cep89

I have a 2005 GX470 w/o fac. nav. I have installed a Clarion NX605 head unit in it. It has nav and all the latest features. My problem is the factory radio had 2 antenna cables going into it, one is the normal size and one is a bit smaller. The new clarion only has one antenna input hole. I have tried both and the radio reception is poor and almost goes away when I pair a cell phone into it. Should I get a y adapter or a new inside the truck antenna?

tz693

According to the schematic, the large one is Main Antenna for both AM and FM. The small one is Sub Antenna for FM only.

chiph9

Probably for diversity tuning, where the radio picks the antenna with the strongest signal.

The antennas, btw, are in the rear quarter-panel glass.

Chip H.

cep89

Thanks, I'll use the AM/FM antenna. I found that It is an amplified antenna. There is a wire with the antenna cables that looks to be a power wire that I will hook up to the power antenna wire from the new radio. I think this may solve my poor reception issue.

dkgtlz

Harvey02

I had an issue with poor radio reception when installing an aftermarket radio, but I fixed it by connecting the radio turn on wire from the head unit to this white plug.

nzsky

what is that white plug? i to am having poor reception/static radio..

chiph9

That's the wire to the antenna amplifier. You can see it at the bottom of this diagram.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/att...eat-audio1.pdf

Chip H.

WEGO

Great thread on amplified antennas and diversity (sub) antennas. I hooked up a Sony head unit to my 2007 Lexus ES350 and all worked great except I had no AM reception at all. I had two antenna lines, but only one fit in the head unit. After some research, I discovered you do not need to hook up the diversity antenna (technology is gone with newer radios). I also cut the black wire in the image above and tied into an accessory power line coming out of the new head unit. That powered up the amplified antenna when the radio was turned on and AM came in clear. The sub antenna can just be left unconnected.

etex9799

chiph9, saw that you were recently active and was hoping you cold steer me in the right direction. I have done lots of research but still not sure what I need to do. So i inherited a 2005 es330 from a great aunt. I have 15 year old daughter and I think this would be a great first car for her so I thought I would start fixing up the minor issues. The first thing I noticed when driving it home is how week the FM radio is. It will only pick up the strongest of signals even in a major metro area. I have never owned a Lexus and trying to get a better understanding of where the FM antenna is. I see that it had Sat radio, but I guess she let the subscription lapse or does it have lifetime and its just not working. The main thing is do you know where I might start testing to boos the FM. I have read where some say the antenna is behind a pillar in the back seat/window. Others say its on the windshield but I do not see anything there. I am more than willing to do the work and research but I think in getting more confused the more I try to lookup. I would appreciate any advice. Thanks

chiph9

Sorry, I don't know anything about the ES.
But the parts diagram shows an antenna cable running to the rear deck.

https://www.mylparts.com/v-2005-lexu...enna-and-radio

Chip H.

MrTorgue

FYI, you will need both to get any sort of respectable signal. I’ve only got 1 connected to my phoenix tesla radio and the FM reception is poor. There is a way to run a Y-splitter to solve this problem. I’m on my phone so I don’t have the info link with me.