Aerial Switch

[FD3S Efini]

Has anyone here fitted a switch for there aerial so you can control when it rises and when it stays down? if so is it easy to do? and how did you do it?

[Nik da Greek]

Ermm, not as such, but I have discovered (mostly by accident) that Sony headunits only raise the aerial when you turn it to radio, not when it\'s playing CDs or the MP3 aux. Some other brands have this feature too, I gather, but dunno which.

[FD3S Efini]

nah mine just raises it no matter what and i wanna be able 2 choose when its up

[steo800]

tell us what radio you have and might able to tell you what wire. if not do the following-
 
 
 
you\'ll need to find which wire powers the antenna
 
to do this, unplug the block from the radio
 
you\'ll need one of these http://www.installer.com/photos/testlight.jpg or one of these http://www.southernrods.com/categories/tools/products/images/DSCN0502.JPG
12v test lights
 
connect the clip end to a known 12V power source on the car. if you have an aftermarket radio, it will be the yellow or red cable going into the car with the ignition on
be carefull not to touch the metal of anything as it will be live, save the fuses!!!
 
now, with the tester end of the test light, probe each wire on the block(original mazda one) untill one raises the aerial.
 
this is the wire you will need to put a switch on to control your aerial. cut the wire and join the 2 ends up to a switch.
 
just get a normal on-off switch and it will do the job.
 
make sure no metal/wire is exposed after.

[Grizzly]

well for reference Kenwoods raise the Ariel when the unit Powers on (Not when the radio is turned on)

I\'ll be sorting a switch out very soon, I would imagen its very easy to do (Just put a switch in the remote/Aux at the back of the stereo that controls the aerial)

Good to know about the Sonys.

[FDAsh]

Yeah I have one just above the knee pad, tucked away as I didn\'t want it on show.

I think there\'s a blue wire you can cut the switch into, and then you can control the aerial. I did all this and found my Pioneer F900 had a setting anyway... ah well.

[batman]

all you need is a halfrauds rocker switch and connect it to the power antenna out put all aftermarket units its a blue wire some ie sonys it will be a blue with a white tracer . the solid blue is amp remote turn on . just use the swith to break the circut and the aerial wi ll go up and down when you choose it to hope that helps

[FD3S Efini]

cheers for all your replies i will be fitting  switch next weekend, i might put the switch in like the headlamp switchby the speedo what you reckon?

[steo800]

ive a sony myself, but before that there was a little cover you could pop off the the trim that goes around radio/heater controls.
 
i was gonna put a switch in here for it, its to the right of the heater controls im sure

[FD3S Efini]

il have to look when i can mate an see if i can find it

[steo800]

its actually to the right of the radio, my bad!

[Cashpoint]

Ok i may be a bit late but which wire is it that controls the aerial as my looms been butchered.

[batman]

what head unit do you have cashpoint

[Cashpoint]

It\'s a Kenwood. The units has a lead that says power areial on it but I don\'t know what colour the wire friom the loom would be?

[Cashpoint]

Ok think I\'ve found what i was looking for here http://www.fd3s.net/radio_wiring.html