Power antenna
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,093
Likes: 2
From: long beach California
Power antenna
How does it work? I mean does it come up and down with the ignition switch was it up down power option on the head unit itself? What made it work I had these wires hanging down and couldn't figure out what they were too. I looked in the Iam and it was obvious that right above the wires is the antenna but the new antenna is not power. Bubba ripped out the power unit an put in basic antenna. Is it worth it to replace with the power antenna or no?
Last edited by jesse10886; Mar 26, 2012 at 02:31 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,380
Likes: 226
From: Beecher Illinois
There's a relay under the center console all the way to the rear that tells it up and down.
Relay is always hot, and when the radio is turned on a second hot wire triggers the antenna up. Turn radio off, antenna down.
Since the relay is always hot, when you turn off the ignition there's still power to lower the antenna when power to the second wire is cut off.
Relay is always hot, and when the radio is turned on a second hot wire triggers the antenna up. Turn radio off, antenna down.
Since the relay is always hot, when you turn off the ignition there's still power to lower the antenna when power to the second wire is cut off.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,783
Likes: 400
From: Paoli, IN
St. Jude Donor '17, '19
I plan to install a power antenna in mine in the future. Mine is a 1980 and apparently I have a switch next to my head unit that tells it to raise and lower. Not really sure. Another Corvette enthusiast told me about it when I inquired what this "useless" switch did.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,740
Likes: 3
From: Aurora Ontario
Replacement antennas have the relay attached to them. With an aftermarket radio you do not need the OEM relay if you buy an antenna with the relay attached to it. Provided the aftermarket radio you have has a power antenna connection you can run wires right o the relay on the new antenna.
Your other choice is to use the OEM relay and buy a new antenna with out a relay or remove the relay from the new antenna.
Hope this is not too confusing.
Jim
Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 632
Likes: 38
From: Roseville CA
See my article on the Metra power antenna install on my 1980.
http://www.calweb.com/~griffitt/MetraPowerAntenna.html
http://www.calweb.com/~griffitt/MetraPowerAntenna.html
