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| Thread ID: 113629 | 2010-10-28 20:54:00 | Car radio problem | Bryan (147) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 1148464 | 2010-10-28 20:54:00 | Just got a Jap import. The FM band restricted to the Japanese frequency so an expander has been introduced. I find that reception of local FM stations is not very good. A number have others over-riding the set station especially between buildings or behnd small hills - very frustrating. Can I do anything to improve the reception? ie can I get a signal booster or the like? The antenna is a small stubbie. I tried replacing it with one about twice as long but that seems to make the matter worse. Any ideas please? |
Bryan (147) | ||
| 1148465 | 2010-10-28 21:15:00 | I would be checking there is no continuity across the plug and that the outer bit of the plug is earthed out ok. Otherwise I would be looking at another band expander |
prefect (6291) | ||
| 1148466 | 2010-10-28 22:25:00 | Or simply pop in a new stereo which is what I did. | Snorkbox (15764) | ||
| 1148467 | 2010-10-29 00:33:00 | Just got a Jap import. The FM band restricted to the Japanese frequency so an expander has been introduced. I find that reception of local FM stations is not very good. A number have others over-riding the set station especially between buildings or behnd small hills - very frustrating. Can I do anything to improve the reception? ie can I get a signal booster or the like? The antenna is a small stubbie. I tried replacing it with one about twice as long but that seems to make the matter worse. Any ideas please? I sympathise with you Bryan. I just purchased a Jap Import myself that came with a Band Expander. 1: The radio was as good as useless. 2: The dial was out 14MHz 3: Even with the Band Expander the radio could only reach 104MHz not 108MHz as it was supposed to. As my little Walkman/MP3 player and transmitter operate on 106.7 or 107.1 or 107.5 or 107.9MHz this meant that was stuffed too. Anyway, after a talk with an expert I discovered that Band Expanders are virtually useless and behave exactly as you have found. The only answer was to ditch the Jap Radio and fit a NZ model. For $300, fitted, I got a nice little AM/FM radio that uses the NZ radio spectrum complete with a CD player that will play MP3’s. I’m afraid as far as I can see that was the only real way to solve the issue. :crying |
B.M. (505) | ||
| 1148468 | 2010-10-29 01:07:00 | Thanks folks, I have too decided on a NZ friendly radio as a replacement. | Bryan (147) | ||
| 1148469 | 2010-10-29 01:41:00 | Not true, in the past I have had a hand in designing a band expander as well as later on some experience in mass production of another simpler unit than the one I worked on, in both cases they worked very well and did not have any appreciable insertion loss, you are being B.S.ed so that they can sell you the more expensive complete unit. |
zqwerty (97) | ||
| 1148470 | 2010-10-29 01:43:00 | My Grandad got a newish corolla with a Jappa radio recently, the dealer put in a 14MHz expander and it works perfectly for him around Auckland. | wratterus (105) | ||
| 1148471 | 2010-10-29 01:56:00 | I bought a Jap import Lancer for my wife last year from the Nelson dealer - he gave me a docket to take to a nearby car-radio shop where the radio was modified at the dealer's expence while I had a coffee. Results are perfect. | Scouse (83) | ||
| 1148472 | 2010-10-29 02:17:00 | Not true, in the past I have had a hand in designing a band expander as well as later on some experience in mass production of another simpler unit than the one I worked on, in both cases they worked very well and did not have any appreciable insertion loss, you are being B.S.ed so that they can sell you the more expensive complete unit. Well if I didn’t have stations coming in over the top of each other, and if the Band Expander went to 108MHz like it was supposed to, then I wouldn’t have had to consult the Radio Shop in the first place. Given the guy was straight up and down about the whole matter and just explained that what I had was as good as it got with a Band Expander it was me that wanted a radio that worked properly, not some jerried up hybrid that only worked sometimes. :rolleyes: |
B.M. (505) | ||
| 1148473 | 2010-10-29 02:31:00 | IIRC there are two versions to cope with two different FM channel spacings or band limits, can't recall the specific issue but some expanders are switchable . They should work OK, but in a very crowded band (here in Auckland it is very hard to find a clear spot for an MP3 transmitter) you might find that where the radio's native bandwidth coincides with loads of local stations, band-shifted signals may be a problem . In which case a replacement radio might be the only viable option . Cheers Billy 8-{) |
Billy T (70) | ||
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