Sick of replacing aerials!!

Thanks Rev, sounds like the go. I have also had the aerials with the switch, but they keep crapping themselves.

Will give it a go,

Matt.

I have the same situation. I put a seperate rocker switch in the dash to control the aerial. Put it down when playing a cd and up for the radio. Simple!

Who listens to the radio when you have DVD/CD/CDR/CDRW/MP3. . . . . . . . . .
Hee Hee
Just mount a spring based AM CB aerial to the bull bar, along side the phone, UHF, HF, and GPS aerials. . . . . . . . hmmm maybe get a second bull bar too!
Cheers
A.J

Thanks Jeff,

No the stereo has no aerial activation lead, which is why the auto aerial is no good. Current arrangement is that the aerial is powered (via a switch on the dash) independantly of the stereo.

You have got me wondering though whether I can install the fully auto aerial and provide power to it independantly so I can switch it on or off manually, in the same way the stereo would automatically. If that makes any sense.

Cheers,

Matt.

Oh yeah easy. Well, you could make it so when the accessories are on the antenna is up (close enough). Just get any accessory power and route that through the switch instead of the existing power supply. Then you can still force it down, but when you turn the car off it goes down and then when you turn the car on, it comes back up. What stereo have you got? I'm suprised it doesn't have an antenna control wire??? Maybe upgrade to a MP3 player that's got the control lead and get the added bonus of MP3's! ;-)

That's what I love about this forum, every question costs you money. Yeah, the MP3 player would be good, but I run my iPod on an FM transmitter and it works well. Would like a stereo with USB though as I imagine there is no substitute for hard wiring the iPod in terms of sound quality.

Anyhow, will try your suggestion with the auto aerial.

Thanks Jeff.

Matt

P.S. Rear air locker being fitted today, so best I keep a low profile on car purchases for a while otherwise home life will not be much fun.

Also Worth noting for anyone updating stereos in the near future is that a lot of the new stereos are coming out with a socket on the front panel where you can plug in an mp3 player. The socket is exactly the same as a headphone socket so you get a lead that goes from the headphone socket of your mp3 player into the front of your stereo.

An added bonus of this setup is that if you run a laptop in the car you can put your MP3 collection on the laptop and plug into the same socket on the front of the stereo. Also great if you use navigation software because you can actually hear the directions loud and clear.

If you have a touchscreen in the car its just like having a jukebox

Basically does the same thing as an fm transmitter but one more less battery to worry about.

Some pioneer units have a socket on the back that you can use in the same way, but the cable to suit costs about $80, (rip off) I did however find plans on how to build such a cable for a few dollars and it works well.

Where does it stop?

"That's what I love about this forum, every question costs you money. "

LMAO! Oh yeah baby!

Actually it was an older member of this forum that I was out bush with once who gave me some tips about buying things for the 4wd over a few drinks around the camp fire.

To paraphrase: buy what you want and don't tell them. When they figure it out, they'll be upset with you for a week or so, after that you've still got your new toy!

It kinda works, his theory was that they'll never divorce you over a new camp oven or roof rack back. I married a kiwi though, so I take my life into my hands everytime I upset her!! LOL! :-O

Yeah when you add it all up it's pretty scarey what we put into this hobby, however it's a hobby I enjoy with my whole family. I don't really have any other hobbies to spend money on (got none to spend on them!). (but in saying that I include bike riding, fishing, 4wding and camping as "one" hobby as they are all interelated)

But over the last few years since I've been on exploreoz, my membership has been well an truley paid for by the savings I've made by the advice of these guys on here.

Jeff,

I love the old 'It is easier to beg forgiveness than to ask permission' theory. You are spot on though with your thoughts on the ExploOz Forum. I reckon I have saved heaps with some ideas on here, avoided some stupid purchases and got some great information from the site in general. For example, I had the car booked in to have the HF fitted, read David and Michelle's article on doing it, and realised it wasn't that hard. Saved $250 in the process.

Well worth the subscription. Thanks again for the advice.

Matt.

Sounds like the go Nick. was wondering about reception, glad to hear it is OK.

Thought about that, but the other problem (aside from wiping it off on scrub) is that if you don't remember to put down it in car parks, there is always some turd willing to snap it off for you. I have lost one that way.

I long for the day when I can head back to the country.

Karl,

Exactly the option I have gone for. Fit up this weekend.

Thanks everyone for the input.

Matt.