Power aerial switch

[jAFO]

Is there any way to fit a switch to aerial for manual up and down when offroad? I've busted one allready, and it would be nice to listen to cd's or radio when on a tight track.
Thanks

Dave.

[Bitsamissin]

Yep good question I was going to do this before mine caught fire when they repaired it I just asked the mechanic to put on a rubber flexible antenna instead.
There is a mini ECU controlling all this would you believe so you have to work out how to bypass it and wire it up to a switch on the dash/console.

[RichardW]

I guess I'm lucky. Just press the button for half height or turn off the radio for full retraction and hit the CD button.
If the CD starts jumping I need all my concentration to drive the vehicle

[Grantw]

Hmmm... factory fitment for us later model dudes... Interesting how i thought it was useless until i was in the bush.

[JMeager]

I have done this. Too easy. I installed a second switch beside the factory up down switch. All you need to do is intercept the radios Aerial Up / down output which is either 12v or ground - I think 12v. (that is not important however). All you do is route that wire through the switch. when you have the switch closed, the circuit functions as normal - use the height switch. If you break the circuit with the switch, it then cuts the signal to the mini ecu for the aerial - the circuit sees this as the radio being switched off and retracts the aerial to the fully down position.

There are absolutely no drawbacks to this approach at all, as this is using the circuits as expected.

Enjoy - I can't help with the wire colour, other than to tell you that the wire you are after goes to the aerial up down switch - so it is really easy to do when you put the second switch next to it.

Jeff

[jAFO]

JMeager
I don't know why I didn't think of it? Mine doesn't have an existing switch, but this shouldn't matter. I'll try it this weekend and let you know
Many thanks

Dave.