The reception on my 9856 is crappy, lots of static. Any quick fixes, without having to get a 3 foot antenna on the back of my car?

 

You didn't send power back to the amplified antenna, did you?

 

I plugged the antenna wire to the back of the head unit.?

 

The thicker black cable correct? Do I need to plug another wire in? The shop I bought the head unit did the install, however I've been back there a few times to plug the ipod cable in as well as some other things.

 

The antenna is amplified; the 9856 does have a lead wire coming from the back to provide power either to a telescoping antenna or a powered antenna. You'll have to see if the shop connected this output to the appropriate wire in the car's harness.

 

I have no idea what the back of your Alpine unit looks like or how it's wired. That's what the shop that did the install is supposed to know. That's their business to figure this out. If they can't figure this out, they shouldn't be in business and you picked the wrong shop.
All I can tell you is that the S2000 antenna system is amplified and needs a 12V lead that's hot when the radio is working or you get almost no AM reception. They must find a "hot" lead and splice it into the antenna "hot" wire that's in the OEM wiring bundle behind the radio. Any audio shop that knows what they're doing can find these wires.

 

I'd rather just check it out myself. The search isn't working and I don't have the link to the S2000 wiring harness diagram saved. I would appreciate it if anyone could send me the link.

 

Nevermind, did a manual search lol found it. https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=377568