Finally gave up on trying to get the standard FM antenna to work well in my TJ. I live in the mountains and reception is spotty at best to begin with, and the antenna wiring (and it's 3rd party replacement) to the stock antenna were never good and despite being "stainless steel" rusted like a champ.
So recently I got an itch for a CB, not terribly expensive, and then a, FM/CB splitter appeared on my radar. Last night I got around to wiring it up to the head unit (CB will go up in the metal remains of the molle setup that spans between the speaker bar and mirror, the molle has long since dry rotted into nothingness. I just have to wait for nice weather to remove the roof to drill the mount and run the cable properly) and I have to say that the FM reception is now rock solid. (And may be my imagination but the sound seems fuller to me, when it was previously kind of,,, narrow?) I am bringing in stations with barely any interference, some that I didn't know even existed.
VERY happy that I can again confidently get radio. Even if the splitter causes the CB reception to suffer, it will be worth it just to have FM coming through clearly. I made sure to get the higher end RG8X cabling done for the CB for extra shielding, so that base should be covered well enough.
3' FireStik
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005AUJXLM?tag=wranglerorg-20
on a TeraFlex rear light mount,
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006D9W2I0?tag=wranglerorg-20
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0765QHQMZ?tag=wranglerorg-20
wired through a Splitter Multiplexor System
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CK71J4M9?tag=wranglerorg-20
Used a custom BNC male to FM male cable from the splitter to the head unit.
https://wifirfexpert.com/custom-cable-assembly/
I cannot recommend enough this custom cable company. Really good quality cable and plugs.
If eventually I get a GMRS, I will likely use the stock antenna mount location for it's stick. For the moment I plan to just 3D print a piece to fill that hole.
So recently I got an itch for a CB, not terribly expensive, and then a, FM/CB splitter appeared on my radar. Last night I got around to wiring it up to the head unit (CB will go up in the metal remains of the molle setup that spans between the speaker bar and mirror, the molle has long since dry rotted into nothingness. I just have to wait for nice weather to remove the roof to drill the mount and run the cable properly) and I have to say that the FM reception is now rock solid. (And may be my imagination but the sound seems fuller to me, when it was previously kind of,,, narrow?) I am bringing in stations with barely any interference, some that I didn't know even existed.
VERY happy that I can again confidently get radio. Even if the splitter causes the CB reception to suffer, it will be worth it just to have FM coming through clearly. I made sure to get the higher end RG8X cabling done for the CB for extra shielding, so that base should be covered well enough.
3' FireStik
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005AUJXLM?tag=wranglerorg-20
on a TeraFlex rear light mount,
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006D9W2I0?tag=wranglerorg-20
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0765QHQMZ?tag=wranglerorg-20
wired through a Splitter Multiplexor System
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CK71J4M9?tag=wranglerorg-20
Used a custom BNC male to FM male cable from the splitter to the head unit.
https://wifirfexpert.com/custom-cable-assembly/
I cannot recommend enough this custom cable company. Really good quality cable and plugs.
If eventually I get a GMRS, I will likely use the stock antenna mount location for it's stick. For the moment I plan to just 3D print a piece to fill that hole.
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