The Original i30 Owners Club

GOT PROBLEMS OR ISSUES? => GENERAL => Topic started by: Sydney Lady on May 23, 2016, 19:34:56

Title: AM radio stations reception is not clear. FM is fine though
Post by: Sydney Lady on May 23, 2016, 19:34:56
Has anyone had any problems with their AM reception?  FM reception is nice and clear.
Title: Re: AM radio stations reception is not clear. FM is fine though
Post by: Dazzler on May 24, 2016, 00:04:39
Has anyone had any problems with their AM reception?  FM reception is nice and clear.

Yes, quite a bit on here about poor AM reception. Sometimes it is partly blamed on poor aerial connection at back of head unit causing crackling and other interference.

Bottom line is many cars built outside Australia give AM reception a very low priority as distances in their home country are small. No easy solution I'm afraid.
Title: Re: AM radio stations reception is not clear. FM is fine though
Post by: Sydney Lady on May 24, 2016, 04:28:22
Thanks for the info Dazzler, Is it worth mentioning at my next service do you think? Or would it just be a waste of time?

How do I search for previous posts on this issue? Haven't used the site for some time and the format is all changed.
Title: Re: AM radio stations reception is not clear. FM is fine though
Post by: WayneD on May 24, 2016, 05:37:36
I listen to AM and it is mostly clear. I get the same static spots that I get every time I drive to work. Going under one overpass it statics out and turning into the street that my work is on there is static on that corner for some reason. Otherwise my ABC is clear and informative.

Definitely worth a mention in my opinion.

My aerial cops a bashing as well from my kayak being on top so it is always pushed down but it still works fine. In some places the ABC broadcasts in FM where I can listen to it static free. That's a bonus.
Title: Re: AM radio stations reception is not clear. FM is fine though
Post by: Sydney Lady on May 24, 2016, 05:43:05
Thanks Wayne, I will take it up with Hyundai. I like 2CH  (showing my age) and unfortunately it is just not clear enough to enjoy.
Title: Re: AM radio stations reception is not clear. FM is fine though
Post by: rustynutz on May 24, 2016, 06:27:29
:link: 5 Ways to Improve Your Car Radio Reception (http://cartech.about.com/od/Car-Radio/tp/5-Ways-to-Improve-Your-Car-Radio-Reception.htm)
Title: Re: AM radio stations reception is not clear. FM is fine though
Post by: Surferdude on May 24, 2016, 06:45:30
Thanks Wayne, I will take it up with Hyundai. I like 2CH  (showing my age) and unfortunately it is just not clear enough to enjoy.
I talked to Hyundai about it some years ago. No joy.
I think Dazz has hit the nail on the head, most countries prefer FM anyway so the AM is just an afterthought.
Something you can try. If you park your car somewhere and turn the engine off, does the signal become clearer after a few seconds or so?
Mine does, which suggests interference from the engine somewhere. I was going to talk to an autolec about it but we have  a great community station up here which plays good 2CH type stuff. Nothing wrong with 2CH BTW. My wife still listens to it on the web if she's on the computer for any length of time.
Incidentally, I can pick up 2CH at 4 or 5 am from the beach where I go to surf on the Sunshine Coast. But only if I turn the engine off.  :mrgreen:
I'll be interested to hear what your Hy dealer has to say. Also whether or not turning the engine off makes any difference.
Title: Re: AM radio stations reception is not clear. FM is fine though
Post by: Dazzler on May 24, 2016, 07:54:10
As the others say, no harm in asking.

some old ones..

:link: Distorted AM on radio, but only in hot weather? (https://i30ownersclub.com/forum/index.php?topic=417.msg3222#msg3222)

:link: Noisy AM on Radio (https://i30ownersclub.com/forum/index.php?topic=402.msg3074#msg3074)

Some more recent ones..

:link: AM radio (https://i30ownersclub.com/forum/index.php?topic=36565.msg373196#msg373196)

:link: AM radio problems. (https://i30ownersclub.com/forum/index.php?topic=34241.msg354647#msg354647)

:link: Strange AM radio problem (https://i30ownersclub.com/forum/index.php?topic=12097.msg133030#msg133030)

:link: AM radio reception (https://i30ownersclub.com/forum/index.php?topic=32187.msg336182#msg336182)

There are more!
Title: Re: AM radio stations reception is not clear. FM is fine though
Post by: pidim on May 24, 2016, 10:50:49
I don't have poor reception but I would call it poor AM sound (relatively speaking).  I find AM very muffled and too boomy compared to every other car I have owned.  I wish there was a way to set a separate EQ for AM vs FM/Media/CD (there isn't right?).
Title: Re: AM radio stations reception is not clear. FM is fine though
Post by: Phil №❶ on May 24, 2016, 10:59:22
Unfortunately, that is the property of AM signals. Less frequency response and more electrical interference. I would have thought that you could reach an acceptable compromise using the equalizer function though.
Title: Re: AM radio stations reception is not clear. FM is fine though
Post by: cruiserfied on May 24, 2016, 11:11:18
Generally i have found poor AM reception to be caused by poor earth contact at antenne base.
Title: Re: AM radio stations reception is not clear. FM is fine though
Post by: Surferdude on May 24, 2016, 11:21:38
Generally i have found poor AM reception to be caused by poor earth contact at antenne base.
So, unscrew the antenna from the roof to check?
Or have you got to get up through the roof lining?
Title: Re: AM radio stations reception is not clear. FM is fine though
Post by: cruiserfied on May 24, 2016, 11:28:26
Have to lower the roof lining. There is a 19mm nut that secures the base to the roof. The nut has a serrated edge that is supposed to "bite" into the roof panel to earth the antenna.
Title: Re: AM radio stations reception is not clear. FM is fine though
Post by: Surferdude on May 24, 2016, 12:56:57
Have to lower the roof lining. There is a 19mm nut that secures the base to the roof. The nut has a serrated edge that is supposed to "bite" into the roof panel to earth the antenna.
Thanks Tim.
I'm not too keen on that. Might just put up with it.
Title: Re: AM radio stations reception is not clear. FM is fine though
Post by: Sydney Lady on May 24, 2016, 13:41:37

I'll be interested to hear what your Hy dealer has to say. Also whether or not turning the engine off makes any difference.
I turned it on to accessories only and then tried the radio but it made no difference.  :'(
Title: Re: AM radio stations reception is not clear. FM is fine though
Post by: Sydney Lady on May 24, 2016, 13:43:45
I don't have poor reception but I would call it poor AM sound (relatively speaking).  I find AM very muffled and too boomy compared to every other car I have owned.  I wish there was a way to set a separate EQ for AM vs FM/Media/CD (there isn't right?).
Hi Pidim, Thanks,  that is a better description of my problem.
Title: Re: AM radio stations reception is not clear. FM is fine though
Post by: Lester on May 26, 2016, 07:50:15
Thanks Wayne, I will take it up with Hyundai. I like 2CH  (showing my age) and unfortunately it is just not clear enough to enjoy.

Used to love 1170 - 2CH when I lived in Sydney, cannot receive it down here on South Coast. But always tune into it when in the 'big smoke.'  Is Bob Rogers still on 2CH? He has had more comebacks then Johnny Farnham. :whistler:   But  ye olde AM is rarely as clear and crisp as FM.
Title: Re: AM radio stations reception is not clear. FM is fine though
Post by: Phil №❶ on May 26, 2016, 08:09:30
AM is not meant to be, that's why we use FM.
Title: Re: AM radio stations reception is not clear. FM is fine though
Post by: Surferdude on May 26, 2016, 08:28:28
Thanks Wayne, I will take it up with Hyundai. I like 2CH  (showing my age) and unfortunately it is just not clear enough to enjoy.

Used to love 1170 - 2CH when I lived in Sydney, cannot receive it down here on South Coast. But always tune into it when in the 'big smoke.'  Is Bob Rogers still on 2CH? He has had more comebacks then Johnny Farnham. :whistler:   But  ye olde AM is rarely as clear and crisp as FM.
Bob Rogers is still going strong.
Did you know when the Beatles came to Australia,  the Aussie pres got together and picked one guy to fly to England and come back with them and tour the country with the group. That was Bob Rogers.
Title: Re: AM radio stations reception is not clear. FM is fine though
Post by: Doggie 1 on May 26, 2016, 09:50:03
Did you know that we used to have a "Did you know?" section on this forum?
Title: Re: AM radio stations reception is not clear. FM is fine though
Post by: Dazzler on May 26, 2016, 10:41:35
Did you know that we used to have a "Did you know?" section on this forum?

Did we? I didn't know that!  :undecided:

Or I've forgotten!  :confused:
Title: Re: AM radio stations reception is not clear. FM is fine though
Post by: Surferdude on May 26, 2016, 10:44:24
Did you know that we used to have a "Did you know?" section on this forum?

Did we? I didn't know that!  :undecided:

Or I've forgotten!  :confused:
Did you know Dave has been known to fib?
Title: Re: AM radio stations reception is not clear. FM is fine though
Post by: Doggie 1 on May 26, 2016, 10:48:42
Did you know that we used to have a "Did you know?" section on this forum?

Did we? I didn't know that!  :undecided:

Or I've forgotten!  :confused:
Did you know Dave has been known to fib?

I wouldn't fib.
I used to work for the government.  :)
Title: Re: AM radio stations reception is not clear. FM is fine though
Post by: eye30 on May 26, 2016, 17:27:40
Did you know that we used to have a "Did you know?" section on this forum?

Did we? I didn't know that!  :undecided:

Or I've forgotten!  :confused:
Did you know Dave has been known to fib?

I wouldn't fib.
I used to work for the government.  :)
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