does anyone know how to remove the aerial base from the car? my radio signal is terrible so going to try and change the aerial first

Drop the headlining iirc.

**** of a job, getting the antena off is bad enough.

The aerial or the base.

The aerial just unscrews from the base, and may depending on the age of your car need a good tug to overcome the anti-theft barb.

The aerial base is bolted onto the car, to access the nut you need to get above the headlining by removing a lot of trim and lowering the headlining enough to get your hands an a spanner in the gap. Then unbolt and disconnect the wiring.

Just a thought , have you changed the head unit for an aftermarket one ???

there was some cheap rubbish in the car when i bought which is still in at the moment i've just ordered a new head unit was just thinking i might change the aerial at the same time because i can hardly get any radio stations, might just be the stereo just pre planning at the moment, but i will be changing both the base and the mast

Just adding a bit to the earlier responses, taking off one side of the headlining will give you access. It's an easy DIY job to get half the roof lining free - I've just done it in about 10 min. The only tools I needed were a Phillips screwdriver, a small flat-bladed screwdriver for levering off the sun visor clip and grab handle trims, a 17mm socket for the seat belt bolts and strong fingers for pulling at trim edges),. Putting it back on OK might take longer (I always work on the premise that putting something back together takes 2-3 times as long as pulling it apart). If you're putting in a powered aerial you'll need to run a lead to the back of your stereo. Just follow the aerial lead - with the roof headlining released that's 5-10 mins if you've removed the centre console and lower dash trim driver's side. Best done in a garage or when it's not raining! Good luck. Ian

The aftermarket headunit explains perfectly the cause of your poor reception.

The aerial base has an amplifier built in, and only the original skoda unit can provide the power to drive this amp. No need to replace the aerial base at all, you just need the necessary radio aerial booster that you put in line at the headunit end. You can get one from halfords for peanuts, takes about 2 mins to fit, and should solve your problem.

Mannyo, you're spot on I hadn't noticed that the previous owner had changed the head unit. An adaptor is needed when replacing a Skoda unit with an aftermarket unit - it's the same for my Vauxhall - I think the resistances are different too. Halfords near me are pretty switched on. If you want to save a few pence you can get a Fakra adaptor off eBay

here is a drawing of the hu connector showing the pin for the antenna power

By georged30 at 2009-11-27

The aftermarket headunit explains perfectly the cause of your poor reception.

The aerial base has an amplifier built in, and only the original skoda unit can provide the power to drive this amp. No need to replace the aerial base at all, you just need the necessary radio aerial booster that you put in line at the headunit end. You can get one from halfords for peanuts, takes about 2 mins to fit, and should solve your problem.

That was going too be my statement, lol

excellent chaps thanks for the help

i will also be making a trip to halfords tomorrow