radio reception weakens when ignition keys removed from ign

[Quintin]

hello,
my first posting, so hope some kind soul can throw some light on to my query.
I've only had my bongo for a couple of weeks, and my understanding is that the radio is connected through the leisure battery system (it stays on when ignition is turned off), whilst parked up I was fiddling about with the ignition keys and noticed as I withdrew the keys from the ignition barrel that there was a noticeable difference in the reception of the radio, the reception was a lot worse when keys were withdrawn, the radio also has mobile handsfree facility (don't know if this has any bearing whatsoever). Can anyone explain the reason for the degradation in reception.
Many thanks
Q

[rita]

Hi, what make and model radio do you have, you will need to make sure that it is actually connected to the leisure battery.


Good Luck.

[Quintin]

Hi,
thanks for reply, the radio is an "inphase", don't know the model number, sorry.

[g8dhe]

Almost sounds like you have a poor aerial earth connection, check that the aerial is plugged in fully on the radio, and also there is an extra connector behind the drivers dashboard trim which might have been pulled apart?

[Simon Jones]

Is it a DAB radio? If so, most of the glass mounted aerials require power to run a built in amplifier. The best way to wire it is to the electric aerial output from the stereo, but its possible its been connected to an ignition-switched supply. If it's not DAB, then the above info is probably not relevant.

[Mark.T]

If it's not DAB, then the above info is probably not relevant.

.. unless there's an additional signal booster that's wired to the ignition-switched supply. If you can pull stereo out, trace the aerial cable back as far as you can to see if there are any additional boxes in place.

[Quintin]

Many thanks for all your inputs, since reading the replies I've had another look at the set up and what is happening is when I start to pull the keys from the ignition barrel the glass mounted aerial is switching off i.e. the green power light goes out, so this explains the signal loss. What I can't understand is why this is happening only when I start to remove the keys from the barrel and not when I switch off the ignition fully !!!! I've had vehicles where radio only works when ign switch is in the "auxiliary" ?????. This is not a problem as such, I'm just curious to know why this is occurring.
Again
Many thanks for the inputs
Q

[Gasy]

The aerial must be getting power or earth from the ignition / starter battery side , I'd imagine
Try leaving your keys in and disconnecting the starter battery live terminal see if that does it aswell

[g8dhe]

Sounds like whoever installed it picked up the wrong supply point! I think he has picked up the key in ignition switch lead so SD you pull the key out power is cut to the aerial amplifier!!

[Quintin]

Sounds like whoever installed it picked up the wrong supply point! I think he has picked up the key in ignition switch lead so SD you pull the key out power is cut to the aerial amplifier!!

.
I've had a look at some of your panorama photographs, these are superb.

[g8dhe]

Yes they are fun to do as well!