OK dudes today I had A1's take another look at it all and we started by trying an external after market antenna that attaches to the inside of the front windscreen in the top corner - no better either!!!
I had the Alpine Imprint System head unit put back in and whilst it was being re-connected they re-checked the antenna cable (for like the 5th time) but this time noticed that where it travels across the passenger side floor area that it crosses over a "computer" (apparently???).
So anyway, what they did was take the antenna cable from above the window, down the pillar, then over the glovebox and into the head unit (none of which is visible of course). He also then stripped the cabling in that area and fixed it down providing another earth....and bango!!!!!! Well so far anyways.....
Weird shit hey?!
Does anybody know what "computer" he might be referring to which is located just around the floor area of the passenger side? Which I guess is behind the fire wall????? Might be a dumbass question but I'd love to know

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"Moose Knuckle"

Most WRX from what I understand have the ECU on the passenger side of the car near the firewall. Just above the footwell.

That was alot of farking around to get the radio to work though...

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....slow and steady wins the race....fark that!!

tell me about it hey!!! i'm just bloody stoked it seems to have been sorted out eventually...
can't workout why most of the other wrx's out there haven't had a similar problem if it is to do with the antenna cable running over the ecu though.

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"Moose Knuckle"

Just injecting a bit of life into this thread;

A friend of mine has an aftermarket deck with poor radio reception, and I put one in another friends car, also with poor reception now. Both 07, one wrx other rs. Is the antenna amp wire in these blue with white trace as well?