Car Radio Reception is crap in new radio

[Antynwa]

Right I've been given a second hand radio, the sound quality is perfect with the iPod connected and CD etc. However the radio reception is shocking, I mean really bad, it's connected up okay, but it goes from the ridiculous to the sublime within 30 seconds.

 

Any ideas what I need to get, or indeed do?

 

PS. The radio was fine before I was given it, and I've never had problems with the radio reception in the car with my previous radio.

[Guest Numero Veinticinco]

You young kids don't know how how easy you've got it, my car radio doesn't even have a reception.

[Caramac]

I think if you replace a factory fitted headunit with a 3rd party one you have to fit an ariel adapter with a 12v feed which sends power to the antenna amplifiers. (A factory headunit does this as standard).......l believe Halfords sell them for around a tenner.

 

Maybe this is your problem....

[Mendoza]

Have you tried putting the aerial up?

[Uncle_Meat]

New cars have preamps on the antenna? WTF!

 

Seems quite pointless, it's only a short run of coax even from a rear mounted antenna to the front of the car, so fuck all loss there unless they're plastic straws with wet string down the middle for coax.

 

An antenna preamp will only really be effective in a situation where there is loads of line loss, giving the same net signal at the end of the coax as there is at the antenna feedpoint.

 

 

Check the antenna connection again. When I fitted a new Sony head unit into our Vauxhall Zafira I had to use an antenna adaptor so the antenna plug would fit into the back of the head unit. The plug was on of those weird wide flat ones that fell off if you was not dead careful pushing the head unit back into the dash.

[piscinin]

Alas your car is acting as a faraday shield. Nothing for it but to junk the car and get a new one. Sorry.

[Antynwa]

Thanks for the suggestions guys, it all fits flush, but I agree, maybe I need a new aerial adaptor. i'll keep you posted.