Aftermarket antenna install (BAWM200)

[shilent 10+ year member]

I'm getting horrible FM reception, so I ordered a BAWM200 off of Ebay. After doing some searching, looks like you need to ground it and connect to a 12V source. Is it okay to use the same wires from the head unit?

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[All_Logix 10+ year member]

As long as the antenna doesn't draw to much current. I would think there would be a fuse inline with the power wire on it that should give you some insight into its consumption. If it is higher than 10a, I would find a different source

 

[shilent 10+ year member]

I received my BAWM200 today and the ground cable is less than a foot long. I'm not sure where to ground it. If I install mine on my upper front windshield, where should I ground it?

 

[bodowd]

Did you figure this out? I just bought one and I'm having the same exact issue.

 

[All_Logix 10+ year member]

just extend your groundwire so that it will reach chassis

 

[bodowd]

Ok I extended the ground wire, installed everything, butt-connected the red 12v wire from the antenna to the red 12v wire on the stereos wiring harness...now my radio doesn't come on at all. Then I reconnected the stereo's red wire to the red wire on the wiring harness adapter and the stereo comes on perfectly (still using old antenna with bad reception). Am I doing something wrong here? Someone suggested connecting the red wire from the antenna to the blue/white wire on the stereo's wiring harness because its for those powered antennas that automatically rise and fall when the car is turned on/off...is that a good or bad idea?

 

[Sleeklsc 5,000+ posts]

Give it a try. Not sure why your radio would turn off when the ant's connected to the same 12v ignition though. How many amp's does the antenna pull?

 

[bodowd]

How many amp's does the antenna pull?

I have no idea. This is my first radio install.

Give it a try.

Is there any chance that the radio may output too much power thru the blue/white wire and cause some kind of epic destruction of the antenna?

 

[Sleeklsc 5,000+ posts]

Look on the back of the ant or in the manual. It should list it's power consumption as amp's (a) or milliamp's (ma) with a # before it.

 

[Falcons 5,000+ posts]

just dont buy one that is ******* huge, makes cars look stupid lol

 

[Sleeklsc 5,000+ posts]

Is there any chance that the radio may output too much power thru the blue/white wire and cause some kind of epic destruction of the antenna?

It shouldn't hurt anything. It's the same thing as a power ant lead. Besides, it should have a built in voltage thing(durr). lol

 

[bodowd]

just dont buy one that is ******* huge, makes cars look stupid lol

It's on the inside of the windshield just above the rear-view mirror so its not all that noticeable.

 

[Falcons 5,000+ posts]

It's on the inside of the windshield just above the rear-view mirror so its not all that noticeable.

alright lol. i saw a focus the other day and his antenna was literally 6 ft high, plus the height of his car. no lie it was as tall as a bball hoop all together.

 

[bodowd]

Look on the back of the ant or in the manual. It should list it's power consumption as amp's (a) or milliamp's (ma) with a # before it.

Of course there is no manual and the box doesn't say anything about amps or milliamps. There is a website listed. I went there and found an email to tech support. Emailed them. Will update the post when they respond.

 

[bodowd]

alright lol. I saw a focus the other day and his antenna was literally 6 ft high, plus the height of his car. No lie it was as tall as a bball hoop all together.

wow. Dtm.