Fusion am/ fm radio

[Katmat]

I have a 2012 29S. The fusion radio turns on & I can get the satellite radio announcement to subscribe to it but there isn't any reception on the am/fm (seems like a antenna problem). Doing a search on Fusion radios I saw Andrew post that the factory doesn't install a antenna for this radio. IS this true & has anyone come up w/ a option?

Thanks,
Matt Murphy

 

[TugScout]

I have a Fusion MS CD600 on my 2012 R27.

There is an AUX input via L&R channel RCA plugs in the wiring harness behind the unit (at least there is on mine). I added an RCA to 1/8" jack and use that to plug in my iPhone. Then I stream music from my phone. Works fine.

Cheers,
Mark

 

[Katmat]

I have a Fusion MS CD600 on my 2012 R27.

There is an AUX input via L&R channel RCA plugs in the wiring harness behind the unit (at least there is on mine). I added an RCA to 1/8" jack and use that to plug in my iPhone. Then I stream music from my phone. Works fine.

Cheers,
Mark

I do have the aux. input but I am old fashion & like the am/fm. Thanks

 

[Boatagain]

Yes, it is true that no external antenna is installed by the factory. There is a single wire, like the cheap single wire FM antennas supplied with some home stereo receivers, connected to the antenna jack. It is supposed to be extended aft between the hull and inner liner, but apparently that’s not the case on all boats. Whether extended or not, it provides very poor AM/FM reception. The best way to improve the reception is to install an external AM/FM antenna. I installed this one and the difference was spectacular.

Shakespeare 5120 8' AM/FM Stereo Antenna with 15' RG-62 cable https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000THV5K8/re ... iDbJ9ZNENB

There are other choices but I liked this one because it’s a good match with the VHF antenna. Looks cool. 😎

 

[scross]

This may not apply to the Fusion, but in the Clarion CMD receivers, there was a wire antenna in the back of the unit. That wire antenna was coiled up in a ball behind the CMD in our boat. Per advice from Red Raven (Thanks Curt!) I straightened the wire out and attached the end to one of the window frame screws. Certainly not as good a solution as getting a Shakespeare antenna but fairly effective. We get a few Bellingham and Nanaimo FM stations clearly while in Ganges - a range of about 50 miles.

 

[BB marine]

I have a 2012 29S. The fusion radio turns on & I can get the satellite radio announcement to subscribe to it but there isn't any reception on the am/fm (seems like a antenna problem). Doing a search on Fusion radios I saw Andrew post that the factory doesn't install a antenna for this radio. IS this true & has anyone come up w/ a option?

Thanks,
Matt Murphy

Matt,
The FM reception is marginal and AM is bad. As stated a good marine AM/FM antenna will help. I subscribe to SiriusXM each year for 6 months 29.95 We haven't missed a Cubs game yet on the boat!

 

[Katmat]

I have a 2012 29S. The fusion radio turns on & I can get the satellite radio announcement to subscribe to it but there isn't any reception on the am/fm (seems like a antenna problem). Doing a search on Fusion radios I saw Andrew post that the factory doesn't install a antenna for this radio. IS this true & has anyone come up w/ a option?

Thanks,
Matt Murphy

Matt,
The FM reception is marginal and AM is bad. As stated a good marine AM/FM antenna will help. I subscribe to SiriusXM each year for 6 months 29.95 We haven't missed a Cubs game yet on the boat!

Thanks Brian,
Hope you got to listen to the Cubs on Sunday (all southsiders should be Soxs fans)!

 

[BB marine]

Thanks Brian,
Hope you got to listen to the Cubs on Sunday (all southsiders should be Soxs fans)!

I did with some disappointment !!

 

[stwendl]

On my 15/16 r27 no antenna was connected either. It you do have the tv antenna pancake on the mast, that antenna was fed by a power injector/preamp which has an fm output in the compartment above the window. Just needs a cable between the both and you have decent reception. Decent content is a different matter 🙂 You need to dislodge the preamp which is just held by some plastic fingers to reach the f-connector for the fm output. The radio uses the standard automotive Motorola connector as found on car radios. Cables can be found on various online resources. 6ft was too short. You also need to route the cable and direct may not be the best way. Wedging the cable in the gap between windows may also be challenging.