Radio Multiplexing Question - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

haux · 01-12-2010, 11:46 PM

My 2000 Camry LE is currently sporting a JBL system from an XLE of the same year, including the new factory radio and amplifier from that car. The XLE was equipped with two antenna cables going to the rear window. My car only has one. I thought one was for AM and one was for FM. I found out today that they're both for AM/FM, and that it's called multiplexing... where I guess both signals are combined into one better signal? I hope I got that right.

So anyway, when I replaced my carpet several days ago, I already ran both cables under it going to the rear window. At that time I still thought the thinner cable was for AM.

Now to the question. Is it worth getting that second cable hooked up to the rear window? And if so, what type of place does something like that? The guy at the audio shop I went to today explained to me that wasn't two separate antennas but "multiplex." And he said getting that second cable attached will make absolutely no difference. They also do not do that type of work there. So I'm assuming no audio shop does.

abew330 · 01-13-2010, 02:09 AM

i wouldnt think it makes any difference.

hows the radio now? (radio stations) loud and clear?

if it works without the extra cable no use wasting time/ money into getting the extra cable connected

haux · 01-13-2010, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abew330

i wouldnt think it makes any difference.

hows the radio now? (radio stations) loud and clear?

if it works without the extra cable no use wasting time/ money into getting the extra cable connected

Reception is fine I guess. I really don't have anything else to compare it to. AM could be better driving between states.

There wouldn't be any more time wasted as I've already ran the cable under the carpet. Just a matter of deciding whether getting it hooked up will make a difference at all.

Hopefully someone with this type of setup can comment too.

haux · 01-14-2010, 03:37 AM

Nobody else out there has ever looked into this?

touringcamry · 01-14-2010, 08:35 AM

That's not multiplexing; it's called antenna diversity. It helps in weak signal or multipath situations.

Multiplexing would imply you have several signals running over the same wire which you obviously do not have. Wet pair DSL would be an example of multiplexing using frequency division.

touringcamry · 01-14-2010, 08:44 AM

Since your car did not originally come with a diversity antenna setup, I would assume that it's not on the back window. In this case my guess is that not only do you need to get the coax to the window, but you have to put another antenna there. If you connect to the existing antenna you would be using the same antenna (negating any benefits of antenna diversity) and you would create a short which I do not know if it will cause any problems.