Poor Radio Reception

[Phantom]

You said that you could get a signal when you would touch metal to the nub, so try running a ground strap from the antenna to the body of the car and see if it works. It might give you feed back but you could try.

Other wise just replace the antenna if you have an old pair of rabbit ears for a tv wire it to the antenna input and try placing it in the car by the windows till you can get a good signal and mount it there. I would recommend just trying the front upper and lower windshield then the back. That way you can remove it from view and keep drag down.

[wyatt]

You guys are giving me some good ideas... I think I might see if I can get my hands on some alligator clips to do a test run with, they might have enough gripping power to hold onto the little nub that is left... I have also started thinking about how I might be able to go about backing the screw out... It may be possible for me to hack saw a notch into it and use a flat head screw driver to back it out, then I could try the coat hanger idea easy. I will keep you updated of what I do... but I think in the end I will be junk-yarding a new antenna, hopefully one that is retractable into the A-pillar, for long trips when I will be using the USB MP3 player instead of searching for stations.

[will88]

so how did it work

[wyatt]

Well, there just isn't enough of a nub to hacksaw a slot, or to attach anything to. I tried soldering to it, but the solder doesn't stick, and trying to drill out the center of the screw, but that proved more difficult than even I expected. I have a tip on a junk yard with lots of Metros, so I am planning on going and finding a (hopefully) reasonably priced antenna. At least if I am able to test it out, I will know if it helps. Otherwise, I will try the $8 signal booster. If I wind up with both a new antenna, and the job is easy enough, I can switch things out, so I will be able to test the new antenna, the signal booster, both, and report back with findings. If the antenna works well, I will have no need for a signal booster however...

[IsaacCarlson]

My stock unit has a SB in it and I can get stations that are way out of range for most people.....I'd get a new antenna and a SB.

[Creeper]

Have you tried a filter for the incoming signal. While the antena may be one problem it may not be the whole problem. Newer decks pick up interfirence from the cars electricle systems. A filter will help reduce or stop this noise and clean up the signal. If you want an antena on the Cheep check out ebay you can get tones for next to nothing and some are even short and stuby. The work very well belive it or not.

[IsaacCarlson]

they have stubby antenna at wal mart for $7 I think.

[Danncomm]

You could try using an easy out to get the old stubs out of the antenna base. You would need a drill, bits, and an easy out for the size drill bit you use. Then you could go to a auto parts store and pick up a $7 after market rubber ducky so it wouldn't break again.

[wyatt]

I haven't gotten around to adding a SB/Filter/New Antenna yet. The SB I want is on Amazon, and we haven't had an order in a long time. The antenna I want is sitting in a junk yard somewhere. The filter is a new idea, I'll have to look into one and see what it entails.

[Jacks_hon]

2007 Mazda 3 Sport: I have poor radio reception on certain local FM stations - any similar problems/solutions?