R21EC FM antenna?

[DMcD]

We've got a 2013 R21EC. When I drove to the marina yesterday to work on the boat I noticed that I had much better reception in my car than when I turned the same FM station on in the boat.

For the factory install of the Fusion stereo system is the antenna lead ganged with the VHF radio onto the big antenna or is it just an antenna wire hanging in the back somewhere?

thanks,
DMcD

 

[lproulx]

The latter - literally a wire hanging in the back. There is some controversy as to weather you can harm the FM receiver by doing so, but I hooked up a splitter they sell for the purpose with excellent results. Much improved FM reception. When I next get to the boat I will PM with info on make/part no.

Larry

 

[Pilotnavigator]

I installed a small stubby antenna on the cabin roof and wired it down to the radio. Do not use a vhf splitter as it will drop the range of your vhf signal.

 

[scross]

Our older Clarion CMD-6 unit also had a wire coiled up in the glove box for an antenna. Per RT staff, this was their SOP. Based on a recommendation from Red Raven, I attached the end of the antenna to a window frame mounting screw. Significantly improved the FM reception.

 

[Pilotnavigator]

I first tried to use an extended wire in the cabin was still not satisfied. So I bought a pacific aerials mount and one of their heliflex am and fm antenna. Mounted in the rear corner of the cabin roof and fed the cable through the side of the cabin just like the vhf cable on the starboard side. Then down the cabin wall and into the radio. Works great now. Easy to fold dow the short antenna when travelling. It comes with a plastic cover to waterproof the install.

 

[MarcoArias]

Hi!

The antenna is not ran to the VHF, it is a signaling wire that comes off the Fusion stereo.

Thanks!

 

[Pilotnavigator]

Yes I know, I added a longer wire off the radio and ran it up the cabin wall but it did not give much better reception. So I added the external one on the cabin roof and ran the line down the corner of the cabin by the passenger seat into the cabinet to the radio. Reception is great now!