Re: Diversity antennas...

[AUDIDUDI@delphi.com]

> All this talk about diversity tuning, you guys forgot the most 
> fundamental point:  the quality of the tuner.  Diversity tuning won't 
> mean beans if the tuner isn't good.  Alpines have excellent tuners (from 
> hearsay), and they don't bother with diversity tuning.  Most 
> manufacturers, with the exception of those who pack their head units with 
> frills (Sony, Pioneer, Kenwood, JVC, etc) haven't bothered to adopt 
> diversity, which tells me it may not be all its cracked up to be.

I agree with you completely except you've overlooked one point: if a car was
*designed* to use a diversity setup (and not many are), its FM reception may
suffer markedly if you try to make the OEM antenna(s) function in a way that
wasn't intended by the factory.  In such cases, it won't matter how good the
tuner section is since its performance will be compromised by the quality of
the signal it's fed.  As you probably know, most windshield antennas are not
very good as compared to an external mast-type antenna of the proper length.
If you're not willing to add an external antenna -- and I'm not since I find
them cosmetically unattractive and an invitation to vandals -- then you have
no choice but to make the best of what came on the car hence my search for a
head unit that offers the diversity tuning feature.

I also agree with you that Alpine makes some very good tuners ... I have one
of their legendary 7518s tucked away in my closet for future use but my $500
Sony isn't that bad and I certainly won't miss it should it ever be stolen.

     _             _             
    / l       l o l  \       l o   Jeffrey Goggin
   /__l l l / l l l  l l l / l l   * * * * * * *
  /   l l_l \_l l l__/ l_l \_l l   AudiDudi@delphi.com