I had a question for you guys about the rear side windows, not the ones with the rear passenger ones, but the ones before you get to the rear window. What I noticed today when I cleaned my windows is that the defogger wires have 2 totally different patterns on the windows? Sorry I dont have pics yet but I wanted to know if this was normal or are they supposed to have different patterns? Let me know. If you need more info just PM me or reply to this. thanx again!

 

i believe it is our antenna too

 

yes, different patterns and yes, the radio antenna is in there.

 

the two left and right rear windows are antennas- one goes left to right, and the other goes top bottom- this give you diversity, and the radio will use the one recieving the best signal...BTW- recpection with the radio is preety good- I can pick up stations 100 miles away ( 2000 ft ele. difference, and one mountain range)

The rear window has the defroster...

 

My radio dont get hardly any stations..ever other car i drive gets the stations so i know its just my scion any help?

 

WE get excellent reception in our xB.

 

XtremeBox05- Do you have an aftermarket stereo in yours? When I changed the head unit in mine I lost a lot of reception. A lot of times with factory antennas especially in glass ones they are calibrated to the factory head unit. When you change to an aftermarket head unit it may sacrifice reception. I never listen to the radio so it wasnt an issue for me...

 

One of the 'problems' a lot of folks have when an aftermarket head unit is installed is the installer doesn't realize that the on-the-glass antennas in the rear have an antenna amplifier associated with them that is actually powered by the head unit.

Since the installers don't see a powered antenna to raise and lower, they don't bother to connect the antenna power lead, and don't power the antenna amplifier.

With no power to tha ampifier the level of the signal the head unit is getting from the antennas is extremely low, and reception sucks.

If installers actually bothered to look at the schematics, or knew how the factory units worked, there would be no problem, but most of 'em just figure they know everything and don't bother to power the antenna amp.

Most aftermarket head units have an 'antenna power' lead for power antennas, and that will usually work just fine for powering the antenna amplifier in the xB...

Just for laughs, here's the wiring diagram for a 2004-05 head unit - notice the external antenna amplifier...

 

yeah mine sucks to. Kinda ____es me off

 

(The OEM head unit in my xB outperforms the OEM headunits in most of the other vehicles I've been in recently as far as number and quality of signals received. If the radio in an xB performs significantly worse than should be normal, there is perhaps a problem...at least compare it with other xBs...)

 

Thanks for the info Tom, this may explain the very low (quite) signal on the FM channels on my aftermarket HU. It's never been a big enough issue for me to deal with as I have used the FM exactly once since getting XM, but good info nonetheless.

 

One other issue could be window tinting. I read somewhere in the manual that "film" applied to the windows lowers the reception of the antenna. Oh and btw....who needs FM with satelite, Sirius here!

 

Yeah, some tints can interfere with reception, and some don't at all. I don't know of any way to convieniently tell one from the other until it's too late.

And you are absolutely right, Ron, that someone who doesn't listen to AM or FM broadcast radio doesn't have to worry about the 'problem.' Thing is, a lot of folks DO listen, and they do need to know how to avoid some of the problems, starting out with proper installation.

Thanks for bringing up the tint issue - I'd forgotten about that (though why someone would want to add tint to windows that are already at 20 percent is beyond me).

 

Tomas, that diagram is AWESOME!?!? I was looking for a color coded diagram when installing my subs, I think that diagram should be posted in the tech section as well! Thanks for the big help!

 

...maybe 'cuz the rear colored windows filter no UVB or heat (as a film would) ... and then some of course just seem to think that they "NEED" 5 layers of limo (and then back into a tree at the foot of the driveway the day after they get the film on)

 

I could be wrong but the only Tint/Film that should affect the antenna are the ones with aluminum oxide coating (Ones that look like a mirror) made from the same stuff anti static bags for electronic parts.
It also blocks the signal for EZPASS.


Scott

 

Thanks Thomas, great info!

 

Metalized film will interfer with the radio reception. Most of the time regular dye film won't. The best assurance against it though, is ceramic tint. It was developed for use with GPS/navigation systems and does not effect radio reception at all. It is, however, quite expensive.

Even though I only tinted my front windows, I used ceramic film just in case.....plus it's warranteed forever.

 

quick question since it was in the topic, what do I need to get Sirius? Do i just need to subscribe?

 

great wiring diagrams