Poor radio reception

[CountP]

I need some suggestions.

I swopped the original Land Rover radio/tape for a Sony radio/CD.
The vehicle is a 99 D2.

The original LR unit picked up the local radio stations without a problem.
The Sony unit will not pick up one station, nothing but static.

I bought a adaptor harness from Supercheap that goes from the ISO plug in the dash to the Sony plug. I checked the wiring diagram and the aerial booster from the car appears to be connected to the correct terminal on the radio.

The aerial is plugged in properly.

The Sony radio was in my wife's Golf for a while. When I sold the vehicle I took it out. This was about two years back and the radio has been in the box ever since. This was back in South Africa, but that wouldn't make a difference would it?

Has anyone had this problem? Or have any suggestions.
My next option would be to buy a new radio to see if it a problem with the Sony unit itself.

[jx2mad]

Does it tune the same frequencies as in Australia or is it designed for a different band? Jim

[CraigE]

You may find it will not tune Australian frequencies.

[gavinwibrow]

I'm one of those poor suckers whose favourite radio station is AM - especially now the breakfast DJ has moved on and we have a one eyed replacement. I also live in an area where reception AM and TV/FM can be less than ideal, even though we are less than 20 km from the transmitters.
I recently bought a good quality Pioneer media system but the AM recepton was woeful. We then fitted a dedicated radio arial on the bull bar - no better,in fact worse. Next stage was an extra earth direct to the chassis - no better,still worse. If they can't make significant improvements, then its back to the D2a rear window arial and my OE radio/CD once I get my wee beastie back from a blown turbo and possibly a new engine!!!

[Basil135]

Start with the basics...

Pull the radio out again (yea, I know...)

Put it on the table, connect 12v to it (the right way around), a speaker & an aerial.

If you can get it to tune into the stations like that, you are on your way to solving the riddle.

Then, assuming it is working, throw it back in the car, (yes... I KNOW...) hook it all up again, and try again. If still no luck, try the antenna you used on the test table...

Work thru it methodicaly...

BTW - did you try a cd in it while it was hooked up in the car? This will prove the amp side & speakers, if it works...

[33chinacars]

I'd be checking frequencies if its come from South Africa. I know USA radios have different frequencies on AM. FM should be O'k

Gary

[1976_michelle]

goodness I haven't even noticed an aerial on mine.. better go check

[tonic]

Off topic but you might be interested, I just bought an Eclipse system as it has secondary units available for sat and dig radio. Each extra unit is around $200 but I hope to be able to stay current with thus system.

[p38arover]

Is the radio set up to step in 10KHz steps which is what radio station spacing was here at one time? It's been 9KHz for many years. Usually, it's a simple set-up feature to select one or the other. If it's been out of use for some years it may have defaulted to 10KHz.

However, having said that, one should still be able to pick something up.

RSA appears to use the same AM and FM broadcast bands as Australia.

[CountP]

Thanks for the replies.

Yes the CD player works, that's all I can listen to at the moment.

There is a frequency switch under the unit but that made no improvement.

I'm starting to think its the unit itself. I'm going to try another radio to confirm if this is the case.

[CountP]

Before I rip into the dash can someone tell me if the aerial cable behind the dash has a plug/connector/join somewhere behind the dash besides the one that goes into the back of the radio or is it a continuous cable all the way to the aerial?

I still haven't been able to solve my lack of radio reception. I am not even getting static. I've been thinking the aerial cable was a bit short when I swopped the head units and I may have pulled it a bit too hard and unplugged it somewhere behind the dash.

Thanks
Ryan

[Rick Fischer]

Comment :

FM is useless out of town! RN and ABC local have coverage on AM over lots of Oz if you have a decent radio and antenna.

Used to have lots of problems with the D2 OEM radio. Really peed off after a long trip across the Nullabooooooring. Perth radio shop supplied me with a great antenna which I spliced into the aerial circuit. He advised that the antenna was the one all the East West Truckies used. He also said the best "fringe" radio on the market for AM was el cheapo Pioneer.

At home a couple of months later purchased said radio. AM reception was absolutely bloody excellent. Even better after I made up and adaptor to plug into the D2 window plug and bypass it. For big trips used the Perth guy's antenna on a folding gutter grip, could then get ABC RA and Local almost anywhere. Someone later identified the antenna as a 27Meg CB into a stock base.

So if you have reception problems in the middle of nowhere can only recommend the above setup.

Cheers

RF

[KarlB]

Most car radios have a regional setting that sorts the frequency gap issue. Check that first. It is a known issue with the radios in new Defenders but very easy to fix.

Cheers
KarlB
:)