Rob_OctaviavRS

Whats the deal with the crap reception on the radio in the mk1 vRS, my mate has one and his is the same, mines got an Alpine and his has the standard tape and multichanger and the radio is crap!

Does anyone know how to sort it all out coz its getting on my nerves, already used the FM booster things off ebay which do feck all!

Any help would be appreciated!

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2.3 Litres with 28PSi boost = Toodle Pip!

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4x4t

When the alpine was fitted did it have the arial amplifier adaptor fitted.Without this you will never get good reception.They are about a tenner and you plug the arial into it and send 12 volts through another small wire to feed power to the amp.

mbames

Not quite the right terminology, but reasonable correct description. Essentially if you change from the factor fit head unit then you need to have a power injector unit fitted inline between the new head unit and the aerial cable. This sends power to the amp at the base of the aerial at the back of the car. if your mates one is rubbish with the factor fit, then maybe his is either now supply power, or the amp at the aerial base has failed.

robgraham

I'll add a bit more to that - VAG aerials around 2000 were prone to leaking water into the head amplifier so that even if you do supply them with 12V they still don't work !!

Rob

mbames

arh.... which might explain why mine seems to have got a bit worse over the last few weeks (unless the cold weather is going to make radio 1 a bit more crackly....) - pioneer head unit and power injector unit fitted.

richm

I was under the impression 2000-2002 cars didnt have an amplifier in the aerial base... ?

Lummox

They all so as far as I know. But when they get folded down water gets into the screw thread. Then when the aerial is screwed back down it hydraulics the bottom of the base and breaks.

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richm

ah.. ok. I will check mine then, as my reception is poor too with an aftermarket head.

mbames

When I bought my Y/2001 Octy it already had an aftermarket (pioneer) head unit. A few weeks later when I was having handsfree kit fitted I mentioned it to the installer chap and he suggested the power injector jobbie. He happened to have one with him, and fitted it there and then. That improved my radio reception no end.

richm

OK worth a try to see then.

something like this then..?

Antenna Aerial Adaptors

mbames

that looks almost exactly like mine (from what I can remember!) I think he just sourced the power from the Antenna feed from the back of the head unit

richm

Found one, good old Ebay.. £6.48

Bowders1

Folks, I bought one of them to boost my reception on my Octy VRS with its standard head unit. It did bugger all effect. Actually it made it worse as it was trying to boost an already boosted signal( strange i know) I ended finding that indeed the original amp booster at the base of the ariel was effected by water getting into it. I changed the whole ariel and works much better now. Still not as good as my old VW Golf was but better.

My car is a 2001 for info.

This seems to be a common issue on octavia's

Bowders1

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Skoda Octavia VRS - Mod's : BlueFlame Exhaust System Turbo back, Forge 007PDV, ABD Induction CAI, Remap, ECS N75 valve, Blue Silicon Hoses, Audi S3 Upper/Lower strut Braces, Whiteline Rear ARB, Weitec Hicon GT Coilovers, Audi RS4 18" Wheels, Polished Inlet manifold and Cam Cover, Poweflex Engine mount, Wishbone Bushes, ARB Bushes, SAT NAV install, Reversing Sensors, Bonnet Lifters, Seat Cupra R Splitter, Milotec Bumper Grills, Audi TT arch Mod, Airvent Boost gauge. to do FMIC.....

mbames

The item shown above is a power injector unit, not an amplifier - the amp can be found in the base of the aerial mount of the car.

skud vrs

Did Skoda eventually rectify this problem with the mk1? I ask this because I previously owned a 52 plate vrs and the radio was useless. Now with the 04 plate the radio is so much better can pick up weaker signals much further away.

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Rob_OctaviavRS

Sounds like the aerial as I've already got one of those fitted, bugger!!!

__________________
2.3 Litres with 28PSi boost = Toodle Pip!

Harmon Kardon AS3 Audio, Bi-Xenons, Heated Aero Leather, 280BHP + 400NM

Johnny50

My reception was fine until i changed to a smaller ariel. Now i cant find the original to put back on !

Hoddhead

Will one of these improve am reception as well as fm? My FM is ok, but could be a lot better, and the am stuff is useless, just a load of buzzing. Not that bothered but sometimes useful for a bit of sport commentary!

When wiring, does it need to be connected to the 'switched' live or the 'permanent' live? I would assume 'switched' as this will be when it needs the power to go to the amplifier? Is it as simple as wiring this into that part of the wiring loom?

Thanks.

richm

Yes it will improve everything. Fitted mine at the weekend, and is now loads better. On most aftermarket heads, the standard ISO power connector has a switched output on pin5 which is used to power the aerial, ideally this is where you want to plug in the blue wire. However, on the standard Skoda loom there is already a wire occupying the pin5 cavity which isn't needed for an aftermarket head - they are a tit to remove though, even with a proper tool, so you may well be better just splicing it into the ignition switched feed.
This is the one I got:
Find New VAG Aerial Booster Amplified Antenna Lead VW Cars on eBay within, Terminals Cabling, In-Car Entertainment GPS, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 07-Nov-07 20:03:40 GMT)

mbames

Has anyone changed the base unit for the aerial? I have noticed that the radio is starting to get a bit crackerly over the last few weeks, so I am wondering if my base has started to take in water....

Hoddhead

Cheers. Found the same in Halfords tonight, but for nearly 14 quid. Needless to say it's getting ordered on ebay!!! Fed up with losing reception when I'm the wrong side of a hill!