Ideas to trigger antenna

[#2!]

I bought and installed a double din Panasonic CD player. Works great but it has no antenna or remote amp output. Right now I have the antenna trigger input connected to the Accessory wire so it pops up whenever the key is on. I don't like that its up all the time and plus I only use the radio about 20% of the time. Iv been looking for a small discrete push button or a really small rocker switch to mount on the center panel somewhere under the cigarette lighter to control the antenna but haven't had any luck finding anything that would look alright. Most of the DC 12V switches I saw are around 22mm or larger which is a lot bigger than I want.

So does anyone have any other ideas on what to do? Or anyone know of where I can get a small switch thats about 10-18mm?

[uibalnme]

All aftermarket head units have to have a remote amp/antenna output. It's usually a blue wire. What's the model number of that unit?

[#2!]

CQ-5800u

It has 3 wires listed as unused. Blueish kinda almost gray, Orange, Orange/White. I tested all of them with a DMM and got nothing. Looking for pos and neg. I messed around with the orange wires thinking one of them was the illumination input but neither did anything.

[uibalnme]

Did it come with a manual? if not, here's a link to it...

http://service.us.panasonic.com/OPERMANPDF/CQ5800U.PDF

Page 32 shows the wiring diagram. That grayish-blue wire will be the remote lead. Just keep in mind that the shade of each wire will vary by brand, but the connections will be the same. Any wire that even almost looks like blue will be the remote lead. Try connecting that wire to the antenna lead to see if it activates the antenna. It couldn't hurt just to try, right?

EDIT:

is this the unit you have?
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/pictu...&picture_id=-1

Looks like(according to the wiring diagram) the orange/black wire on the upper corner is the remote lead. That's a new one to me. It's always the blue wire. Well, I never owned a panasonic HU, so maybe it's common for that brand.

[#2!]

Yes my first try I had it all connected with the blue wire connected to the Black/Red antenna trigger wire. But no pop up. So like said I pulled out the meter and found that wire to be dead with the head unit on, off and in all radio and source modes all the same.
I almost didn't buy this unit because I downloaded the manual and saw the wire diagram that it did not have a antenna or amp output. Then someone told me the almost the same thing that most Panasonic units have a antenna power output while FM/AM radio is on just like the stock units. So I figured it just wasn't labeled on the diagram in the owners manual and bought the unit anyway.

So guess I'm stuck mounting a big ugly switch someplace to control it.

[4Cyl'erThriller]

I had the same problem with a Pioneer Premier deh710bt. I split the remote wire and added a switch to use the antennae. Worked great and easy too. pm me if you need more info.

[4Cyl'erThriller]

It dosen't have to be a big ugly switch and you barely even notice mine . There is a small removable piece in the mid to lower dash that pops out and makes a great inconspicuous spot for a small toggle switch.

[4Cyl'erThriller]

I found my switch at the local Autozone for cheap and I just got the smallest toggle switch avail.

[#2!]

Originally Posted by uibalnme

EDIT:

is this the unit you have?
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/pictu...&picture_id=-1

Looks like(according to the wiring diagram) the orange/black wire on the upper corner is the remote lead. That's a new one to me. It's always the blue wire. Well, I never owned a panasonic HU, so maybe it's common for that brand.

Yes thats the unit. Im not seeing a orange/black wire anywhere in the diagram nor is there one on the harness. There is a orange/white wire but it also is dead and does nothing.

[#2!]

Originally Posted by CleanWhiteCamry

I found my switch at the local Autozone for cheap and I just got the smallest toggle switch avail.

Do you happen to know what brand or have any part numbers or even some pic's would be aswome. If your filling up to it. Iv been looking everywhere and haven't found anything i liked. A few I really liked but found out they were AC 120/240.

[4Cyl'erThriller]

I got this form the autozone web site, but thats all I used (or something like it) and you barely notice it.

[4Cyl'erThriller]

They have many diff types of switches, but this one is the most discreet. That's why I chose this style of switch. plus you can just drill a hole in that little removable piece and its all good.

[4Cyl'erThriller]

I believe you only need a two post switch just to break the flow. Ill check, but prolly not till tomorrow.

[uibalnme]

Originally Posted by #2!

Yes thats the unit. Im not seeing a orange/black wire anywhere in the diagram nor is there one on the harness. There is a orange/white wire but it also is dead and does nothing.

Look at the 2nd pic in the link. The orange/black wire is comming out of the back panel of the unit, not the harness. It's separate from all the other wires.

Maybe you can try connecting each of the "unused" wires to the antenna lead. One of them has to be the remote lead.

[#2!]

Originally Posted by uibalnme

Look at the 2nd pic in the link. The orange/black wire is comming out of the back panel of the unit, not the harness. It's separate from all the other wires.

Maybe you can try connecting each of the "unused" wires to the antenna lead. One of them has to be the remote lead.

Aww that wire. Its brown/black. Its the only wire I havent touched because the manual labeled that wire as:

External Remote Control Lead

When using non-Panasonic external remote control, refer to the

manufacture for their product before connecting.

On the unit under that wire it says: Remote-IN. So I take it that is for a remote control. The wire itself is capped and I didn't splice into it. I figure any little interference coming in that wire would make the unit go crazy.

All the other unused wires I have tried and tested and all does nothing.