4g aerial - half mast switch. How's it work?

Angus · Post by **Angus** » Fri Feb 20, 2015 9:45 am

I just replaced my electric aerial with one out of a scrap car which appears to be in better working order than any aerial I've had on the car up till now.

In other words, it extends to about 20 feet above the car when up.

Anybody know how the "half-mast" button actually works? Can it be plumbed directly into the wires that go to the antenna somehow, or is there some sort of relay magic involved.

(I changed all the front loom in my car when I installed EL dials many years ago, so if it involves wiring into there I might as well not bother.)

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Fri Feb 20, 2015 10:20 am

All the additional relay gubbins is in the aerial itself, IIRC.
Aside from that, it's just an additional switch and additional wire in the loom between the radio and the aerial.
Pretty sure it's all shown in the 4th gen service manual.

You should be able to do it all without taking the main dash apart - should be able to access via and run any new wiring from the centre console, under the drivers seat and then along the side of the car.

Angus · Post by **Angus** » Fri Feb 20, 2015 10:49 am

Hmm, I suspected it may be in the aerial - the one I got yesterday looks like it's got less bits on than my old ones. I may have to investigate further and see if I can butcher a complete unit together (without breaking all of them in the process

).

Can't see it mentioned in the service manual or supplements, though. Might be on some of the electrical diagrams available separately. Will have a look when I get home.