Improving radio reception

[Cloud]

So after driving my miata for sometime now I have been pretty disappointed with the radio reception. I replaced the antenna with a full length whip and that helped, but it's still worse than most other cars and it is especially susceptible to weather I have noticed.

Anyone have ideas? Local radio stations come in crystal clear but stuff that other cars get from 50+ miles away I get rather crappy consistency, some days not at all.

I have been trying to find quality antennas and am thinking that in this application an amplified antenna would be a good bet. Does anyone have any experience with quality antennas? All I seem to find have pretty poor build quality or are just the shorty style, I want something full length.

[Overkill]

Did you really just admit to driving a miata? :p

Just messing with you, but I have found it is usually the stereo itself to blame and not the antenna. The old pioneer super tuners work awesome compared to my new Alpine, but I rarely listen to the radio so for me it didn't matter although I did notice the poorer reception right away.

[Dane Becher]

Have you considered that your antenna wire between the receiver and the antenna could be the culprit? Maybe a bad/corroded splice, a place that is worn and being grounded to the chassis, or possibly pinched? You could completely bypass the factory wire and connect the receiver directly to your newer antenna.

Also some receivers are better than others as far as the radio tuner.

About 15 years ago I bought a crappy inline signal amplifier (lived in the boonies). It made absolutely NO difference in signal quality. I promptly returned it for a refund.

[Cloud]

Well, I am actually using the receiver that I had in the talon, which is an old pioneer and got great reception in the talon so I doubt it's that.

Wiring could be suspect. I have noticed it does have a few sections that are of the thin, unshielded variety. But I still get flawless reception on local stations so I am not quite sure how that would work.

Interesting to hear about the signal amplifier doing nothing, I have seen that a lot of factory antennas are amplified and I am quite certain the miata's is not.

[Dane Becher]

Interesting to hear about the signal amplifier doing nothing, I have seen that a lot of factory antennas are amplified and I am quite certain the miata's is not.

It was a shot in the dark with a cheapy from Walmart. It didn't surprise me at all that it did not noticeably help. I'm sure there are much better quality signal boosters that will give noticeable gains, but at a much higher price tag.

If you have any doubts about the cable, it seems that would be a good place to start. Adding an amp to an already suspect cable seems like a bad idea IMO.

[Cloud]

Another good question is where do you find the shielded antenna cable? I have found 'extensions' of unshielded cable, but I haven't openly seen 10' of antenna cable to redo the factory wiring.

[prophecymiller]

I grounded the antenna for my alarm at something like four different spots on my last 2g and the range was a few times farther after. The radio antenna might work the same way so it may be worth trying.

[Cloud]

Well, replaced antenna with a factory unit. Did not do anything for me. The wiring I don't actually think is really all that suspect. I guess the stock wiring is shielded, but it's super thin shielding so it looks like an unshielded wire. The quest continues...

[drcustom]

I think the problem is that you're driving a miata.

Ha! Just kidding and I don't really care...but it was too easy!

I'm not sure that it would be the dealbreaker, but it wouldn't hurt to make sure the stereo is grounded very well (not through the wiring harness, but directly to the body).

[hubbazoot (aka Jon Lewis)]

I had very similar problems with mine after I put a new receiver in. Turns out the problem was that the antennae was not plugged in all the way. It may be something as simple as making sure your plug for the antenna is plugged all the way in. Like with all older wires, it may have some 'magic position' it needs to sit in to be properly connected.