You can use your factory antenna, even without an adapter for the connections. Take the new antenna that comes with the Kenwood package and cut off the actual antenna, leaving enough cable to reach the unit. Find your factory antenna and cut off the plug.

Now here are the steps to splice the factory wire into the new Kenwood wire:

You will need the following things:


Small 600 degree soldering iron and solder.
Liquid flux for soldering the braid.
Small sizes of heat shrink tubing.
Small heat gun.
Small pliers, cutter, and Xacto knife.




1) The first step is to use the Xacto knife to cut both ends of the antenna cable so you have a clean end.

2) Using the Xacto knife roll the cable on a board and gently cut all around the cable to cut the outer insulation. Remove about 1/2 inch of the insulation from each end.

3) Push the braid back to expose the center wire and gently roll the cable and cut the center insulation to expose about 1/10 inch of the center wire. With your small long nose pliers, bend the center wire into a small hook shape.

4) Repeat all the above steps on the other end of the wire.

5) Put a 1 inch piece of heat shrink tubing on one end, and a 1/4 inch piece of heat shrink on the center conductor.

5) Hook the two ends together. Gently squeeze the hooks closed and solder them together. Be very careful when soldering this. Be quick so you do not apply to much heat and cause the heat shrink tubing to shrink on the side where you do not want it to be.

6) Slide the small white heat shrink to cover the cooled solder joint you just made and use the heat gun to shrink the tubing in place.


7) Now push the braids back together to cover over the connection you just made. Try make the braid smooth together by GENTLY rolling the cable between your fingers. Carefully solder the braid. A little liquid flux on the braid prior to soldering helps the solder flow and makes it look better.

8) Slide the final piece of heat shrink tubing over the braid and shrink it with the heat gun.