Can anyone recommend a good aftermarket FM Signal Amplifier?

[ragingfish]

I thought I had posted this ages ago, but couldn't find the old thread to bring it back to life.My FM signal strength around here is, at best, fair. I was really hoping to get an aftermarket (preferably inline) FM signal amp that I could just attach to the radio, and throw it back in the dash never to be seen again.Does anyone have, or is anyone able to recommend, a decent aftermarket FM signal amplifer that won't break the bank?Thanks guys!

[Bowlsie]

Try giving Crutchfield a call. Seems they always come through with anything I need or any question that needs answered.

[ragingfish]

Got a #?

[Bowlsie]

Sure 1-888-955-6000You can check out their website as well. http://www.crutchfield.com

[ragingfish]

Awesome, thanks so much! I'll give 'em a call tomorrow morning...

[Bowlsie]

Here ya go. I found this on the website as well.http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S-ul ... c=01&avf=Y

[ragingfish]

That's pretty cool...too bad the button is bigger than those little rectangle blanks we have by the hatch glass button...it would be perfect if it fit in there...

[Bowlsie]

Yeah that is kind of a bummer. Only thing I can tell you about Crutchfield though is that if a product doesn't live up to what it says then they will not sell it. So you would most likely be getting something that will do the trick for ya. Hope i've been some help.

[ragingfish]

Oh yeah, I still might get iut, but I'll ask them for advice...

[Bowlsie]

Let me know what they tell ya.

[ragingfish]

Most definitely will!

[ragingfish]

Well, ordered that one from crutchfield, they're throwing in the GM adapter for free...will have it Tuesday. needs to be hard-wired into the power, not sure how i'm gonna do that. Awesome guys at crutchfield, so nice and helpful! Recommended!

[Bowlsie]

Great! Glad to hear. Told ya they would hook you up. Now lets just hope it does the trick

[Bowlsie]

Oh and as far as hard wiring it into a power source just go either directly to the battery or to a constant power feed in the fuse box. You could always splice into your cig lighter. If you need help just shoot me a pm.

[ragingfish]

Received the antenna booster and adapters today as promised when I ordered. Won't have time to install for a few days most likely, but wanted to say I am AMAZED by the info Crutchfield provides with each order! They have detailed step-by-step directions on removing trim panels, door panels, radio, etc. for OUR car!!! Not just "universal" or "sample" directions, but actual pictures and directions for the Vibe and Matrix. Absolutely awesome.And they gave me the GM adapters for free. WOOHOO! Just hope this thing works after all this...Will keep y'all posted on my outcome...(Busy week for me...might have to wait until the Ohio meet to install! :crook

[ragingfish]

Ok, so, typical me, I thought "let me just see where I'll mount this doohickey" so I go outside, and then I decide "well let me just run ONE wire" and I ended up wiring the whole thing. I didn't do the "official" run because I just wanted to see if it worked. Well, it did help some of the stations that had a smidgen of interference...but the one thing I DID notice is that whenever the thing is on, I lose my AM band...so I was hoping I would be able to just wire it in and toss it back in the dash never to be seen again, but now I realize I'll have to mount it somewhere where I can turn it off when I want to listen AM...hmmm...not liking this...grrr....Will get a better idea of how well it works on the way to work tomorrow...

[ragingfish]

Followup:After losing over an hour to ripping apart the dash-mounted tranny and whatnot (lost a screw back there!) I finally remounted the signal amp in the glovebox, so I can turn it off to hear AM...not ideal, but at least in the interim, it works...Will get pictures later!

[scherry2]

Just out of curiosity. what is on AM? didn't it go obsolete when the 8 track died. LOL AM radio thats a good one....Oh No not a Rush Limbaugh fan.

[slbpsi63]

I only listen to sports radio on AM during hockey and football season. i can't get the freaking station since I changed my head unit.

[ragingfish]

I like to get my fill of news...there's a great news station in NYC on AM...can hear it as far north as Boston, and as far west as central PA...very strong!Also, my little cousin LOVES her Radio Disney...

[ragingfish]

Ok, here are pics of the install:Here's what it looks like from the driver's seat. As previously mentioned, I had to mount it somewhere accessible because, when turned on, the booster kills my AM band...so I mounted it in the glovebox, where I can just reach over, pop open the glove box, and turn it off.

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[ragingfish]

This one shows how I bundled the wires where they go up into the dash.

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[ragingfish]

Removed the glovebox so you can see how they go through the dash to the radio area...

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[ragingfish]

This one shows how I got the booster power. I actually just popped the wire into the harness that flashes the passenger belt light...didn't even solder it in, just stuck it in so it makes contact...used the zip tie to keep it from backing out and losing the connection...The booster power is the red wire with the "12V" sticker on it...

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[ragingfish]

And finally, a closer shot of the harness with the booster power cable...Again, booster power is red wire with "12V" sticker.

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[ragingfish]

One more shot from the driver seat...

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