I’m working on installing a Pioneer head unit in my 2016 Renegade. I’m good with just about everything but the antenna adapter. The adaptor comes with a wire to connect to power but I’m not sure if the Renegade has an amplified antenna or not. Should I connect the power lead for the antenna?
W E L C O M E ! ! ! to the forum. Usually, the power wire for the antenna is for power antenna's. The type that extended when the stereo comes on and retracts when the stereo is turned off. BUT, I am not 100% sure if this is what you are referring to.
That is one type of antenna that would need power, but there’s also an a type of car antenna that requires power for signal amplification. According to this this article, the Renegade’s antenna is amplified, but I wanted to check with anyone in this forum who’s swapped out their radio before I sent 12v to the antenna. https://www.dabonwheels.co.uk/how-can-i-tell-if-my-fm-am-aerial-is-amplified/
It should work fine without powering it up. It would connect to the blue wire if you had an electric or amplified antenna. You could have saved a few bucks and gotten one without the power wire.
That’s how I hooked it up and the reception is not very good. I’m trying to figure out if the Renegade antenna is in fact amplified and if connecting the blue wire would improve reception. Did you do it without the wire? If so, maybe it’s my adaptor. Which one is recommended? The one I got is what Crutchfield prescribes.
I have done mine yet, I have done lots of others. Which adapter did you get? It sounds like you may have a bad adapter.
I found out that in fact the Renegade has a powered (or amplified) antenna. I connected the blue wire from the Metra antenna adapter to the blue/white accessory cable coming from the head unit and my reception has improved dramatically. Power to the antenna!
