how to test radio antenna effectiveness?

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=96719
Printed Date: May 13, 2025 at 4:01 AM

Topic: how to test radio antenna effectiveness?

Posted By: chris l.
Subject: how to test radio antenna effectiveness?
Date Posted: August 28, 2007 at 7:53 PM

Is there a tool to measure radio reception strength?

My factory radio worked fine (of course) when I took delivery. The antenna is embedded into the rear glass. After a bodyshop removed and reinstalled the glass I lost like 50% of the sound quality. I saw the bodyshop reconnected the antenna wire but I wonder if they screwed something else up. I can pull in all of the radio stations just fine, but it sounds like crap with a loss of mids.

Replies:

Posted By: cutlass013
Date Posted: August 28, 2007 at 9:28 PM

I dont Think there is a tool to measure the antenna strength but there is diffrent types of antennas. is everything grounded correctly?

Posted By: sparkie
Date Posted: August 29, 2007 at 8:28 AM

There are tools that can measure the signal strength of the signal your radio is receiving, but it depends on the year, make and model of your car. Some rear window antennas use an antenna module to convert the signal before sending it to the radio. There may be a problem with it or one of the cables it connects to. If window tint is added to the window the antenna is in, you will experience a signal loss. The more metal content in the tint, the worse the antenna will perform. The easiest way to determine if you have an antenna problem, is to plug in a test antenna at the radio and see if the reception improves. You need to rig up a ground wire connected to the antenna base to correctly test it.

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sparky

Posted By: chris l.
Date Posted: August 31, 2007 at 2:35 PM

Great idea sparky, thanks.