Fitting aftermarket radio/mp3 player to GU

[JontyG]

Does anyone know if fitting an after market radio to a GU interferes with the way the automatic antenna works. In the original it goes up, when the radio is on, and retracts when one switches to CD/Changer. Is this still the case with an aftermarket unit? Is there any special wiring required to get this to work?

TIA
Jonty

[bogged]

all depends on the unit.. but all modern ones have wiring for elec antenna.. My alpine does

[JontyG]

all depends on the unit.. but all modern ones have wiring for elec antenna.. My alpine does

Thanks...I would be looking at a new unit, which would have the electric antenna wire, but i'm still uncertain if an aftermarket headunit will retract the antenna when switched from radio to cd, or only when turned off. I like the idea of it retracting when playing CD's, as it's better when wheelin having the antenna retracted...and can still isten to music

Jonty

[chimpboy]

all depends on the unit.. but all modern ones have wiring for elec antenna.. My alpine does

Thanks...I would be looking at a new unit, which would have the electric antenna wire, but i'm still uncertain if an aftermarket headunit will retract the antenna when switched from radio to cd, or only when turned off. I like the idea of it retracting when playing CD's, as it's better when wheelin having the antenna retracted...and can still isten to music

Jonty

You would need to check what the particular unit you buy does. The antenna wire is just a 12V signal from the stereo to the antenna controller. Some head units will have it active all the time that the head unit is powered up, others only for radio. Check before you buy!

[JontyG]

You would need to check what the particular unit you buy does. The antenna wire is just a 12V signal from the stereo to the antenna controller. Some head units will have it active all the time that the head unit is powered up, others only for radio. Check before you buy!

Thanks. Next Q then... Does anyone know of any current headunits that only "activate" the arial when the raido is on?

[JontyG]

just occurred to me , that i could just as easily install a switch to manually retract the arial...

[turps]

just occurred to me , that i could just as easily install a switch to manually retract the arial...

Yep would be easy to fit a 3way momentarty switch. Which is basiccally what the GQ's have for the elec aireal. May even be able to find a GQ switch some where.

[turbogu]

all clarion units do, thats all i have ever owned and they all work like that, aerial up when radio on, aerial down when c.d is going

[dieseldude]

Don't ST GU's ( all I've been within) have a switch anyway to lower the aerial?

My old boy's 2.8 turbo and 3.0 turbo have both had them..........

[JontyG]

Don't ST GU's ( all I've been within) have a switch anyway to lower the aerial?

My old boy's 2.8 turbo and 3.0 turbo have both had them..........

mine has a switch to set it at half extension, or at full extension, but when the radio is off, or set to cd/changer, it retracts fully. As turps said, one could install a 3 way switch that will fully retract/half extend/fully extend the arial.

[Tiny]

Don't ST GU's ( all I've been within) have a switch anyway to lower the aerial?

My old boy's 2.8 turbo and 3.0 turbo have both had them..........

mine has a switch to set it at half extension, or at full extension, but when the radio is off, or set to cd/changer, it retracts fully. As turps said, one could install a 3 way switch that will fully retract/half extend/fully extend the arial.

my GU does this, the arial stay up when ever the deck is powered up, its a clarion

[gu4800]

Yeh, my Pioneer MP3 has the aerial powered even with CD/MP3. I just have the aerial at half switch all the time. It does retract when the power is off.