FM radio quality

[mark goldin]

Driving through the city I am noticing that my radio sometimes loses reception, not much, just a bit. I have never experienced anything like this even driving old cars. Anything can be done?

Thanks

 

[CKeeler]

Not really. Newer cars have more difficulties bringing in radio stations because of how the antennas are designed into the car. Local stations actually come in clearer than older cars, but farther stations don’t come in as well. Especially if you are near a lot of tall structures or hills

 

[fastestneon]

Yep, FM and AM are on the way out. Older cars you a big mast antenna like said in the post above me. So many better sources out there then listening to FM. If you really love your station you listen too, almost all station offer an app for your phone to receive the broadcast that way.

 

[mark goldin]

offer an app for your phone to receive the broadcast that way

It will take an unlimited plan

 

[fastestneon]

It will take an unlimited plan

? pretty much all major carriers only offer unlimited plans now.....

 

[mark goldin]

They do, but not only.

 

[Dodger Blue]

I think part of it has to do with the car gaining or losing connection to HD radio due to slight interruptions in signal strength. I've noticed this along with an unusual stutter or heterodyne sound. It sounds like the radio also filters out static, it's very "all or nothing." I've never had an HD receiver in a car so it's not what I'm used to hearing. My old Altima had a conformal antenna built into the rear window and the radio was very clear relative to the shark fin antenna we have.

Mostly I've just been listening to Sirius and Spotify, but I tune in to AM for sports and FM for NPR. NPR stations are almost always at the bottom of the frequency range where you're more likely to get interference already, so I lose the signal constantly.

 

[namja]

...
NPR stations are almost always at the bottom of the frequency range where you're more likely to get interference already, so I lose the signal constantly.

That's weird because I remember driving from South bay to Beverly Hills (via 405) and I had perfect reception in my 2015 Corolla, and it doesn't even have a shark fin!

 

[CKeeler]

The fin on the Stinger is only for satellite radio. The antenna for AM/FM is hidden at the top of the rear window

 

[Dodger Blue]

That's weird because I remember driving from South bay to Beverly Hills (via 405) and I had perfect reception in my 2015 Corolla, and it doesn't even have a shark fin!

You're not going to get much interference there, whether on 89.3 or 89.9 which both have good overlap and LOS to the transmission towers overlooking Hollywood. I just made the same drive this past weekend.

 

[Capecod]

I listen to Sirius radio mostly and find the reception is not as good as it is in my pickup, I seems to lose my satellite connection more often than I do in my truck on the same ride to and from work.

 

[mark goldin]

I feel the same. Sometimes reception is weakening for a moment.

 

[Chark]

I listen to Sirius radio mostly and find the reception is not as good as it is in my pickup, I seems to lose my satellite connection more often than I do in my truck on the same ride to and from work.

That extra foot or two of height in your truck makes it that much closer to the satellite, hence the better reception!

If you lose HD radio frequently and don't like the stutter, you can turn the HD audio off and it will keep the station tuned better. The downside is the audio quality suffers considerably while doing so.