I have a '97 960 wagon (does that make it a 965?) with the rear side window integrated radio antenna. I live in Cincinnati and have reception sags with the hills around town. Any suggestions on improvement or is this just the limitation of that type of antenna?

Thanks,

Eric

My 97 V90 also has the integrated antenna. It generally gives good reception, but I have noticed that is more directional than the (power) mast antenna that I had in my 92 965. When I sit at a light in dowtown Baltimore, it will get a bit flakey, but if I nudge up about a foot, reception will improve. It also disappears in the bay tunnels faster than the mast. One the other hand I can listent to NPR in the mornng all the way into my parking garage (no mast ot retract). Fair trade as far as I'm concerned!

I should assume that we are normally talking aobut FM reception here...right? The only drawback I've heard about this type of antenna is that if you tint your window with !00% metallic film, you will likely lose good AM reception.
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John Shatzer, '97 V90 @ 94K

I have the same problem. If you look at the drivers side rear window, at the top of the back pillar is a small rectangular rubber piece. It covers up the hole used for the old style antenna. So, you could get one from a 754 or a 945, a sedan won't work, and install the thing yourself. The factory radio might not have the control wire for the motor that contols the antenna, up/down if you know what I mean, so my may need a switch from the dash, the connector and wire.

My V70 has on glass antennas on both back glass pieces. The reception is pretty good except the high frequency response comes and goes, like the 965's radio too.
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Warren Bain - '86 744Ti M46 >290Kmi, '99 V70Glt > 45K mi, '96 965 >100Kmi Wifemobile near Manassas Va.. Check the 700/900 FAQ via the 'features' pull down menu.

Thanks for the responses. The system is the factory system and otherwise works and sounds great. I'll check out the earlier posts, and I suppose the reception's not quite bad enough to move-maybe if it gets worse...

Cheers,

Eric

My 945 reception with tinted windows has no better and no worse reception than my other cars. I recall some old posts with this problem in the 900 forum. There is supposed to be an antenna amplifier used only for the window-mounted antenna directly under antenna wire collector, hidden by some trim. I did a search and found some info that may help. The antenna amplifier or the connections could be the culprit. http://www.brickboard.com/FIND/search.cgi?q=antenna+amplifier&m=phrase&ps=20&o=0&wm=wrd&ul=&wf=222210
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Tom F

Eric,

I also live in Cinci & have a 87 745 Turbowagon, 91 245 SE and a 73 1800ES. All have lowsy reception. Also the Jetta I am getting rid of also has bad reception.

Maybe we should move.

Art

I have the same antenna on my 945 (yes, that does make yours a 965) and I have great reception -- even in the mountains of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Upstate New York. Do you have the factory radio?

Jeff Pierce
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'92 Mercedes 190E (my daily driver), '93 945 Turbo (a kickass family car), '53 Willys-Overland Pickup (my snow-plow truck/conversation piece)