RedRider3141 Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 The extremely helpful seller told me that the line in my windshield is an antennae. But it has a fender mounted antennae, so what's the deal with the line? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Towncivilian Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 (edited) 2001.5 FSM says it's an antenna, too: I remember reading somewhere that the fender mounted antenna is only for AM band, but I'm uncertain about that. Oh, on page EL-188 it says this about troubleshooting radio: Edited February 2, 2011 by Towncivilian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverton Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 The older pathfinders also have the windshield antenna. Some antennas are better for picking up certain signals, so basically both antennas receive all the time, i wouldn't say one is better than the other, but I think it's cool that they have both! My moms hyundai just has a window antenna, and sometimes it just doesn't do the job right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zibi Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 It's a second antenna to both improve reception and to be there in case the other one gets ripped off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howie Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 I remember it being called a "Diversity Antenna" a while back. Of course, I never listen to the radio anymore, either FM or AM, so I don't need it but I don't notice it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
180sx Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 I always wondered this, too. Just never cared enough to ask. Good to know now though. Great work NPORA team!! Jose Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Igetstabby Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 I thought it was for the mirror compass.. meh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pathfounder Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 My fender antenna is broken (doesn't hoist) but I still get decent reception on most FM stations, thankfully. I can hear the motor trying to hoist it, but it just doesn't. Oh well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpathy Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 I have heard of it mentioned as a booster antenna as well. You don't really need your motorized antenna working (going up and down) for it to pick up stations, but it does help. Though with the weather we are having in Ottawa right now, the antenna does get frozen in place a lot (either up or down). I don't listen to local radio either. Only thing I use the radio for is picking up my FM transmitter for my satellite radio or ipod. When you get sat radio, listening to regular local radio will drive you insane. Is nice to listen to the radio without commercials (except for a few specialty channels on sat radio) and also be able to listen to your favorite channels anywhere in North America. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpathy Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 One thing I would like to know is how to stop the motorized antenna from coming up when you turn on the radio. There is no fuse or relay that I can find to stop it. One person said the only way is to cut the power wire to the motor and install a switch in-line to stop it I would like to be able to stop it from going up when on the trail so it doesn't get banged up and bend by branches. I can turn off the radio to keep it down, but I would still like to listen to the radio while on a long trip on the trails Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Towncivilian Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 One thing I would like to know is how to stop the motorized antenna from coming up when you turn on the radio. There is no fuse or relay that I can find to stop it. One person said the only way is to cut the power wire to the motor and install a switch in-line to stop it I would like to be able to stop it from going up when on the trail so it doesn't get banged up and bend by branches. I can turn off the radio to keep it down, but I would still like to listen to the radio while on a long trip on the trails k9sar wired a cut-off switch to do this very thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverton Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 One thing I would like to know is how to stop the motorized antenna from coming up when you turn on the radio. There is no fuse or relay that I can find to stop it. One person said the only way is to cut the power wire to the motor and install a switch in-line to stop it I would like to be able to stop it from going up when on the trail so it doesn't get banged up and bend by branches. I can turn off the radio to keep it down, but I would still like to listen to the radio while on a long trip on the trails Aftermarket stereos are wired so that when the radio is on, it provides power to the antenna, and when you switch to aux or cd, it cuts power to the antenna so it retracts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TooQForYou Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 ^ That's how mine is. Antenna only goes up when I listen to radio (which is next to never). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamzan Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 Northernpathy you could get one of those tape adapters and then your antenna should stay down if its like the above posters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRider3141 Posted February 3, 2011 Author Share Posted February 3, 2011 Ok, that answers one question, but "raises" another. My fender Antennae is fixed! You guys with the retracting antennas, is that QX4 only? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pathfounder Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 Ok, that answers one question, but "raises" another. My fender Antennae is fixed! You guys with the retracting antennas, is that QX4 only? No, my Pathfinder has one. I'd rather have a fixed one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicano2005 Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 i thought it was a windshield defroster! and also my antenna does not go up! damn you retractable antennas! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KovemaN Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 Currently switching mine to the windshield only. I have broken my fender antenna too many times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timmons Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 I bought a small black plastic switch, installed it next to the rear wiper switch and used it to turn off the retractable antenna. I also have my amps hooked up to another switch next to that one if I need to turn them off as well. works great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Towncivilian Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 Guess I'm lucky I don't have a retractable antenna. Sounds like an annoyance, and I very rarely use radio anyway. I also thought it was a defroster before finding that page in the manual Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawzzy Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 One thing I would like to know is how to stop the motorized antenna from coming up when you turn on the radio. There is no fuse or relay that I can find to stop it. One person said the only way is to cut the power wire to the motor and install a switch in-line to stop it I would like to be able to stop it from going up when on the trail so it doesn't get banged up and bend by branches. I can turn off the radio to keep it down, but I would still like to listen to the radio while on a long trip on the trails I cant remember if you have a stock radio or an aftermarket...but when you install an aftermarket radio, there is ALWAYS a BLUE lead called "power antenna"..traditionally used as a +12 volt when unit is powered up to give +12 signal to an amplifier to turn on...I havent looked at mine, but if you did an install properly, you wouldve bought a wiring harness to attach to your new head-unit, and interupting the feed from the power antennae might do the trick....It wont be the 12 volt power source...but the +12 volt "switch" so to speak. Its TOO cold for me to rip my dash open right now...or id go do it right now too! Tye Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRider3141 Posted February 4, 2011 Author Share Posted February 4, 2011 Speaking from recent experience: I just removed the Alpine HU that came in my Pathfinder to put in my Kenwood (I just liked the one I was familiar with better). Both Stereos had the power antennae wire. I left it N/C on my car since I have a stationary mount. I noticed alot of other weird/ unfamiliar stuff in the dash that I'll post in another topic. I cant remember if you have a stock radio or an aftermarket...but when you install an aftermarket radio, there is ALWAYS a BLUE lead called "power antenna"..traditionally used as a +12 volt when unit is powered up to give +12 signal to an amplifier to turn on...I havent looked at mine, but if you did an install properly, you wouldve bought a wiring harness to attach to your new head-unit, and interupting the feed from the power antennae might do the trick....It wont be the 12 volt power source...but the +12 volt "switch" so to speak. Its TOO cold for me to rip my dash open right now...or id go do it right now too! Tye Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alkorahil Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 It was indeed called Diversity Antennea. It is to help boost reception of AM stations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WOT Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 I always thought it had to do with the compass Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zibi Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 If you don't want the antenna to go up - ever - just disable the antenna motor. Then you can just manually extend the antenna and leave it that way. They have a tendency to fail anyhow, the gears get stripped so it will whir away trying to raise or lower the antenna. Mine has been disabled since before I bought it, probably because either the motor had failed or the gears had gone and it was just easier to permanently leave it up. My antenna is kind of hooped however, I whacked it with a couple trees and then dropped a canoe on it last summer so it's got a nice permanent kink and a bit of a "speed angle". Eventually I guess I'll just replace it with a metal whip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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