Directed DMHD1000 Audio Troubleshooting

[PeterFnet]

Running into some problems with the Directed DMHD1000 I just bought off of Amazon. I'm posting this to track my troubleshooting steps to help others who may want to jump into this ring. Maybe I missed something and you guys/gals may have some ideas.

Powers on OK
Default head unit lights up and can control the radio
Radio doesn't find all stations. When it does find a station, it is very low quality and hissy
Using stock OEM antenna with a converter from ford -> universal
Audio output is going directly over white/red RCA to MTX amp (computer output worked great through amp)

Steps I will be performing to troubleshoot
1 and only) Buy new antenna from Advance Auto parts in town
So far, I don't think it is the antenna. I used a black magic test: I touched my finger to the antenna wire. It should cause a different in the reception in my experience. It made no change.

That's the only thing I can think to test before I tell the seller that the shipped unit is bad.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated! I'll be posting back tonight once I test out a new antenna

[PeterFnet]

Update

The extra antenna helped a bit, but still sounded horrible. I did find that my oem antenna conversion cable was poorly crimped. I'll heading out to my local audio shop to pick up a new one to troubleshoot with that.

The poorly constructed antenna conversion cable was my last purchase from my old Circuit City store. RIP

[CraziFuzzy]

Sounds more like you may just have a bad unit. Why not just get it replaced? I know I had a bad solder connection in the unit I bought off ebay. It was used so I couldn't repair it. However, if you have the option to exchange it, I would get on that.

[PeterFnet]

Sounds more like you may just have a bad unit. Why not just get it replaced? I know I had a bad solder connection in the unit I bought off ebay. It was used so I couldn't repair it. However, if you have the option to exchange it, I would get on that.

Thanks for your input. I do think you're right.

I'm trying to do as much troubleshooting as possible before i send it back. I will freak out and possibly cry like a little boy if the replacement comes and does the same thing!

[Danielkh]

Sounds more like you may just have a bad unit. Why not just get it replaced? I know I had a bad solder connection in the unit I bought off ebay. It was used so I couldn't repair it. However, if you have the option to exchange it, I would get on that.

Thanks for your input. I do think you're right.

I'm trying to do as much troubleshooting as possible before i send it back. I will freak out and possibly cry like a little boy if the replacement comes and does the same thing!

Peter,
If you don't have a head unit, your power wire may not be connected. There should be a small wire that, on my car anyway, that runs along the antenna wire (small green wire) that needs 12 volts for the antenna power amp. Most newer cars do use this. Went through several radio options before I figured it out. The head unit usually powers it.

[PeterFnet]

Sounds more like you may just have a bad unit. Why not just get it replaced? I know I had a bad solder connection in the unit I bought off ebay. It was used so I couldn't repair it. However, if you have the option to exchange it, I would get on that.

Thanks for your input. I do think you're right.

I'm trying to do as much troubleshooting as possible before i send it back. I will freak out and possibly cry like a little boy if the replacement comes and does the same thing!

Peter,
If you don't have a head unit, your power wire may not be connected. There should be a small wire that, on my car anyway, that runs along the antenna wire (small green wire) that needs 12 volts for the antenna power amp. Most newer cars do use this. Went through several radio options before I figured it out. The head unit usually powers it.

Oooo, very interesting idea!! My power antenna is very screwy. There are two wires. If I apply 12V to one and GND to the other, the antenna goes up. The reverse connections make the antenna go down.

I'm manually having to do these voltage connections until I hook up a DPDT relay to it.

Perhaps after the motor puts the antenna up, it uses the 12V as an amplifier! I will definitely try tonight. thanks!

[Danielkh]

Oooo, very interesting idea!! My power antenna is very screwy. There are two wires. If I apply 12V to one and GND to the other, the antenna goes up. The reverse connections make the antenna go down.

I'm manually having to do these voltage connections until I hook up a DPDT relay to it.

Perhaps after the motor puts the antenna up, it uses the 12V as an amplifier! I will definitely try tonight. thanks!

There may be ANOTHER wire for the antenna amp. Mine is green. But chances are....if you haven't hooked up the amp, that is probably your problem.

[PeterFnet]

Oooo, very interesting idea!! My power antenna is very screwy. There are two wires. If I apply 12V to one and GND to the other, the antenna goes up. The reverse connections make the antenna go down.

I'm manually having to do these voltage connections until I hook up a DPDT relay to it.

Perhaps after the motor puts the antenna up, it uses the 12V as an amplifier! I will definitely try tonight. thanks!

There may be ANOTHER wire for the antenna amp. Mine is green. But chances are....if you haven't hooked up the amp, that is probably your problem.

Stock amp is completely gone. It was a Ford JBL system with a radio, amp, and sub amp in the rear of the vehicle. As far as I can tell, there are only an antenna wire and 2 wires coming through a hole made specifically in the firewall for the antenna.

But I'll dig further and see if there is something else.

Edit: or the antenna amp was built into the old radio.....

[Danielkh]

Edit: or the antenna amp was built into the old radio.....

Oh, that would suck! But then, you DID say Ford! lol

[PeterFnet]

Edit: or the antenna amp was built into the old radio.....

Oh, that would suck! But then, you DID say Ford! lol

haha, yea! It's been pretty good to me so far, but this is throwing me for a loop! My only real experience with antenna amplification is with US OTA television.

Looks like there are some antenna amps for cars. You have any experience with them? Maybe I could just try to replace it if it turns out I ripped it out with the stock radio.