Sony Radio Reception

[jzelle]

Originally Posted by gaylejoe

I have a quick question regarding the Sony radio. How does one change radio stations without using the "seek" function? I do not have a user manual with my unit.

Hi gaylejoe
You can download your Sony manual from here:Sony eSupport - Electronics - Select Your Model

[KerriO]

Suddenly, a couple of weeks ago, we stopped receiving both AM and FM reception. It isn't a "weak antenna" issue— we were previously getting stations at the same location, and then it just stopped. We moved to a more metro area recently, and still can't even get the hint of a station on either AM or FM. We have the factory Sony install, and the 12" rubber wand antenna. We haven't climbed up to look at the antenna connection yet, but it *looks* just fine — the antenna's sticking straight up — no signs that it was knocked out of place.

I opened up the access hatch today to the back of the stereo to get some more use out of the CD changer inputs (we removed the CD changer months ago), and figured I'd see if maybe the antenna connection was knocked lose from the stereo itself. Geez, it's a mess in there, with all those 6' cables they used when they only needed a foot! Since I'm not going to spend the money to replace all those cables, I at least untangled them this time and wrapped up the excess individually in zip ties so I could make heads or tails of whats left.

What I *did* find were three wires that look like they're related to the antenna (see photo). It's kind of hard to make out the three from the rest, but here's what's going on: The red one just looks like a grounding wire, then there's a grey one flagged "ATT" that terminates inside the flag. Then there's that blue one, which looks like it's supposed to be connected to something… but I have no idea what! I can't find any more loose wires.

Do you think this blue wire is the problem, and should be connected somewhere? If so, what should I be looking for? I could have easily missed something, but there's only so much time you can spend twisted up inside a cubby in your overhead cabinet with a thousand wires!

ETA: I just googles "ANT REM MAX 0.1A" and I'm gathering that this is to connect "power/motorized" antennas, so I don't know if this a red herring. If it is, what DOES the actual radio antenna look like? I have the owners manual and the service manual and neither have given me a clue.

[Silver Goose]

My best guess is the blue wire would go to the relay that operates a motorized telescoping antenna used in some car applications. The antenna wire you're looking for is a coax type cable that comes from the base where the antenna is mounted on the roof and plugs into the back of the radio.

Try to google the model number of your radio to see if you can find an owners manual or maybe a diagram of the various connections.

[Skater]

Originally Posted by YankeeDoodle

My best guess is the blue wire would go to the relay that operates a motorized telescoping antenna used in some car applications. The antenna wire you're looking for is a coax type cable that comes from the base where the antenna is mounted on the roof and plugs into the back of the radio.

This is my recollection as well (I've done a couple car stereo installations).

Worst case is that the antenna wire was pinched somewhere and has now rubbed through. Another possibility is that the tuner on the radio died.

[Rockwell]

Have you tried to tune (trim) your antenna? ... Not sure where the Sony trim screw is, but generally it's just under one of the tuning knobs on the front of the radio...(some are located on the back of the radio) ...but, if you can find it, tune your radio on AM to the weakest station above 1400 and turn the trim screw back and forth until you get the loudest reception. That will set both the AM & FM receivers to your antenna. This was always a must when changing antennas on car radios...

[KerriO]

Thanks for the suggestion. I didn't see *any* coaxial (for the actual antenna) either plugged into the stereo or hanging loose, but I will take another look.

Rockwell, I get *nothing* from any station, not even the weakest signal on any frequency (which makes me wonder if Skater is right and that the tuner has just gone out entirely).

To add to it all, after I put everything back together last night, now I get buzzing and static in the speakers (when the radio is set to any input) whenever the lights are one. (I was supposed to attach that loose [red] ground wire to something, wasn't I?)

[Goal15]

Ray_Eklund

did your longer antennae solve the weak Sony signal problem? Was trying to listen to World Series this year in East Texas and could get absolutely nothing on the Sony even though the Tundra radio was clear as a bell.


Dana