Aerial retraction

Hi, I have an aftermarket radio installed which extends the aerial every time I start the car with my ugly looking aerial.

I want to add a switch on the dash which can retract/extend it at will for when I actually use the radio.

Does anyone know which wires control the up/down of the antenna out of the back of the stereo and how I need to wire them on a three way switch to do it?

Looking at my aerial there only seems to be two wires going in (apart for the aerial wire).

Any pointers appreciated.

Remove that horrible monstrosity and fit a nice little modern stubby like most of us

I don't really mind it. I just want to get rid of it every now and then. I kind o like the fact it can dissapear completely.

At least the standard aerial can pick up radio. My stubby looks good, but I can only get one crappy local station!

I like the idea of a manual switch, then at least you control it's use, and I'm sure it can be done quite simply.

I actually like the OEM one..

Always wanted a car with one when I was a kid...

Strange, the things we liked when we were kids though, eh?

Strange, the things we liked when we were kids though, eh?

Yeah... Electric windows were another of my wants...

Now they all got them..

I've fitted a switch to my car so I can lower the aerial at will. I did this a long time ago so I can't remember details, but I do remember that the switch doesn't need to be 3-way. The aerial is raised/lowered by a short-ish pulse sent down a wire. I fitted an in-line switch to this wire. To have the aerial behave normally (i.e. controlled by whether the head unit is on of off), the switch is closed. To keep the aerial retracted, the switch is opened.

I will post up a link if I can find it.

I made a comment about my aeriel in a previous thread but now I would like to retract it..!!

Sorry, really bored.

H.

You need a Mod Switch like me.

You need a Mod Switch like me.

Ooh, reminds me to write a cheque.

H.

I fitted a switch to mine to overide the aerial going up and down. It was a while ago now but i think i found the wire from the back of the stereo that sends a signal to the aerial, cut it and fitted a switch. I think it was a blue wire.

Ooh, reminds me to write a cheque.

 

H.

All made, and ready for dispatch.

This link is as good as I could find: http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?1094-Auto-Manual-electric-aerial

Might be better, and this one confirms the wire is blue: http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?230870-Aerial

It would be good to control the height too. Maybe a 3 position rocker switch, up/hold/down, etc. Is that possible?

My Prelude used to have this feature from the factory.

Controlling the height would be fiddly IMO with the stock aerial. A short pulse (rising voltage to +12v?) down the wire tells the aerial to go up as far as it can. A different pulse (falling voltage to 0v?) tells it to retract as far as it can. The aerial keeps moving even after the pulse has finished. The only way you'd get the stock aerial to stop halfway up is to cut the power to the aerial motor when the aerial is at the desired length.

Thanks Stevie_b. that was exactly what I was lookin for. Gonna give this a go right now.

Now onto my next problem, anyone know where to get spare temp control knobs, mine has cracked

Thanks Stevie_b. that was exactly what I was lookin for. Gonna give this a go right now.

 

Now onto my next problem, anyone know where to get spare temp control knobs, mine has cracked

Keiron @ Extreme Performance should have some.

H.

For anyone that is interested that worked perfectly. Cut the blue wire at the back of the stereo (which was marked antenna power), interrupted it with a two pole switch dropped into a spare slot on the dashboard and voila. A remote control antenna.

Thanks everyone!

Keiron @ Extreme Performance should have some.

 

H.

Thanks Havard, dont have a link for them do you?

For anyone that is interested that worked perfectly. Cut the blue wire at the back of the stereo (which was marked antenna power), interrupted it with a two pole switch dropped into a spare slot on the dashboard and voila. A remote control antenna.

 

Thanks everyone!

Did you take any pics? We like pics round these parts.

Thanks Havard, dont have a link for them do you?

He's a member on here.

http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?143751-Extreme-Performance

Did you take any pics? We like pics round these parts.

No pics I'm afraid. And I can't face taking that dashboard to pieces again.

You could just rewire the power for the Antenna so it's just controlled by the switch. The motor itself works with 2 wires when one is 12v and the other is 0 it goes up and vice versa