View Full Version : Bad FM Reception
Hey,
Just installed an Alpine (MP3) CDA 7893A headunit a few months ago. I'm not sure :confused:, but I think that the FM reception is worse than it was with the original unit.
Does the antenna need any feed beside the anternna cable? does it need power? If so, where should I it get power from?
Is there anything else I can do to improve FM reception?
BTW, other than the FM reception the headunit ROCKS! It has GREAT sound, features, looks, and overall performance. I LOVE IT! Highly recommanded! :D
Thanks,
Ranix
The problem with swopping out the HU's for another normally affects MW reception but this device might be of help to you anyway:
http://www.incarexpress.co.uk/tech/reception.php3
turkey_baggins
02-07-2003, 14:01
what car do u have Ranix?
Forgot to say I've got a (Red Hot) Seat Leon 1.8 (no T :( ) 2002.
Tony2Quick4u
02-07-2003, 16:09
im glad someone mentioned this as i have meant to post something about this ages ago.
so grateful for Ranix for doing this.
since i have replaced the head unit the FM quality is abismal in my Seat Ibiza. to compare the situation,my head unit (which is the slightly older Kenwood model) in my last car (ford escort..say no more) was excellent. Obviously not the head unit but the aerial etc. As now i have the newer Kenwood head unit (uprated head unit in my Seat) and the reception is so weak, therefore it must be the aerial as the head units are almost identical, one being the slightly newer version and i still live in the same area, parts of my area where the signal use to be strong in the escort are now really poor in my Seat so it must be the bee sting aerial!!
looked at that website. How does it fit exactly? im confused?
Cheers
Tony
Icecavern
02-07-2003, 16:43
VAG fit areils with boosters in them ( or they need a booster, can't remember which. ) The apapter fits in between your HU and the ariel lead and boosts the signal...
Pete
Thankyou..
I was seriously considering a new aerial but this has saved me a fair bit of money. I have had very poor FM reception of stations you would expect to be good ( Radio 1). It'll be nice to be able to use the radio again properly.
Icecavern
03-07-2003, 08:12
I hardly ever listen to the radio TBH but I thought I'd get one and see what happened. The radio now works :D
Pete
Cheers for that! I was going to blame Halfords aerial adaptor for this.
The one thing that annoys me with the lack of radio signal is that my clock is run using RDS, so the clock hardly ever works.
Is there anything smaller out there that I could use, it's really difficult getting the head unit back in as it is with all the wiring that's there.
Deffo have the same problem....
Know it a bit cheesy & not the best place to post this but is anyone going to the Revo karting thingy on the 19th who could pick one of these up as well as the leon facia adapter (part# FP-18-00) for me?
Most/all online ICE shops don't ship outside the UK.:(
Well the adapter thingy arrived today I fitted it and all of a sudden I can tune to 9 different stations. I can barely believe the improvement.
Mine too, along with my new speakers
/me rushes home to fit and listen to radio5 :p
Icecavern
05-07-2003, 13:19
Paulo have you tried www.nexia.co.uk?
They may well ship it abroad for you... If not mail me and I'll sort you out ;)
Pete
I have just purchased a PC5-52 ariel adaptor from my local Halfords for £12.99 to try and solve the crappy reception problem!
See attached Doc file for info
I will post if it is sucessful later :) :D
:cheers:
Marc
Originally posted by ICE MAN
Paulo have you tried www.nexia.co.uk?
They may well ship it abroad for you... If not mail me and I'll sort you out ;)
Pete
Thanks Pete! They do ship overseas.
I fitted the one from Halfords and I still have reasonably poor reception...even the local one is still fuzzy.
These things never work for me...I'm beginning to lose faith with it altogether now. :mad:
Originally posted by toXXin
I fitted the one from Halfords and I still have reasonably poor reception...even the local one is still fuzzy.
These things never work for me...I'm beginning to lose faith with it altogether now. :mad:
You must have am dodgy one or just bad luck m8,
Make sure you got the PC5-52 adaptor.
The PC5-52 I bought is spot on.
I can pick up every staion going (in my area anyway ;) ) and the MW and LW actually work now !!!! (Hello radio 5 :) )
I would recommend one
:cheers:
Marc
I'm very sure it's a PC5-52...if it isn't I'll get my mate to sort out a replacement.
I never have any luck, so it doesn't surprise me to be honest :(
Icecavern
16-07-2003, 08:38
It fixed the problem I was having. Tom you did connect the blue fly lead to a remote or areil out didn't you?
Oh and anyone that want's one of these, I have one, new £10 ;)
Pete
Originally posted by ICE MAN
Oh and anyone that want's one of these, I have one, new £10 ;)
Pete
To bad your not going to the karting "thingy":(
Icecavern
16-07-2003, 12:30
Yeah sorry mate but I'm at Kew to see Jules Holland so can't make it.
Pete
Originally posted by ICE MAN
Tom you did connect the blue fly lead to a remote or areil out didn't you?
Was I supposed to? I didn't think I did!
Which one do I connect it to, the blue out of the car loom or out of the Clarion loom? I'm sure it's obvious when I take the unit out but I'm at work so I can't have a look.
Connect it to the output from the stereo. The blue aerial lead.
I'm bored, I'm going to try it now.
Thanks! :redface:
There's an improvement in signal but still no clock.
I know I live JUST in the sticks but this is getting rediculous!
my clock takes a while to update somedays.
Icecavern
17-07-2003, 07:54
Yeah the clocks usually take a while, and on a lot of makes you have to be listening to the radio for it to pick up the time. Try listening to radio 1 for a bit ( obviously with the volume turned to zero, I wouldn't put my worst enemy through that :D ) and it'll set it ;)
Pete
If I'm in town, for example about a mile or so away from BBC Northampton the clock picks up straight away. However where I live (which is about 8/9 miles away) I don't get the clock at all.
Radio 1? No chance, it's any other BBC station for me just to get the clock up!
I sort of have the same problem.
When listening to Lisbon based stations in Lisbon I have not problems with the clock. On the way home listening to the same station I lose the clock. It almost seems like the alternative frequencies (I go through 3 or 4 frequency changes on the 150km trip home) are not injecting the clock information.?
Sure enough the next day when leaving home I usually don't have the clock set.
Ah so I'm not on my own! :)
Have you just got used to it Paulo?
Originally posted by toXXin
Ah so I'm not on my own! :)
Have you just got used to it Paulo?
Well, since I have the HU as Rage, my work around was to keep lid shut and not look at the clock.:( ;)
Good point. I totally forgot about that!
I'm having this problem too with my new radio in my Ibiza 2000. But I'm from Belgium and so I need a website who ships this adaptor to Belgium and where you don't need a credit card to pay. I really can't find any site that does this. Anyone who can help me, and tell me where I can get it plz? I really hope this can solve my problem!
Thx
Icecavern
12-08-2003, 07:44
ReBirTh I have one that I am selling for £10. If you want mail me at pete@icecavern.co.uk and we can sort something out. I'll happily sort out postage to Belgium for you.
Pete