No AM FM radio reception with new radio

[firstboatguy]

I justed installed a new Sony receiver replacing the original US Marine radio. The radio seems to be installed properly but I can not hear any stations. The receiver was installed in to a 1991 Bayliner Capri. Does anyone know why this would happen? Is the original antenna incompatible with the new receiver?

 

[stylesabu]

Re: No AM FM radio reception with new radio

are you trying to use a marine radio antenna for an am/fm radio? you need a new radio antenna

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: No AM FM radio reception with new radio

Making the assumption that all your connections are correct, I would look at the following.

Many of the new decks power on by default the first time to the AUX input. It assumes you want to plug in an external input device like an MP3 player or iPod etc. You need to manually switch to the RECEIVER input to be able to receive AM/FM stations. After the initial setting, the deck will automatically power on to the receiver mode. Take a read thru your operators manual for details.

 

[firstboatguy]

Re: No AM FM radio reception with new radio

I've toggled between functions on the radio but I don't get any reception on the AM FM radio; the CD and AUX input functions work great. The original radio had a white wire with the traditional ANT plug on the end. The new receiver has the ANT in the wiring harness. I cut the plug off and wired the original ANT to the Blue wire in the harness. I don't hear anything on any station. Should I be using a better antenna than the single thin wire running towards the bow?

I've also considered using the Shakespeare splitter for an VHF antenna. Anyone have any luck with this unit?

 

[stylesabu]

Re: No AM FM radio reception with new radio

could you upload pics of what you are looking at. sounds like you are trying to use 2 diferent types of antenna

 

[fishrdan]

Re: No AM FM radio reception with new radio

The new receiver has the ANT in the wiring harness. I cut the plug off and wired the original ANT to the Blue wire in the harness.

Blue wire, isn't that the power antenna wire, the wire that makes a power antenna go up when the radio is on? Been a couple years since I messed with a car stereo, but it should have a jack in the back of the stereo for the antenna's cable, or a short (thick) wire coming out of the stereo where the antenna cable plugs in.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: No AM FM radio reception with new radio

Blue wire, isn't that the power antenna wire, the wire that makes a power antenna go up when the radio is on?

LOL...it sure is! No wonder he isn't getting any reception!

To the OP...What is the model number of this stereo? maybe we can look up the manual and help you out. The antenna has to be a coax input of some type! Any unexplained holes in the back of the radio? Maybe take a picture of the rear of it for us.

 

[dingbat]

Re: No AM FM radio reception with new radio

Checked a couple of Sony manuals. All of them have the blue wires as power antenna. All of them used the traditional antenna plug. Look inside one of the mystery holes.

A VHF antenna works just fine with a AM/FM radio. I have 2 VHF antennas for redundancy and use one as my full time FM antenna.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: No AM FM radio reception with new radio

He cut off the wire for the antenna on the new radio...Yikes!
Was this the black plug for the standard antenna connection?

Blue wire is for a powered antenna....nothing to do with receiving a FM signal.

 

[firstboatguy]

Re: No AM FM radio reception with new radio

The receiver is a Sony CDX-M30. You guys are absolutely right. I sat down in front if the big screen with the PDF of the installation instructions blown up to 300% and I found the jack in the back of the radio for the antenna. Looking at the paper instructions I missed the little blurb that says "Boat Aerial Antenna". Now I just need to but a new plug for the end of the antenna coming from the boat and it should work. I guess it shows that working on the boat while upside down in the dark with a work light is not the best idea. Lesson learned.:redface:

 

[firstboatguy]

Re: No AM FM radio reception with new radio

Anyone use the Shakespeare #4357 AMFM VHF splitter? I think I may get better reception with this setup.

 

[stylesabu]

Re: No AM FM radio reception with new radio

you will only need I antenna this way, sorry about wrong info on vhf antenna. I should know better I used to install cb radios years ago. used to used 1 anteena all the time,with a splitter. the cb range suffered with this set-up. I could usually get almost twice the range with a K40 antenna.