AM Radio Receiver Options for D2a?

[gavinwibrow]

I know this was discussed a couple of years ago, but it's time to see if there has been any progress.

I have a new good quality Pioneer head unit professionally fitted, but like the original LR version (now with Bradtot) and my version 1 Pioneer, all had/have crappy AM reception - I'm an old fart who likes 1080 AM in Perth, and in some/many areas can't receive the N & S coastal FM version option. Even ABC 720 AM in the bush can be problematic. Driving along the freeway next to the electric train line is an absolute joke.

Is it the radios of today or?? I never had these problems with my original equipment GMH in my EH, but then again we didn't have microwaves, mobiles etc then either.

I have replaced the original rear window arial with an on bull bar version, but reception in my area (limestone and ??) is still marginal at best.

I'm seriously thinking of adding a second AM only system if that is possible.
Comments/advice?

[flagg]

Should only be the aerial..

[LandyAndy]

Gavin
Look on Ebay,there are a range of cheap in-line signal amplifiers that may help.
My D2 has an Alpine head unit,older as it still has a cassette,no AM issues at all.
Eurovox made the best AM units in the past specificaly for Aussie cars.
Andrew

[superquag]

I'll confess to preferring the AM stations in general, and ABC/regionals in particular

A decent aerial is much better than an add-on in-line RF amplifier, which is just as good as amplifying noise as it is signal.

I feel your pain, the piece of (expensive?) rubbish in my softdash Classic is hopeless on AM. - Either too little signal-quiet- ...and noisy, or, press the "DX" (long distance) button and the front end overloads and it's loud AND distorted.
Mine has the radio aerial on one of the rear windows, with an in-line amplifier up in the roof lining, AFAIK. US models had them on both rear windows.

Never tried it in the bush, but if the Perth-Mandurah freeway run is any indication, then my 100 year old SONY AM/FM Walkman is just a good.
Or bad...

PS, as far as Perth is concerned, I wonder if the AM transmitter power has been reduced.... or moved to a less effective location.:eek:

[PhilipA]

All Japanese/Chinese/European radios are the same on AM.

That is because they have the opposite problem to Australia.

They have lots of AM stations near each other and cross talk becomes a real problem IE a harmonic of another station blowing through the signal.

It is expensive to improve selectivity so most radio manufacturers reduce sensitivity so that crosstalk is not such a problem and they can use cheaper components. Most AM radios AFAIR (from when I was ICE manager at Sanyo about 30 years ago!) are about 20Mv at 1 metre whereas some of the old AM discrete radios were 10Mv and the early Eurovox were 10Mv

Nowadays most tuners are probably the same IC so the idea of them making a high selectivity radio for Australia is just not possible.

All you can do is get the biggest antenna you can practically fit with low loss cable. Mobile one do one for FM but it also helps AM. However it is helically wound so cannot be retracted.
Regards Philip A

[superquag]

Or fit a very old car radio and poke it's signal into one of your head-unit's AUX inputs...:p

- You know, one of those dinosaurs where the inductive tuning mechanism is bigger than your whole (modern) 'entertainment unit'

[gavinwibrow]

Or fit a very old car radio and poke it's signal into one of your head-unit's AUX inputs...:p

- You know, one of those dinosaurs where the inductive tuning mechanism is bigger than your whole (modern) 'entertainment unit'
I love it when you talk dirty - now to find out what it all means!!

[Rick Fischer]

Hi

If you are still looking this is what you need to install. Interstate truckies use them almost exclusively. ...................or so I was told. Mine works a treat.

AudioXtra - Axis, Blaupunkt, Dynamat, Uniden, Vertex Wholesaler - SW2 (http://www.audioxtra.com.au/PRODUCTS/Universal-Fit-AMFM-Antennas/SW2.asp)

The lead is, if I recall the correct impedance (90ohm) for AM. Everything else out there is 70-75 ohm and set up for FM.

You can also get the short whip for around town.

[gavinwibrow]

Thanks Rick - looks good and am following up.

[flagg]

Axis antenne are made in Cessnock, NSW too ... for people who care about that sort of thing :)

[gavinwibrow]

Hi

If you are still looking this is what you need to install. Interstate truckies use them almost exclusively. ...................or so I was told. Mine works a treat.

AudioXtra - Axis, Blaupunkt, Dynamat, Uniden, Vertex Wholesaler - SW2 (http://www.audioxtra.com.au/PRODUCTS/Universal-Fit-AMFM-Antennas/SW2.asp)

The lead is, if I recall the correct impedance (90ohm) for AM. Everything else out there is 70-75 ohm and set up for FM.

You can also get the short whip for around town.
My local guy has lent me a SW2 1.5m one for the weekend. Going to Margaret River to help SIL move some timber for a couple of days, so will get a good tryout! Will feedback later.

[disco 3 door]

Gavin. Are you running a noise suppressor on your alternator. I have one on the d1 & am running Mobile one Bandscanner ariel & can listen to abc 594 which is in Horsham which is about 300 km's from my home location. Regards Shane.

[LandyAndy]

I'll confess to preferring the AM stations in general, and ABC/regionals in particular

A decent aerial is much better than an add-on in-line RF amplifier, which is just as good as amplifying noise as it is signal.

I feel your pain, the piece of (expensive?) rubbish in my softdash Classic is hopeless on AM. - Either too little signal-quiet- ...and noisy, or, press the "DX" (long distance) button and the front end overloads and it's loud AND distorted.
Mine has the radio aerial on one of the rear windows, with an in-line amplifier up in the roof lining, AFAIK. US models had them on both rear windows.

Never tried it in the bush, but if the Perth-Mandurah freeway run is any indication, then my 100 year old SONY AM/FM Walkman is just a good.
Or bad...

PS, as far as Perth is concerned, I wonder if the AM transmitter power has been reduced.... or moved to a less effective location.:eek:

Sorry to dissapoint you,Perth and other ABC stations are fine.
I get 720 down here in my D2,rodeo work ute,and in most of the machines we have no problems at all.I get 558(ABC Great Southern from the Wagin transmitter) easy in Perth and north of Perth plus clearly in Albany and out to Esperance.
Its the am reciever/antenna setup.Most are only now made to get good FM reception.I have an Alpine unit in the grader,its pretty poor at AM and very poor at FM reception.It has a short rubber antenna wich I have found to be very ordinary in the past.
Andrew

[LandyAndy]

Gavin. Are you running a noise suppressor on your alternator. I have one on the d1 & am running Mobile one Bandscanner ariel & can listen to abc 594 which is in Horsham which is about 300 km's from my home location. Regards Shane.

Shouldnt need any noise suppression on a D2.The ECUs wouldnt cope with a noisy alternator I would have thought.
Andrew

[superquag]

Axis antenne are made in Cessnock, NSW too ... for people who care about that sort of thing :)

Yep, as long as the quality really is there...

Pity the website is so difficult to get any info from... prices ? availability? factory-direct sales?

[PhilipA]

As I posted before , Mobile 1 make a range of AM/FM antennas.

Mobile One AM/FM Antennas (http://www.mobileone.com.au/antennas/4b_amfm.html)

I had one on my RRC for about 10 years and it was excellent quality.
Regards Philip A

[NWTASD2]

Great Info..

Cheers