So previous owner had an aftermarket radio "professionally" installed.

While pulling my shifter apart I pulled the radio out and lo and behold, the power antenna cable had been connected to the ground cable by stripping the insulation off of a section and wrapping it around, then taping over. No crimp connection, no solder, nothing. I've taken it off for now, since I listen to CDs anyway. I'll get around to redoing all his crimp connections with nice solder joints later.

I'd like to wire a switch for the power antenna below the aftermarket radio. I'm a bit confused as to how to wire it though. Would it be alright to use the ground for the radio and wire that through a switch?

 

Get an aftermarket radio that has a switch for the power antenna. Then it will only turn the antenna on when you actually use the radio. This would be better than the clutter of a switch.

And the FAQ has info on wiring up the power antenna, it needs a relay to work properly if triggered by the radio itself.

 

The radio I have does have a switch for a power antenna, but I would personally prefer to have a switch. Especially since I can't find out for sure if this radio pops it up when it is on, or just when the radio is selected as the source. That and I already have a switch, a relay I would have to buy.

 

Personally,I got rid of the Power antenna.It's Not Necessary.I took it off,and I put in a "rubber Ducky" antenna that I got From Walmart...Kids around here like to snap antennas.I Haven't had a Problem..Good reception,and no Broken antenna!.oh,you should be able to Buy Coaxial cable for your Radio at Radio-Shack(is it called the Source/Circuit City now?)

 

yes u can get power from the original radio harness. if you have a aftermarket radio that has both a solid blue wire and a blue wire with white stripe. then the blue/white wire gives a continous 12 volt when the radio is turn on the blue wire will only have 12 vlts output when radio tuner is used.

 

If the radio turns on the power antenna every time the radio itself is activated, it does not have an actual trigger radio trigger wire or it was hooked up incorrectly.