Wiring to VAG bee sting aerial

[Don Turner]

Can someone tell me how many wires are supposed to go into the amplified bee
sting aerial commonly found in VAG hatch backs (e.g. a 2001 A3).

I've lost radio reception in mine and I suspect the amplifier in the aerial
base is gone. So I unscrewed the aerial base and opened it up. Now all I can
see going into the base is a single core black wire... no co-ax and no power
wire. So could it be that the radio signal + power is carried by a single
wire???


Before opening it up I picked up an amplified bee sting aerial (universal
fit for VW/Vauxhall etc..) from GSF carparts, but this one contains a
coaxial cable + a red power lead going into the amplified base.

Very confused?????
DT

[Conor]

In article <428e69c7$0$4095$***@news.zen.co.uk>, Don Turner
says...

Post by Don Turner
Can someone tell me how many wires are supposed to go into the amplified bee
sting aerial commonly found in VAG hatch backs (e.g. a 2001 A3).
I've lost radio reception in mine and I suspect the amplifier in the aerial
base is gone. So I unscrewed the aerial base and opened it up. Now all I can
see going into the base is a single core black wire... no co-ax and no power
wire. So could it be that the radio signal + power is carried by a single
wire???

Yes.

Post by Don Turner
Before opening it up I picked up an amplified bee sting aerial (universal
fit for VW/Vauxhall etc..) from GSF carparts, but this one contains a
coaxial cable + a red power lead going into the amplified base.
Very confused?????

Simply take the red wire to a +ve feed. It'll use the ground of the
aerial to supply 0V.

Slightly related...you may want to check that the grounding area of the
existing antenna isn't corroded.

[Don Turner]

Post by Conor
says...

Post by Don Turner
Can someone tell me how many wires are supposed to go into the amplified bee
sting aerial commonly found in VAG hatch backs (e.g. a 2001 A3).
I've lost radio reception in mine and I suspect the amplifier in the aerial
base is gone. So I unscrewed the aerial base and opened it up. Now all I can
see going into the base is a single core black wire... no co-ax and no power
wire. So could it be that the radio signal + power is carried by a single
wire???

Yes.

Post by Don Turner
Before opening it up I picked up an amplified bee sting aerial (universal
fit for VW/Vauxhall etc..) from GSF carparts, but this one contains a
coaxial cable + a red power lead going into the amplified base.
Very confused?????

Simply take the red wire to a +ve feed. It'll use the ground of the
aerial to supply 0V.
Slightly related...you may want to check that the grounding area of the
existing antenna isn't corroded.

The whole circuit board of the existing antenna looks coroded and is covered
in white powdery residue. I might try and take it out and spray it liberally
with contact cleaner and then re-solder all the dull joints. I just wanted
to make sure that there were no other wires going into the base, because its
possible that a corroded wire may have come loose and disapeared into the
headlining of the car.

Cheers

[Conor]

In article <428f2b77$0$24452$***@news.zen.co.uk>, Don Turner
says...

Post by Don Turner

Post by Conor
says...

Post by Don Turner
Can someone tell me how many wires are supposed to go into the amplified bee
sting aerial commonly found in VAG hatch backs (e.g. a 2001 A3).
I've lost radio reception in mine and I suspect the amplifier in the aerial
base is gone. So I unscrewed the aerial base and opened it up. Now all I can
see going into the base is a single core black wire... no co-ax and no power
wire. So could it be that the radio signal + power is carried by a single
wire???

Yes.

Post by Don Turner
Before opening it up I picked up an amplified bee sting aerial (universal
fit for VW/Vauxhall etc..) from GSF carparts, but this one contains a
coaxial cable + a red power lead going into the amplified base.
Very confused?????

Simply take the red wire to a +ve feed. It'll use the ground of the
aerial to supply 0V.
Slightly related...you may want to check that the grounding area of the
existing antenna isn't corroded.

The whole circuit board of the existing antenna looks coroded and is covered
in white powdery residue.

That's water getting in.

Post by Don Turner
I might try and take it out and spray it liberally
with contact cleaner and then re-solder all the dull joints.

Give it a good scrub with a toothbrush. Shouldn't need soldering. Water
got into my cars remote central locking unit and it was similar to your
description. 10 minutes scraping the powder off cured it.