2021 F3 Ltd has awful Radio reception - where's the antenna plug?

[tekslk]

I have terrible radio reception and cant find where the antenna plugs in at, any help out there?

[BajaRon]

We have found more than 1 new Spyder where the antenna was not connected during assembly and pre-delivery by the dealership. I would check that first.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

We have found more than 1 new Spyder where the antenna was not connected during assembly and pre-delivery by the dealership. I would check that first.

.... also BRP uses ENORMOUS amounts of ....thread locker .... when you find the antennae remove it and clean off all the thread locker, use a STAR washer instead .... also folks have reported the grounding strap was loose or not even connected..... these are commonly reported issues ..... also check a parts Fiche' for how all this stuff is connected to the Spyder .... Mike

[tekslk]

How do you get to these connections that is my problem I cant find them?

[fatboy]

the antenna is in the left rear

[tekslk]

Is it near the ground strap?

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

the antenna is in the left rear

I think he's asking where does it plug into the audio unit? That would be up front somewhere.

[tekslk]

What is the location of it, I cant find it, pictures would really help.

[tekslk]

Where does it connect to the radio? Would it be abouve right saddle bag? Pictures would be a blessing.

[CloverHillCrawler]

I think he's asking where does it plug into the audio unit? That would be up front somewhere.

Schematic from the service manual shows the antenna cable is routed through the console harness and connected on the Multifunction gauge for a 2020 not sure about a 2021.

harness.jpg

Update:and looking at this diagram it looks like the radio is integrated with the multifunction gauge which means if you have a bad radio you have to replace the whole gauge cluster?

[tekslk]

I cant find the radio to get to the antenna. By the way I love your swaybar.

[Peter Aawen]

I cant find the radio to get to the antenna. By the way I love your swaybar.

I'm pretty sure that you won't find a separate radio on a 2020+ Spyder, cos it's built-in to the dash unit/Multi-function cluster!

So go to the back of the bike, remove the trunk (if there is one) & the panel the antenna sticks out of - the missed connections &/or poor earths are usually in there somewhere.

[BajaRon]

I cant find the radio to get to the antenna. By the way I love your swaybar.

I doubt that you problem is at the radio. It's much more likely to be at the antenna. The wire that goes to the base of the antenna is probably not connected. Until that is fixed, it won't matter what else you do.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Schematic from the service manual shows the antenna cable is routed through the console harness and connected on the Multifunction gauge for a 2020 not sure about a 2021.

harness.jpg

Update:and looking at this diagram it looks like the radio is integrated with the multifunction gauge which means if you have a bad radio you have to replace the whole gauge cluster?

Your pic is rather fuzzy. Does it show an antenna cable plugging into the cluster? It looks like that may be it about half way along the cluster connector line. The other unit in the schematic must be the audio amplifier, right?

[CloverHillCrawler]

Yep it's plugged into the cluster along with the AUX and USB cables, sound goes back out to the amplifier.

I wonder why they did a separate amplifier unit but yet integrated the radio into the gauge cluster?

Why not put the radio with the amp?

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

I wonder why they did a separate amplifier unit but yet integrated the radio into the gauge cluster?

Why not put the radio with the amp?

I'm guessing physical size. With the miniaturization of electronics today, the cluster electronics looked like a good place to plunk down a chip about the size of a lady bug! Probably also easier to integrate the radio controls into the cluster controls on the same PC board rather than wires between the cluster and amp.

[kj2364]

Here's the plug on my 2021 F3L. It was unplugged when I bought it used. Suppose previous owner had removed the trunk and didn't plug it back in.

IMG_20230228_080310556~2.jpg

IMG_20230228_080234249.jpg

IMG_20230228_080230455.jpg

[Woodenfish]

Awful radio reception is the standard of the provided radio tuner and is about the best one could hope to achieve under ideal operating conditions. The audio system does however shine brighter with Bluetooth streaming audio making it significantly more appealing to me. I choose that method as first priority for sound quality, content and playback of commercial free music. It’s not demanding audiophile quality but considering all of the conditions and limitations of a motorcycle, not bad at all.

[Tucker01]

Can anyone tell me where the f3 radio antenna plugs into radio ?

[tekslk]

I tried installing a longer antenna that helped some bought off ebay. After that I took the ground strap bolt and put two washers under it and that did the trick, my radio now plays like it should.

[tekslk]

Correction the washers helped the ground strap bolt but when I actually started it, it went to hell again, turns out the led lights are making radio noise.

[McRuss]

I tried installing a longer antenna that helped some bought off ebay. After that I took the ground strap bolt and put two washers under it and that did the trick, my radio now plays like it should.

At the risk of redundancy, where is the offending ground strap located? I did pull the antenna leads apart and clean them (primarily located under the passenger seat on the Ltd) but the ground strap? No idea and I don't have access to a 'shop manual.' And oddly enough, I installed a shorter antenna and improved reception by a smidge.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

No idea and I don't have access to a 'shop manual.'

For about $25 or $30 you can get one from www.canammanuals.com. It's well worth it.