Radio reception

Elise Radio Reception

The Elise is notorious for its poor radio reception. This is mainly due to the lack of a ground plane for the aerial, and the large amount of Radio Frequency Interferance (RFI) which is radiated from the engine bay.

A longer aerial can help - the Wip from a Rover 25 is a direct replacement and only costs a few quid.

A self adhesive aluminum foil, pre-cut to the shape of the boot lid is available from Lotus (Part No A111M0131F) and provide a ground plane.

Don't be tempted to add an aerial amplifier, the existing aerial base already contains one and adding another will not help.

I did both of these things, and added a briaded wire connecting the two larger grills in the boot lid, the aerial base, and the chassis member earth point.

This helped quite a bit and improves the reception to the point where its "ok".

Some people have had success using Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) radios which are a bit more tollerant of poor reception and often use a metalic tape aerial oround the passanger edge of the windscreen. Unfortunately DAB coverage over the UK is still a bit patchy.

A cheap alternative is to line engine cover (around the region of the aerial mount) with Aluminium foil Duck Tape, available fro most DIY shops etc (http://www.tapes-direct.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=200&products_id=934 ).

Removed engine cover, removed aerial mount, clean the inside. Starting from the central spine of the engine cover (and the aerial mounting hole) add several strips. Additional strips can be added around the edge of the vents and near the locking mechanism.

Note from the pics below, that the nut holding the aerial mount has good contact with the tape. Another improvement may also be to beef up the skinny earth wire seen dangling down next to the aerial connector. Also running a new wire from the battery (negative terminal) or a better ground connection may help. Looks like some people have improved reception by wrapping ali foil round the aerial cable as well.

http://gallery.seloc.org/albums/userpics/28830/Engine_cover_m_04.jpg

http://gallery.seloc.org/albums/userpics/28830/Engine_cover_m_05.jpg

http://gallery.seloc.org/albums/userpics/28830/Engine_cover_m_06.jpg