Car Talk

November 1989

Dear Tom and Ray:
We have a lovely old '72 Cadillac that suits our needs and comfort just fine. We have one problem. The car's antenna is in the windshield. Since we got a new windshield 5 years ago, the radio reception has diminished so that we get little or no reception outside of the metropolitan area. We have had the radio checked each time we tuned-up the car. They can't find anything wrong. Can an auxiliary antenna be installed?
Mary Ann

Beat up old car

TOM: Sure it can, but before you do that, ask a car stereo repairman to try adjusting the radio's sensitivity. Every radio has a small screw (which you'll never find) that adjusts the radios ability to tune in weaker signals. Turning it up may help you get stations outside of the city. If the sensitivity is too great, however, you won't be able to isolate the station you want; you'll hear more than one at a time.

RAY: So when the sensitivity adjustment doesn't solve your problem, go ahead and install a real antenna. This can be done easily and cheaply. Try one of those 20 foot whips that bends back and attaches to the rear tail fin of your Caddy. It'll look great and pick up anything--including clothes lines and low flying birds.

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