**Antenna Amp??**

[Goldtaz1 10+ year member]

Guys, I have a situation that I am trying to help someone through, here is the story:

The reception on the AM side of my car stereo is weak. I have a 1999 Mercedes Benz E320. On the Mercedes Benz owners forum, some other owners wrote about the same problem and one said an antenna amp would fix this. I have not heard of an antenna amp before, is this correct and would it be something I could change myself? On this forum, some thought it to be in the trunk of the car. Is this something you are familiar with? You ideas???

While I have been installing car audio for a while, I am not familiar with an antenna amp?? Can someone help me out on this one??

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[strong*I*bumpin 10+ year member]

they're called boosters,sold @ partsexpress.com

 

[Goldtaz1 10+ year member]

they're called boosters,sold @ partsexpress.com

The only ones I saw were for boosting the FM stations. Do you know where I might find AM station boosters??

 

[its_bacon12 10+ year member]

mod it //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

..lol idk man

 

[Mikey Likes It 10+ year member]

who listends to AM?? LOL

 

[Goldtaz1 10+ year member]

who listends to AM?? LOL

Apparently the guy I am trying to help! Someone please provide some assistance.

 

[Rattlebrain 10+ year member]

Dont know anything about it, but I found this.

Click me

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

who listends to AM?? LOL

I do!

Goldtaz1 ~

Is the head unit in that Benz the factory Becker unit? If so I have read in several places (though I do not know for certain, personally) that the Becker head unit have very weak tuner sections on the AM side. Improved AM reception will most likely only be achieved with a deck replacement to an aftermarket unit.

 

[Goldtaz1 10+ year member]

I do!
Goldtaz1 ~

Is the head unit in that Benz the factory Becker unit? If so I have read in several places (though I do not know for certain, personally) that the Becker head unit have very weak tuner sections on the AM side. Improved AM reception will most likely only be achieved with a deck replacement to an aftermarket unit.

Yes, it is indeed the factory unit (not sure if it is a Becker unit though). The guy told me that many Benz owners experience the same problem as he does and that is why they recommended an antenna amp. This is not the kind of guy that puts aftermarket stereo equipment in his car so a new deck is not on the table at all. Please help me find an AM station booster.

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

I seriously doubt a preamplifer will help for AM reception. Down there, it's all about signal to noise ratio - boosting the incoming signal will boost the station, yes, but it will also boost the surrounding noise as well. There's no really good solution to better mobile AM reception other than a better receiver with more IF filtering, noise blankers and other things to improve the S/N.

Standard car antennas are so horrifically inefficient at AM frequencies that lowering the noise floor is really all you can hope to do.

 

[Goldtaz1 10+ year member]

I seriously doubt a preamplifer will help for AM reception. Down there, it's all about signal to noise ratio - boosting the incoming signal will boost the station, yes, but it will also boost the surrounding noise as well. There's no really good solution to better mobile AM reception other than a better receiver with more IF filtering, noise blankers and other things to improve the S/N.
Standard car antennas are so horrifically inefficient at AM frequencies that lowering the noise floor is really all you can hope to do.

Thanks for the help.