Customer Reviews

Metra Universal Power Antenna (44-PW22) (44-PW22)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I replace the stock antenna in a Volvo 850 with this antenna, because new, it is priced lower than a used OEM part.

It took only some minor hassle to make it fit, and I ended up drilling a larger hole in the original external nut to make it look as much as possible like it belonged there. Volvo has the antenna in the back, so access to the work was really easy.

Wiring was easy, and obvious. The black wire goes to ground, the red wire goes to constant power and the blue wire is the switched lead for raising the antenna. The antenna signal wire is quite long, and terminates with the standard automotive antenna connector (male).

In case you are curious about upgrading your fixed mast for this unit, here is how it works: the unit is always powered on (via the red wire) and internal circuits respond to voltage on the blue wire. When there is constant voltage on the blue wire, the motor raises the antenna, automatically stops. When the voltage is removed from the blue wire, the motor lowers the antenna and automatically stops. Constant power is required on the red wire so the antenna will lower after you turn off the car.

Tip: even if your radio has the blue power antenna lead in its harness, you may still desire a dedicated switch, so you can lower the antenna when going through a car wash, otherwise, you will have to turn off your radio. I was put the manual switch in series with the radio's antenna lead, allowing the switch to override only when you desire.

I replaced a broken power antenna on my 2002 Mitsubishi Montero with this one. The Montero has a different way of powering the antenna than this replacement model....and that took me a while to figure out. The Montero has a "switch box" between the radio power and the antenna which sends power to the antenna for about 20 seconds and then shuts the power off. The power antenna goes up when it gets power when the radio is turned on and then stays in the up position after the switch cuts the power to the antenna. When the radio is turned off or the car is turned off, the switch sends power to the antenna for about 20 seconds and this was the signal for the antenna to go down. I suppose Mitsubishi did this to keep a shorted out antenna from draining the battery. However, the new antenna I bought has a different configuration. It has two wires and one of them must have continuous power 24/7. The other wire goes directly to the radio power and it acts like the switch to tell the antenna when to go up and when to go down...radio power on...antenna up via the 24/7 power supply...radio power off (either by the radio power switch being turned off or the car being turned off)...antenna down via the 24/7 power supply. Took me a while to understand the differences and I ended up having to do some electrical splicing to bypass the Mitsubishi switch box and make this antenna work the way it should. So far, it has worked fine...even in very cold weather (7 or 8 degrees).

One more thing...the box did not include the variety pack of plastic fender mounts...the ones with the different angles for different fender slopes where the antenna comes thru the fender. I called the vendor and they promptly sent me the pieces at no cost to me.

Unit purchased to replace factory unit on my old Nissan Altima. The original unit had stopped raising and lowering, and an official Nissan one costs $199. Because the unit is meant to replace several different models, it has an adjustable bracket to fit different car models. I found the main difficulty in finding the right bracket setting and gasket for the antenna mast. We also had to experiment with the wiring, but we found the right settings it has been working fine for about nine months now.

I brought this antenna to replace my OEM. The install went flawless and the antenna worked well for the 1st month or so. Then I noticed while pumping gas that the mast was leaning so I figured that the mounting was loose. But upon futher investigation I realized that it was loose within the body of the mast. And a few days later the mast was completely disconnected from the base. Oh

I forgot to mention that this was my 2nd and last purchase of any Metra pruduct.

The antenna itself was okay; however, the advertisement stated that it would fit my Mercury Sable Station Wagon which it did not. I would not have bought the item if it had correctly stated what vehicles it would fit. Product was returned and I lost the shipping to and from as a result.

Two units installed so far...

First unit motor made loud noise after the antenna was fully extended, as trying to "further" extend antenna, made noise for about a minute then stopped. Made same loud noise when antenna fully retracted, again for more than a minute.

Second unit was quiet and functioned as it should for about a week. Now making noise after fully retracted.

Again getting replaced.

Had these antennas installed when I had a new dash radio installed by a pro shop. I would not recommend the Metra 44-PW22 to anyone.

This product is very cheaply constucted. The installation was easy enough, though after only five up and down operations the motor began to get really hot. I disconnected the 12v and let it cool down, but the motor never worked again. The only saving grace to this antenna is that it can be manually raised and lowered. This is the only reason I won't return it but come on dead after 5 uses!

I bought this Antena to replace a cheap $19.95, That lasted two years. I could not get good reception almost no reception execpt on FM. After Testing removing, Reinstalling antena, I discouver 2 things first it was grounded somehow. I put ohm meter to ground and it was a short. After Reinstalling it cleared up I have not been able to determined what the Short was I used all suppling hardward. With the Short gone still bearly audible reception. Take out the Ohm meter again and test then I found out the Supplied Cord had an "Open" (no connection between point A and B.). I quickly dove head first into the Dumpster and retrieved "Old, Orignal" connect cable. I now get some reception with lots of Noise like if the Antena lacks filters. Will I ever by any thing from Metra again? Answer: NO ! ! !

I bought this to replace the Power Antenna on a 1992 Buick Lesabre that had both a broke antenna and broken motor. This was the most inexpensive I could find so I went for it.

The mounting of this antenna took some imagination to get a secure fit, and the wiring harness wasn't a perfect match so some work was needed there. Even the main antenna cable needed an adapter to hookup to the car properly.

Along with the issues with installtion this antenna provides poor reception. My broken stub of an antenna before may not have picked up all the stations, but for the ones it did, it provided a much better signal.

Static is common for almost all radio stations regardless of how close you are to the station.

Thankfully my deck has a CD Player, Aux input, and Bluetooth for other sources of audio entertainment.

If you just want to replace a broken antenna like mine (the motor wouldn't stop when the car turned off) then go for it, but if you plan on listening to the radio often, I'd recommened spending more on a higher quality antenna.

A bit strange in that a constant current keeps it stowed away rather than deployed. If the current DEPLOYED the antenna I would give 5 stars but with it being backward I took a star away. The item works fine and has lots of little bracket adjusters to fit pretty much any car made ever.