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I'm installing a new radio. It's a new digital style radio made to fit in the dash. I hooked up the power wire and ground wire but the radio doesn't come on. Just had a thought. Does the constant hot wire, as well as the wire that's hot only when the switch is on, need to be hooked up in order for the radio to work? Thanx

probably. the constant hot is likely there to preserve the radio's memory of your preset stations and settings when its not in use. the switched 12v may run the radio itself. try hooking them both up or consult the manual.

one last thought: you didn't mention the details of your truck - you aren't trying to connect a 12v radio to a 6v system, correct?

Got it. I guess both the ignition on hot AND the constant hot need to be hooked up. Never hooked one of these up before. Thanx for the help.

If you wire it up that way with both the ignition wire and the memory wire with constant 12 volts.
Your battery will eventually drain down dead.
It doesn't matter if you have a 6 or 12 volt electrical system.

JVC manual states this about the Red ignition wire.

This only applies if you have a higher wattage digital Radio Cassette or CD player. (Most modern head units are higher wattage)
If you look at the specs in the manual how many watts per channel does it say it puts out?
If you can't find it what is the Make and model number of the Radio unit?

Read the below Stovebolt Post it will give you the how and why.
Install Tips 12 volt CD/Radio
This will also retain the radio station presets and time.

jorb, Thanks for the tip!!!!!!

Coincidentally I'm currently installing a 12v radio cd player in my 6v truck. Antenna went in yesterday and also received my 6v to 12v step up transformer yesterday. Everything is mounted, just need to add the transformer and now the red wire switch, then fire it up.

Super timely post, Thanks again.

Ron

Anybody tried one of those inside the cab antennas? I got one from Classic Parts, but when I put in the radio cut in and out. It worked all right sitting still, bit when I wiggled the wire it cut in and out again. There's a wire running the length of the antenna cable that has a tag that says to connect it to the power antenna wire from the radio and a ground wire. Do these two need to be connected in order for it to work properly? Thanks.

I have one in my 54 and it works intermittently because it is signal seeking and with the metal dash it blocks some signals. I put it in and thought it was not working then after a few miles it picks up a signal. I live in a rural area. Thinking of putting one in my MGA to get rid of the antenna. They sell them at Auto Zone and other FLAPS.

Yes, That is a amplified antenna.
The amplifier boost the low radio signals because the cab sheet metal is partially blocking the incoming radio signals.

The wire that runs the length of the antenna cable needs 12 volts to power the amplifier.
You can wire it to the Head unit's 12 volt power antenna trigger wire.
The power antenna trigger wire normally is wired to a power antenna relay, otherwise it is not used.
Just make sure it doesn't touch the body ground, if it does the relay contacts inside the head unit can get welded together.
If that ever happened the power antenna would not come down.
The motor for a power antenna draws a lot of amperage it needs its own dedicated 12 volt power source from the fuse panel and a heavier gauge wire.
Built into the power antenna is a relay, turning ON the head unit applies 12 volts to the trigger wire which closes the relay contacts supplying 12v power from the fuse panel to the power antenna's motor.

If your truck has a 12 volt electrical system, you can wire it to a terminal
on the ignition switch that only receives 12 volts when you turn the ignition switch ON.

Attach ground wire to a clean metal point close to the antenna amplifier.

If you don't switch OFF power to antenna amplifier it may drain the battery over night.

Jorb,
Thanx for the info. I connected the wire and the ground and it works great.

Good to hear. Yesterday I drove the truck about 5 miles before the radio picked up the signal.

Yeah, that happens to me, too. Luckily, I don't listen to the radio all that much. Have you tried hooking a CD player to it?