SIRUIUS SPORTSTER ANTENNA CANNOT BE FOUND - HAVE TRIED RELOCATING ON THE ROOF OF VEHICLE NUMEROUS TIMES, CHECK CONNECTION INTO THE CRADLE, DO I NEED A NEW ANTENNA?

If you get clear audio when close to the receiver, it would appear to be a problem in either the antenna or the receiver. Try a different antenna or relocate the antenna. If you adjusted the VSWR low it doesn't mean the power is radiating correctly. Verticals should be on roof, with roof as ground plane. Mounting on mirrors is ok, but doesn't work as well. Also, if you have sheet metal near the antenna, it acts as a ground reflector and can distort or block the waveform. You might also try it with a different receiver, in case yours has a faulty pre-amp stage. It could also be a power amplifier problem in the transmitter, where it shows 5 watts but isn't putting out that amount. You can check it with an RF watt meter.

remove the roof antenna ( unscrew off the mount) buy an aerial for the bumper. run the coaxial cable back to the radio and pull the existing cable out and after fitting a connector on to the end of the new cable plug it into the back of the radio. It will be a lot of trouble to remove the existing cable and roof mount and you will need it at a later date.

Hi .In my Experience if you Change the Antenna Must be equal Both are Antenna Like 12 dbi Otherwise you are facing the Slow Issue.
must be same DBI Antenna (on my Experience 2700 AP I Face same issue ) when i change the Antenna both are Equal It s Fine working Thanks

Important! Please give copies to all your VW Technicians C 91--99--07 E 1999 Volkswagen of America, Inc. 1 Subject: Model(s): Group: Number: Date: AM Radio, Poor Reception 1999, 2000 91 99--07 New Golf, New Jetta, Aug. 2, 1999 New Beetle, Passat Condition AM reception is poor. May be caused by: ? An incorrect antenna mast installed for the antenna base equipped with the vehicle ? Poor ground at the antenna base or radio ? Poor battery ground to chassis or engine ? Poor antenna cable connection at Radio ? Corrosion at the antenna coaxial connectors at radio or antenna Service Vehicles are equipped with either a Bosch or a Clarion antenna base mounted on the roof and (for shipping purposes) the appropriate matching mast is located in the luggage compartment. If radio antenna masts are removed from vehicles and stored until vehicles are sold, there is a chance that an incorrect mast can be installed at the time of delivery. Note: Mismatched antenna mast and base will cause poor AM radio reception. The antenna base and mast can be identified visually as follows: (Cont. on Page 2)91-A260 requires gloss finish antenna mast 57mm 49mm Bosch 91-A261 requires matte finish antenna mast 61mm 41mm Clarion 91-A262 Technical Bulletin Important! Please give copies to all your VW Technicians C 91--99--07 E 1999 Volkswagen of America, Inc. 2 Bosch antenna ? Base (although oval) is more circular in shape (approx. 57mm x 49mm). ? Made in Germany stamped on underside of base. ? Two screws on underside of base are unpainted. ? Requires gloss finish antenna mast. Clarion antenna ? Base is more oval in shape than Bosch (approx. 61mm x 41mm). ? Two screws on underside of base are painted. ? Requires matte finish antenna mast. If antenna mast matches the antenna base correctly: -- Check antenna coaxial cable connections --arrows-- for corrosion and clean if necessary (DO NOT apply stabilant). Passat coaxial cable connection for radio is under the carpet on right side of tunnel near shifter. -- Ensure that coaxial cable is firmly seated in radio (Passat cable connection, see previous step). -- Check ground at the antenna below roof Nut --4-- (torque = 7+1 Nm) must firmly secure antenna to roof). (Cont. on Page 3)Technical Bulletin Important! Please give copies to all your VW Technicians C 91--99--07 E 1999 Volkswagen of America, Inc. 3 -- Check ground for radio behind radio on cross member (On Passat models as of Nov. 1998 beginning VIN: XE285000 ground for radio is on right side of center tunnel). -- Check engine compartment ground, left side, below battery tray; frombattery GND to body. -- Check engine/transmission ground on transmission, near engine block. -- If all grounds and antenna mast are OK. -- Replace antenna and coaxial cable assembly

Hi, my name is John. Welcome to FixYa. Yes, That is not sufficient enough for your antenna. Need any further information let me know. Thanks for choosing FixYa...John

This problem will only deal with the antenna cable correctly connected behind the unit and up to the exterior roof antenna. Any break in the harness may cause this effect. In early VW's when the antenna was located on the front left fender, owners were complaining of poor reception and static interference from the ignition coil near by. Besides hearing your AM station you also hear electrical noise which changes pitch as you increase the engine speed while keeping FM unaffected. The solution was insulation and relocating the antenna at the farthest part of the vehicle, rear roof. Make sure you have the the right connector for your unit to make a perfect connection.

Truck boxes may be the best looking place to mount a CB antenna but in my experience they are the worst place for performance.

The 'ground' you need is not an electrical ground but an RF ground. The easy answer is that you need to mount the antenna to a mirror or the bumper or even use a magnet mount instead on the roof. The body of the vehicle provides an RF ground that the small truck box cannot. The only way it might work is to use flat, wide ground straps at all four corners of your box to the bed of the truck. You need metal-on-metal contact.

ensure the connection into the receiver/dock is not loose. Also check the antenna wire to ensure there are not any places where the wire has become chaffed. Its not uncommon for the antennas to go bad also.

Buy radio shack electronic contact cleaner (in a can) and spray a small amount on the male connector from the antenna wire, and spray a small amount on the male connector in the base of the Sportster that the sportster interfaces with. Place the antenna connector onto the base unit and remove it several times and swirl it while connected. Place the sportster into and remove it from the base several times. This usually will fix the issue. Sat signals are extremely sensitive to the slightest oxidation or dirt or whaterver on that tiny antenna connection point.

If under warranty get a replacement. If not, you are beat, they are dead when they stop getting signal and you have tried different antenna. It's sad but true.