upgrading radio reception

I believe I posted this topic once before but I’m being lazy. The radio reception on my Competitor 185 Sport is TERRIBLE. There must be a way to get better reception. Is it just the antenna that needs upgrading or a some kind of signal booster? I now use bluetooth to stream music but it’s nice to listen to a game on the radio too.

Let me guess you have a windshield boat?

Ripjiggen wrote:

Let me guess you have a windshield boat?

yup. A Sport model, full windshield.

I have the same issue with my Edge 185, with likely the same radio and antenna. I’ve researched it plenty and it seems the solution is an upgraded antenna. But, I have not tried that yet.

If I had to guess the antenna is under the console. Several different antenna options available but somehow getting it away from the metal windshield will help.

Otherwise mlb66.com for ball games.

I gave up trying to get better AM/FM reception. I just stream from the phone like you said. You can stream Twins baseball on Audacy app, no more trying to tune static out as you move. Football on iheart. I’m sure there are ways for any other teams you are trying to find.

This internet thing isn’t going away, only getting better.

G_Smitty wrote:

I believe I posted this topic once before but I’m being lazy. The radio reception on my Competitor 185 Sport is TERRIBLE. There must be a way to get better reception. Is it just the antenna that needs upgrading or a some kind of signal booster? I now use bluetooth to stream music but it’s nice to listen to a game on the radio too.

What type of antenna do you have now?

Karry Kyllo wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>G_Smitty wrote:</div>
I believe I posted this topic once before but I’m being lazy. The radio reception on my Competitor 185 Sport is TERRIBLE. There must be a way to get better reception. Is it just the antenna that needs upgrading or a some kind of signal booster? I now use bluetooth to stream music but it’s nice to listen to a game on the radio too.

What type of antenna do you have now?

mounted outside of the driver’s console – one of those short, kind of floppy, antenna, that can swivel up and down.

They do make powered antennas. I had one on a Lund. I rarely use the radio with local stations, I use Sirius radio now on the boat.

I use a bluetooth radio and have Sirius XM on the phone.

Your antenna needs a good ground to work proper, I used to work in the car audio field in the 90’s and have fixed many old guys AM reception so they could catch a Twins game. LOL

bigcrappie wrote:

Your antenna needs a good ground to work proper, I used to work in the car audio field in the 90’s and have fixed many old guys AM reception so they could catch a Twins game. LOL

I have the same issue. Mine is just a thin white wire. I moved it higher from under the console and it was better. What would you suggest to make it better bigcrappie?

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, stock radios/speakers in boats suuuuuck. Just get a Bluetooth speaker and be done with it.

Replace the thin wire with stubby car antenna mounted to the boat so it grounds on the hull.

John Rasmussen wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>bigcrappie wrote:</div>
Your antenna needs a good ground to work proper, I used to work in the car audio field in the 90’s and have fixed many old guys AM reception so they could catch a Twins game. LOL

I have the same issue. Mine is just a thin white wire. I moved it higher from under the console and it was better. What would you suggest to make it better bigcrappie?

bigcrappie wrote:

Replace the thin wire with stubby car antenna mounted to the boat so it grounds on the hull.

Thanks, what I figured, just did not want to drill a hole for an antenna if there was another way.

John Rasmussen wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>bigcrappie wrote:</div>
Replace the thin wire with stubby car antenna mounted to the boat so it grounds on the hull.

Thanks, what I figured, just did not want to drill a hole for an antenna if there was another way.

so for those of us with one of those floppy swivel antennas mounted on the outside of the console, do we just need to run a ground wire to the hull?

I have the same boat and the same issue. I bought a 12 volt signal booster and it didn’t help at all. I would like to know more about this ground thing.

Shane L Roberts wrote:

I have the same boat and the same issue. I bought a 12 volt signal booster and it didn’t help at all. I would like to know more about this ground thing.

time to give up on the old technology. all a signal booster does is introduce more interference.

Bluetooth 4G is the new way like it or struggle.