Ok here goes.

I bought a cheap sharkfin from ebay but when i installed it the radio reception was terrible.

After taking the OEM aerial apart i noticed what looked like an amplifier.

I decided to bite the bullet and wire the amp int the skarkfin.

as you can see, not a great deal to work with.

the amp once removed from the oem base had what looked like an obvious aerial connection and stereo connection. so i soldered cable to each point (green to aerial, grey to stereo)

(thanks to my boy for use of his toybox.

These cables were then wired inline with the existing cables (cut in the middle). a third wire has been soldered in to bridge the shielding gap.

Wrapped in black insulation tape and tucked up behind the headliner, no one is the wiser.

I need to use some sealant around the bottom of the fin due to slight gapping but i like the look it creates.

Maybe I'm daft, but why not just buy an OEM sharkfin.

I would love too but my budget is tiny.

Hi there, Maybe you guys can help!

I've got an 06 Octavia estate and I'm looking to fit an amplified sharks fin as the Exeter University students seem to like collecting whip aerials or in my case damaging the roof trying to remove the anti theft whip. (I recommend everyone replaces them with normal ones - it cheaper than a bent roof.)

Sorry got carried away, my question is; is there power as well as the COAX in the headliner near the Aerial base?

I had my aerial amplifier changed once under warranty as there was a "known issue" with them according to my main dealer but I've no idea where it actually is in the car.

I'm thinking of this one :-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SKODA-FABIA-OCTAVIA-GTI-RS-AERO-SHARK-FIN-AERIAL-/180883216054?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item2a1d7ad6b6#ht_3204wt_952

Anyone tried it?

Cheers

The power is transmitted from the Head Unit to the amp via the same cable as the received signal.

It is known as Phantom Power.

AFAIK the HU will flag up that the aerial is not connected unless it detects that the power feed is going to the aerial amp. (Not very technical, sorry)

I do not know any more than that, but you might be able to find out more by searching for that phrase.

HTH

Thanks KBPhoto,

That's a shame as all the after-market amplified sharkfins I have found have a standard aerial plug on them with a separate +V wire!

So does anyone actually make an octavia compatible amplified shark fin or failing that does anyone know who makes or sells the standard aerial connector? it's a sort of locking barrel type.

Cheers

The connector on your existing aerial could be either a FAKRA connector or a RAKU / RAKU II connector.

FAKRA (female)

RAKU

The laws of physics are also against you with regards to shark fin aerials and radio reception in that they simply are not big enough to receive the appropriate wavelengths. I believe that you need somewhere around 32" or 34" length of aerial to receive the 86-96 Mhz frequencies on FM.

The Skoda shark fin that features a stubby aerial on the back is the one that covers FM/AM/GPS & GSM. It's the only one used in the VAG group that does this AFAIK.