked i can unplug the rca input and close the ashtray cover, to make it look much more inconspicuous.

the antenna goes up when the HU is on because its connected to the aux on wire (the wire thats supposed to turn your amp/subs in the trunk on and off) there is no other wat to wire the antenna (that i know of) so its only up when the radio is on. i wouldnt mind having to hold the button down, as long as the antenna would stay up when its all the way up, IIRC, thats how it worked in the 89 we had, but i could be wrong, its been a while. i have limited resources (garage wise) when i'm at school, so i may have to put this off as a summertime (late may) project.. when i do it i'm thinking of mounting an ipod remote (really small) there is well, so i'll let you all know, it just may not happen for 5 months :laugh_ti:

 

[Rockledge]

When I had my antenna motor out to clean and re-**** it and install a new mast, I tested it by applying 12+ to one motor lead and grounding the other. I recall that by reversing the leads the direction of the motor also reversed, so the antenna was in essence going up and down. Now, if I'm not mistaken, this is how a window motor works too, so I'm thinking that by wiring the antenna motor directly to a window switch (that is, bypassing the power antenna module) you actually might end up with the desired affect, no?

 

[HoustinoJillian]

wheres this power antenna module you speak of?

 

[Rockledge]

wheres this power antenna module you speak of?

Behind the dash, passenger side, near the top.

 

[GR8SHO]

i have the poineer deh-p 4600 mp head unit. the ipod is hardwired through an input adapter (i forget the name, but it plugs int othe CD changer plug, and has both RCA inputs and another extension plug for a CD changer, which i do not have/want. i fabricated a mount for it in place of the ashtray so when i'm parked i can unplug the rca input and close the ashtray cover, to make it look much more inconspicuous.

Pioneer makes good stuff. However I despise the proprietary connector interface they use to allow a simple mini plug to be attached via the AUX setting.

I've read recently that there are 2 wires connected to the HU you can intercept with a switch to work the antenna. Need to look that up in the wiring diagrams.

Here's how I installed my iPod.
iPod installation

 

[SHOZ123]

On my '97 all I did was run a piece of twin lead wire to the red and pink wire at the antenna. Used this to splice into the red and pink wire and connected it to a switch. This allows you to raise and lower the antenna anytime the radio is on.

I believe the red and pink wire is the same used on the Gen 2s.

 

[DDakRT]

I have a tiny toggle switch connected to my JVC deck, I'm not sure how other brands does it, but for the JVC there's a separate wire to check if the CD player is on, so I install a simple switch cutting the power.

Now I flick the switch, antenna goes up (when the radio is on), flick the switch down antenna goes down. Don't need to hold it.

Here's the little toggle switch, not the most professional looking, but not one person has noticed since I put it in.

 

[HoustinoJillian]

thats cool.. and thats plan B if i cant figure something otu that looks good, but ill probably put it inside the glove box... i like resting my knee there when im using cruise control... or is it not as far under sa im thinking it is?