J_STATUS

Hi guys, 2003 C230 Kompressor sedan. I just installed a Pioneer AVH X2500BT 6.1" screen. I've got the antenna adapter to plug into the aftermarket H/U to fit our MB antenna wire.

Now I noticed that the radio is staticky and not getting good signal.

There are 2 antenna wires from the car I only connected the
Main/big one and left the small one disconnected as there is no where to connect it to the new unit.

What do you think the problem could be? I have to have radio stations...

Thanks !

phister

So you have the amplified antenna adaptor right? The one you have to tap into a 12v source?

jkowtko

Do you need the aftermarket amplifier on the antenna adapter for the pre-facelift cars?

On my 2005 post-facelift I only needed to make sure the car's antenna amp was connected via the wiring harness to the radio's accessory turn-on wire.

Glyn M Ruck

+1 You need to ensure power to the antenna amplifier or reception will be poor. Many threads in the W209 forum in this regard.

funnyent

I have the same head unit in my car and you just have to hook it up like they are saying. My antenna reception sucked at first, but after doing that it's like it had always been.

If you need any help just let me know, I've installed this head unit on 2 different W203s now so I have a pretty good understanding on how all the wiring works.

J_STATUS

I'm complete lost. What exactly is powering up the antenna?

The antenna adapter I'm talking about is just an extension to fit for the after market head unit, because MB antenna wire are not deep plug like the usual antenna that plugs in.

Here is the picture of the antenna adapter or extension I have.

Drummajorc

The wiring harness that goes out of the head unit should have a power output wire as one of the connections. one of the wires that was part of the original wiring harness that plugged into the back of the mercedes head unit was a power source for the antenna, I think it was a yellow and green wire but don't trust me on that. You need to connect that wire into the constant power output on the head unit's harness to provide power to the antenna. Its not that the antenna is not plugged in but that it is not receiving any power. The power is from what I mentioned above and separate from the actual antenna connector.

jkowtko

That adapter should be fine -- the antenna is just a wire and a ground/shield. What you need is to power the antenna amplifier that is embedded somewhere in the car (top of rear window?) from the radio wiring harness.

Check out this thread ... https://mbworld.org/forums/5321968-post11.html ... and there are many others. Maybe it's pin A5?

What wiring harness adapter are you using?

J_STATUS

So the A5 (black wire) from the MB harness needs to be connected to a 12v to power up the antenna? If that's the case can I tap it into the cigarette lighter wire?

J_STATUS

Have you figured out the antenna issue and since you have this same aftermarket head unit, have you done a parking bypass to allow the DVD to play while the car is moving?

jkowtko

I don't know if it's A5 ... seems like it should be a blue colored wire rather than a black one ... so please use the instructions on your wiring harness adapter if you are not absolutely sure.

You still haven't clarified if you used a wiring harness adapter that attachess to the plug in the car's wiring harness, or if you are tapping into the wires and bypassing the plug. If you use the plugs and buy an aftermarket adapter cord that is connected to your radio's wiring harness, then your wiring assignment instructions will come from the wiring harness adapter you bought.

funnyent

Yes, but it will depend on which wiring harness you are using. For me I didn't use the directions the first time, but when I went back I read how to attach the wire to a 12 volt source (I used cigarette power). What wiring harness are you using?

And yes I did install a bypass, I used this one -
It works great.

jkowtko

I think I used a Scosche wiring harness. However I have the post-facelift model with the single large square plug ... do you have the one with the two smaller plugs?

The radio should have a blue/white antenna and accessory turn-on wire, and either that or 12v switched can be connected to the antenna amplifier wire for the car.

These cars evidently don't have 12v switched coming from the wiring harness (the stock radio must not need it, maybe receives ignition status as a CAN signal?) so most people are getting it by tapping into the cigarette lighter which is close by. And if your cigarette lighter has a light ring around the receptacle, then there is a nighttime illumination wire in the cig lighter wiring harness that could be used for the nighttime illumination trigger wire for the radio if it has one. My AVIC z130BT has teh GPS so the illuminatoni wire allows the display to choose between daytime and nighttime mode.

WaveyKat

see post #943

https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...images-38.html

you need to apply 12v to the FACTORY Power Antenna and yes you can tap the Cigarette Lighter.

J_STATUS

Hooked up the black wire (A5) to the cigarette lighter and it works! Awesome guys I appreciate all the help!

desant89

Anyone have any idea which wire would be used in a 2010 GL or a 2007 sl to power this antenna amplfier?

I put systems in both, and both have horrible reception. Installer was unable to get a harness to tapped into the harness during install. I caller Dealer, Mercedes, and even paid for 24hour access to starTek. Nobody can help me with either vehicle.

Last step is going to put a universal antenna, but I really would prefer not to do that....

Thanks in advance!

Ernestovr

I live 30 miles from San Diego, my path takes me trough rolling hills, these hills are tall enough that stations in SD get very poor reception. Is there anything i can do to the antenna to help. I have a brand new AVX-X2600BT head unit that could not be more perfect but i play the ipod more then i want too, do to the poor reception. Any suggestions appreciated.

CaptChico

Antenna booster needs power- it's the black wire on radio connector where canbus wires are (brown & Brown/red). Test before removing old radio. Should have 12 volts

CaptChico

Antenna booster needs power- it's the black wire on radio connector that supplies 12 volts to the radio. Test before removing old radio. The black wire gets 12 v when the ignition is on

Ahmed-Ali

I've just installed a Sony head unit without the harness (just spliced and joined the wires) and everything works well except the fm radio reception is bad.

I have found the antenna power wire but I have no idea what to do with it. I cut it and it consists of a copper wire in the middle surrounded by a silverish metal wire.

When I connect these wires to the remote out of the head unit it seems to make the reception even worse.

Can somebody please tell me what I should do?

Rev Green

There is 2 plug in my radio head..
1 Fiber Optic 2 cables
Yellow/Red ,, Pink and Brown

2nd Plug I believe is Aux ,Bluetooth or something
2 Brown, Pink and Tan
these are my omly wires from the two Head plugs could you tell me which is for antenna