New to 4Runner, learning the ropes while I wait on a special order from Japan...

Visited dealership a few days ago to get familiar with a 2020 ORP.

One thing I noticed was lines in the cargo windows (driver and passenger side).

At first it seemed like defrosting elements per the rear window. But these lines crossed in more of a grid pattern.

Cursory research indicates they are radio antennas.

Salesperson thought they were defrost lines for sure. But salespeople aren’t always the most knowledgeable about the products they sell.

I know T4R abounds with experts. I think they are antennas. AM on one side and FM on the other?

Salesperson thought all the radio antennas were in the shark fin. I thought the shark fin was for the GPS. Seems it’s for XM (too)?

Experts?


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Good question, i thought they were for heating the rear side windows as well. But they are actually the FM antenna and the fin on the roof is for XM radio.

Definitely radio antennas.

Called diversity antennas I think. One on each side, the radio can use whichever one has best reception. Perhaps someone can confirm, or correct me if I’m wrong.

2014 and up
Side rear windows am/fm
Shark fin SiriusXM
Navigation antenna is behind radio on metal shelf underdash

Thanks! T4R is why we’re always going to know more about 4Runners than the salespeople.



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I’m not sure if they’re diversity antennas but makes sense since FM reception on mine is superb.

Diversity antennas work in concert with each other. When one has a fade, the other can compensate. Works exceptionally well when signal strengths are low.

Cheers


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Looks like the early 5th Gens (2010-13) had a stubby mast antenna and a diversity antenna on the passenger side cargo window only.


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It's only a stubby if the owner removed the original and replaced it with a stubby one.

My 2011 bought new has what I would call a normal antenna for AM/FM.

Just a quick conclusion from image googling 2012 4Runner antenna. Probably showed an aftermarket stubby installed on an early 5th Gen.



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I thought they were heater grids for defrosting (even though they looked awfully weird). After reading this I went out to look at my 2020, and lo and behold, it does not have an old school antenna like my 2012 did!

Well that would be cool if we could get a confirmation they actually work that way.

Cool stuff, Toyota over thinking again!

Definitely not a Toyota idea.

diversity antennas help deal with multipath distortion issues where an antenna might receive multiple signals a bit out of phase because they have bounced around. i think the reason they are used now in cars is because when you make the antenna flat and contoured to hide it you reduce it's performance in some directions, so as you are turning and driving around you might go from strong signal to weak. having a diversity antenna allows you to use hidden antennas but still maintain good performance. back when you just had a metal aerials on all cars diversity wasn't as important because antenna performance was pretty uniform in all directions, you could just use normal filters to phase lock on the carrier signal and didn't need to worry that it may strongly and quickly change from simply turning 90 degrees.

(disclaimer- i don't have direct knowledge for automotive antennas just conjecture from my knowledge of antenna performance in other fields)

I don't care who's idea it was, just that Toyota thinks to implement them.