I can't get no ... am reception

[fishhead]

'Cause I try and I try and I try and I try ...

Actually the FM is weaker reception than it should be, but the AM is just not there! If I tune it to what should be a very strong station and turn it up to full volume I can faintly hear it.

I have a 2006 4Runner SR5 and I just had Best Buy put in a Pioneer FH-X720BT, and I believe Manta conversion connectors, or whatever they're called!? After the reception was poor when I went to leave the store, the tech said it was likely because the stock radio had two antenna wire connections, one "regular" and one a smaller connection, that insert into the back of the stock radio. However, he only used the larger "standard" antenna wire to plug into the new unit.

So after a little research I got an adapter to "up size" the smaller connector and then ran the two antenna's into a y-connector so that I'd have both antennas in use. I found that information by doing a search here, and it apparently worked for some folks! Anyway, it made zero difference in the reception for me

I have no visible antennas on this car, so they are somehow hidden from view ... by the way, the stock Toyota radio had terrific reception!

Anyone have any advice? I mainly got this radio for the bluetooth so I could do hands free phone and Spotify ... but it would be nice to have a radio that works too!

 

[tigger]

Not familiar with the 2006 setup. It is possible that there is an antenna booster in the vehicle somewhere that is not getting powered? I know in some Honda's they have one in the kick panel or trunk that requires external power when swapping the head unit.
Also follow the antenna wires and see if there is an extension that has pulled apart. Again, in some cars, the wire from the mast is not a single line and the connection can pull apart.

It is possible none of these scenarios apply to your vehicle.

The other thing to think about is that the FM sensitivity on that head unit is 11 dBf which is pretty bad. Stock is probably near 9. (lower is better) But that shouldn't have much of an effect on AM.

Your antennas may be located in the windows. usually in the windshield or rear window. Will look similar to defroster lines.

 

[fishhead]

Not familiar with the 2006 setup. It is possible that there is an antenna booster in the vehicle somewhere that is not getting powered? I know in some Honda's they have one in the kick panel or trunk that requires external power when swapping the head unit.
Also follow the antenna wires and see if there is an extension that has pulled apart. Again, in some cars, the wire from the mast is not a single line and the connection can pull apart.

It is possible none of these scenarios apply to your vehicle.

The other thing to think about is that the FM sensitivity on that head unit is 11 dBf which is pretty bad. Stock is probably near 9. (lower is better) But that shouldn't have much of an effect on AM.

Your antennas may be located in the windows. usually in the windshield or rear window. Will look similar to defroster lines.

Thanks Tigger ... sounds like some pretty good advice considering being unfamiliar with the 2006! I troubleshoot computers and software for a living, so it's a little maddening when I encounter issues like this. I gotta believe, given how many 4Runners there are out tere, that someone else has had the same issue. My installer seems pretty sharp, though he hasn't been in this job for a long time.

 

[TechWrench]

'Cause I try and I try and I try and I try ...

Actually the FM is weaker reception than it should be, but the AM is just not there! If I tune it to what should be a very strong station and turn it up to full volume I can faintly hear it.

I have a 2006 4Runner SR5 and I just had Best Buy put in a Pioneer FH-X720BT, and I believe Manta conversion connectors, or whatever they're called!? After the reception was poor when I went to leave the store, the tech said it was likely because the stock radio had two antenna wire connections, one "regular" and one a smaller connection, that insert into the back of the stock radio. However, he only used the larger "standard" antenna wire to plug into the new unit.

So after a little research I got an adapter to "up size" the smaller connector and then ran the two antenna's into a y-connector so that I'd have both antennas in use. I found that information by doing a search here, and it apparently worked for some folks! Anyway, it made zero difference in the reception for me

I have no visible antennas on this car, so they are somehow hidden from view ... by the way, the stock Toyota radio had terrific reception!

Anyone have any advice? I mainly got this radio for the bluetooth so I could do hands free phone and Spotify ... but it would be nice to have a radio that works too!

It sounds like the antenna amp is not connected properly with the new head unit. Also, the antennas are the two grid like things located in each of the rear side windows. As I understand it, the amp is supposed to receive the signal from each of the antenna grids, and select the one with the best signal and send that signal to the radio.

 

[RedSled]

'Cause I try and I try and I try and I try ...

Actually the FM is weaker reception than it should be, but the AM is just not there! If I tune it to what should be a very strong station and turn it up to full volume I can faintly hear it.

I have a 2006 4Runner SR5 and I just had Best Buy put in a Pioneer FH-X720BT, and I believe Manta conversion connectors, or whatever they're called!? After the reception was poor when I went to leave the store, the tech said it was likely because the stock radio had two antenna wire connections, one "regular" and one a smaller connection, that insert into the back of the stock radio. However, he only used the larger "standard" antenna wire to plug into the new unit.

So after a little research I got an adapter to "up size" the smaller connector and then ran the two antenna's into a y-connector so that I'd have both antennas in use. I found that information by doing a search here, and it apparently worked for some folks! Anyway, it made zero difference in the reception for me

I have no visible antennas on this car, so they are somehow hidden from view ... by the way, the stock Toyota radio had terrific reception!

Anyone have any advice? I mainly got this radio for the bluetooth so I could do hands free phone and Spotify ... but it would be nice to have a radio that works too!

I would take it back and have them do it right this time.

 

[fishhead]

It sounds like the antenna amp is not connected properly with the new head unit. Also, the antennas are the two grid like things located in each of the rear side windows. As I understand it, the amp is supposed to receive the signal from each of the antenna grids, and select the one with the best signal and send that signal to the radio.

I would take it back and have them do it right this time.

Definitely going back for a do-over ... I just wanted to gather some info to hopefully allow this job to be DONE ... I enjoy troubleshooting, but not as much as I enjoy seeing a job completed

By the way, the two rear windows definitely have antenna grids on the glass, one has horizontal lines and one vertical.
After some thought I am wondering the following to things, and please excuse me for trying to apply logic to the situation
a) Why two different sized antenna jacks (on the factory unit, pictured below) if the two antennas are really the same type? I would think that the jacks would only be different sized if there was a strong need for them not to be "mixed up" when the factory radio is installed, and if they are basically the same anyway, then why would it matter?
b) why no reception at least some of the time? If the two window antennas are the only ones in the vehicle, then surely one of them would get a really strong signal at some point ... unless there's some other type of antenna that I cannot see? As I stated earlier, there's no roof antenna or otherwise visible one.

 

[TechWrench]

Definitely going back for a do-over ... I just wanted to gather some info to hopefully allow this job to be DONE ... I enjoy troubleshooting, but not as much as I enjoy seeing a job completed

By the way, the two rear windows definitely have antenna grids on the glass, one has horizontal lines and one vertical.
After some thought I am wondering the following to things, and please excuse me for trying to apply logic to the situation
a) Why two different sized antenna jacks (on the factory unit, pictured below) if the two antennas are really the same type? I would think that the jacks would only be different sized if there was a strong need for them not to be "mixed up" when the factory radio is installed, and if they are basically the same anyway, then why would it matter?
b) why no reception at least some of the time? If the two window antennas are the only ones in the vehicle, then surely one of them would get a really strong signal at some point ... unless there's some other type of antenna that I cannot see? As I stated earlier, there's no roof antenna or otherwise visible one.

Not sure why Toyota uses two different sized antenna plugs, but my guess is they needed to separate the inputs to the radio. Maybe one is for am reception, and the other is for fm. Also, the manual shows there are three plugs in the antenna harness, two are the antenna type plugs, and the other appears to be a plug-in pin type connector which I am guessing provides the power connection to the antenna amp/controller in the rear. Maybe the last one was disconnected during the install? Many here have replaced their head units with no problems, so I am assuming the installer missed something. If the new unit does not have ports for both antenna connections, then maybe there is an adapter that is needed to make the correct connection?

I stumbled across a thread in the 4th gen forum about swapping the SCION FRS head unit into the 4runner, and in it, it was stated that you have to use both radio plugs to get proper reception, only using one would result in the symptoms you are having. But, there is an adapter available to make the two into one connection work. Find that thread and read through it for lots of good info.