I've noticed some Disco IIs with wiring in the glass, some on the right side only and others on both sides. I was told this was an antenna, but is it? Or is it a deice grid?

 

Yes, radio antenna. I think LR calls it the FM aerial in RAVE.

 

Ok...so why would some have it only on the right side, while others have it on both?

 

Don't know, but from RAVE explains RH and LH function:






High-Line In-Car Entertainment Description






The high-line in-car entertainment system consists of a head unit, located in the


centre of the fascia, a power amplifier located under the LH front seat and a CD


autochanger located under the RH front seat. Radio headphone amplifiers are


located in the lower rear quarter trim casing. Remote controls are located on


the LH side of the steering wheel. The high line system has:




• A high range speaker located in each ’A’ post trim


• A low and mid range speaker located in the front doors


• A low and a high range speaker located in the rear doors


• Low range speakers located in a housing on the tail door


• An AM/FM aerial mounted on the RH rear side window and an FM aerial






mounted on the LH side window. The LH aerial is used for improved FM


reception in urban areas.


That's all I got

 

Hmm...mine is definitely the "High line"; OE Becker Nav system and HK speakers and all. I only have the grid on the right side, but mine is an early build (801949). Saw another '03 that just had the Alpine cassette head, but it had grids on both the right and left side rear quarter windows. Thanks for the info!

 

I suspect they just use a combiner. The advantage is if a signal is blocked by interference (common in urban areas), the antenna on the other side may have a signal. The receiver may have a circuit for actively managing the multipathing.

 

X1 mines 2003 with Becker kit and aerials in both rear window glasses.

 

I have an 03 S and it has antennas in both left and right rear quarter windows, however only one side has a wire connecting it to the stereo. It is a small button like connector on the mid top of the window. Which goes to an RF amp under the headliner above the window below the alpine window.

High line models had RF amps connected on both sides for dual diversity reception. The same antenna functions for both AM and FM. Mine only has an amp connected on the passenger side. The drivers side has the antenna in the glass but it is not connected to anything. I could not find an RF amp nor the wire that would connect to one under the headliner on the drivers side but I did not dig to deep.

It is entirely possible to have any combination of the above.

As an FYI to those with reception issues, this connector can oxidize leading to weak reception. pop the connector, clean properly.

Also for proper reception the chassis of the head unit, whether stock or aftermarket needs to be properly grounded.

 

The Alpine head unit that came out of my '03 has two (2) antenna connectors, one "standard" size and one significantly smaller, but both the same round type type with a center pin. So, one wire for each window antenna - no antenna combiner.

 

I may be wrong but I'm thinking the small one of the duel antenna inputs was for the hideous NAV system. I never had NAV or two RF amps so I didn't research specifically whether there is an antenna combiner or not.