I just noticed that my OB 04 that I just purchased has no antenna. No signs it had at one point either. The radio reception is okay tho. 
iSubaru
Yes, it's printed onto the rear window. My 2001 has it on the rear hatch and a side window.
(Please don't be offended, ...but I nearly ended up with breakfast cereal on the computer monitor when I read your dilemma!)
(Of course, I would've had no idea myself if I hadn't read it in the manual).
(Please don't be offended, ...but I nearly ended up with breakfast cereal on the computer monitor when I read your dilemma!)
(Of course, I would've had no idea myself if I hadn't read it in the manual).
The bloke I'd bought mine off said the radio antenna was "built in" after explaining that the 'flagpole' on the front was for a cellphone!
.. so I really didn't quite know what to think, but I soon checked & thought "well I guess it works, but..."
Anyway:
My (printed in 2000) manual says: "For vehicles except Australia models
The antenna is printed on the inside of the rear glass (Sedan) or the
left side quarter window glass (Outback).
For Australia models
Two antennas are printed on the inside of the rear window glass.
Your vehicle is provided with a diversity reception antenna system in which the radio set automatically selects an antenna receiving a higher energy signal from between two antennas printed."
It's common for radio reception to drop out regularly in between towns over here and I have to say that I get better reception with this set-up.
So I'll confess that I too had wondered what happened to the antenna when I first checked the car over.
.. so I really didn't quite know what to think, but I soon checked & thought "well I guess it works, but..."
Anyway:
My (printed in 2000) manual says: "For vehicles except Australia models
The antenna is printed on the inside of the rear glass (Sedan) or the
left side quarter window glass (Outback).
For Australia models
Two antennas are printed on the inside of the rear window glass.
Your vehicle is provided with a diversity reception antenna system in which the radio set automatically selects an antenna receiving a higher energy signal from between two antennas printed."
It's common for radio reception to drop out regularly in between towns over here and I have to say that I get better reception with this set-up.
So I'll confess that I too had wondered what happened to the antenna when I first checked the car over.
you don't mind I'd like to blow the dust off of this topic. I know it's been almost a year since anyone has posted here but I wanted to ask a question. is it possible to purchase a window that does not have the antenna integrated into it? I want to purchase a roof mount antenna and get rid of the antenna in the driver rear quarter window. do they all have this antenna or is there a model that I can purchase a window from that does not have it?
My 01 base still has an extendable flagpole antenna. My 02 base does not. My 01 3.0 VDC does not. . . so it would seem you need an 00 or 01 base if you want the standard antenna.
Just out of curiosity, why does the antenna in the quarter window bother you? I'd considered going the other way just so there's one less thing I have to do before going through a car wash. . . but it would be a huge PITA as the quarter glass is encapsulated (moulding built into glass) and the only way to remove one without damaging it is with an inductive heater (which I have). You couldn't cut one out with piano wire without making a huge mess of the car AND the glass.
I don't think (in 01 or 02 at least) there's an antenna in the rear hatch on the wagons. I think it's only in the left rear glass as that's the only place I see an RF amp. The rear hatch is just a defogger.
Just out of curiosity, why does the antenna in the quarter window bother you? I'd considered going the other way just so there's one less thing I have to do before going through a car wash. . . but it would be a huge PITA as the quarter glass is encapsulated (moulding built into glass) and the only way to remove one without damaging it is with an inductive heater (which I have). You couldn't cut one out with piano wire without making a huge mess of the car AND the glass.
I don't think (in 01 or 02 at least) there's an antenna in the rear hatch on the wagons. I think it's only in the left rear glass as that's the only place I see an RF amp. The rear hatch is just a defogger.
my 01 outback H6 VDC has the antenna in the rear side glass. and it does not work as well as my 97 GT power antenna. at home, it works fine. it receives the signals from my local radio stations. but on the road, where i'm searching for radio signals that may be weaker, it does not pick them up as well. and since i can't figure out how to tune in a specific station on my kenwood after market radio, i just ''scan'' to the next one, i'm stuck with very few choices , if any, to listen to.
but i'm betting that there is still an antenna cable, of some sort, that runs from the radio back to the rear glass area. so if you were to tap into that and then mount an antenna on the roof?? i bet it would give better reception. maybe something like the CB radios use with a magnetic base.
PS: i drove from raleigh NC to the beach and back last month, i have made the trip alot. so i know what stations i like. going down out of raleigh i kept the raleigh station about 3/4 of the way down, i usually can keep all the way down. coming back up i could not find the raleigh station until i was almost to raleigh. the antenna in the glass is nice but i don't think it receives as well as an external one.
but i'm betting that there is still an antenna cable, of some sort, that runs from the radio back to the rear glass area. so if you were to tap into that and then mount an antenna on the roof?? i bet it would give better reception. maybe something like the CB radios use with a magnetic base.
PS: i drove from raleigh NC to the beach and back last month, i have made the trip alot. so i know what stations i like. going down out of raleigh i kept the raleigh station about 3/4 of the way down, i usually can keep all the way down. coming back up i could not find the raleigh station until i was almost to raleigh. the antenna in the glass is nice but i don't think it receives as well as an external one.
I'm an electronics engineer and I work for a radio station. I'm very picky about the performance of the car radio. I was skeptical about the antenna on the glass when I bought my '05. I have to say that it works very well, probably every bit as good as a traditional whip antenna. That's tricky to do, so Subaru did an excellent design. If the earlier models work as good, I wouldn't bother changing antennas.
The glass antenna does have a small catch. There is an antenna preamp in the rear hatch. Mine just died due to a broken power wire in the rubber flex boot at the top of the hatch. When the preamp dies, the FM gets weak, and the AM reception goes away almost completely. I will be soldering wires to fix it later today.
The glass antenna does have a small catch. There is an antenna preamp in the rear hatch. Mine just died due to a broken power wire in the rubber flex boot at the top of the hatch. When the preamp dies, the FM gets weak, and the AM reception goes away almost completely. I will be soldering wires to fix it later today.
Correct. I replaced my headunit and didn't plug in the power antenna wire at first. There was no reception whatsoever. Otherwise, it seems to work just as well as a conventional mast antenna when powered.
There is an antenna cable that runs to the rear glass. If you didn't mind leaving the existing antenna in the rear glass and just disconnecting it at the radio, you should be able to grab an antenna off a 2000-2001 Legacy or Outback and add it to yours. Might be a bit of a challenge to thread it down the A-pillar but it's definitely possible.
No AM reception
I just bought an 02 OB and put in a nice radio I had in my last Subee.
However, the FM is weak and I get no AM
So maybe I have the same problem as Radar.
If you are still out there [I realize the last post was well over a year ago], could you tell me the outcome of your antenna booster project, and just where to find it. Is it in the spare tire compartment? Or closer to the rear seat?
Did you have to buy another one?
Thanks
I just bought an 02 OB and put in a nice radio I had in my last Subee.
However, the FM is weak and I get no AM
So maybe I have the same problem as Radar.
If you are still out there [I realize the last post was well over a year ago], could you tell me the outcome of your antenna booster project, and just where to find it. Is it in the spare tire compartment? Or closer to the rear seat?
Did you have to buy another one?
Thanks
Hi there!
The antenna amp on my '07 is in the back hatch.
Mine stopped working. A common problem is that one of the wires in the harness going to the back hatch breaks. On my 07 it is in the left rubber boot at the top of the hatch between the hatch and the body. Pull that back and you'll probably find a broken wire. I just soldered in a longer piece of wire and that fixed it.
I get much better radio reception in my Solstice, with its very short whip antenna (from an Opel GT) than I do in my Outback even when everything is working. I keep thinking of adding a short whip to it in place of the glass antenna but haven't found enough round tuits yet.
The antenna amp on my '07 is in the back hatch.
Mine stopped working. A common problem is that one of the wires in the harness going to the back hatch breaks. On my 07 it is in the left rubber boot at the top of the hatch between the hatch and the body. Pull that back and you'll probably find a broken wire. I just soldered in a longer piece of wire and that fixed it.
I get much better radio reception in my Solstice, with its very short whip antenna (from an Opel GT) than I do in my Outback even when everything is working. I keep thinking of adding a short whip to it in place of the glass antenna but haven't found enough round tuits yet.
One more thing to check
There is a short jumper from the back of the head unit to the end of the antenna cable -- I. accidentally disconnected this when pulling the head unit out to replace it. One might also check this connection since it could be accidentally disconnected. Where does the jumper (a short antenna cable from the back of the head unit -- about 2 feet in length) connect to the end of the antenna? Oddly enough, you can see the junction when you pull the carpet away from the center console while sitting in the driver's seat (US left hand drive). The junction is about 3 inches from the top of the carpet, on the left side of the center console.
There is a short jumper from the back of the head unit to the end of the antenna cable -- I. accidentally disconnected this when pulling the head unit out to replace it. One might also check this connection since it could be accidentally disconnected. Where does the jumper (a short antenna cable from the back of the head unit -- about 2 feet in length) connect to the end of the antenna? Oddly enough, you can see the junction when you pull the carpet away from the center console while sitting in the driver's seat (US left hand drive). The junction is about 3 inches from the top of the carpet, on the left side of the center console.
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