Hi Folks, I just purchased an '06 xB, and am swapping out the factory radio with an aftermarket HD radio. I've made the swap successfully, but when i power on the new radio and tune in stations, i'm only getting about 3 or 4 strong FM stations at all, and no AM stations. just to be sure, i put back in the factory, and all is ok.
so, i'm wondering if there is a wire that deals with the antenna in the xB that i might need to worry about. i've heard that i might need to connect something to the aftermarket radio for "powered antenna", but there doesn't seem to be any info on why/how i would do this. i'm open to suggestions.

Kevin

 

Power antenna refers to a telescoping antenna, that wire sends the signal to extend/retract the antenna. Not your issue unless the XB has that type of antenna.
As for your reception issue, it is probably the head unit. What brand is it? I'd send it back for warranty or exchange it for a better unit. Sony and Pioneer seem to get the best reception from my experience. My Tc2 has an Alpine that gets decent reception. My wife's 03 Jeep Liberty has a brand new Sony HD head unit and it gets 10x the channels vs mine. I swapped the Sony to get rid of a pos JVC head unit that did not get good reception and was barely better than the stock Jeep radio. Hope that helps. The Sony is the best sounding unit I have ever used.

 

There is a wire that needs to be cut, i think. You can find that info in the tech section. Look for info on antenna amplifier.

 

I got it figured out. i connected the power antenna wire on the JVC to the Blue wire from the scion per this website and now i get ALL the channels (FM and AM) and most are in HD as well.
link: carxtc.com/servlet/the-21981/Scion,-xB,-06,-2006,/Detail

head unit is a JVC KD-HDR40. works great!

Kevin

 

So it has an antenna amplifier. I thought those things were extinct.

 

Apparently not