AM Radio Static
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 9,595
Likes: 959
From: Palm Harbor not far from Sebring Florida
St. Jude Donor '11
Oldtimer
I cannot answer that because I have owned my 2001 for almost 5 years and never turned the AM on. I actually forgot it was available. You may want to check to see if the connection for the antenna is good at the radio and the antenna.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 719
Likes: 2
From: Columbia South Carolina
It's usually caused by the ignition...............
Not to give my age up, 50th ish. But back in the day, the noise was greatest on the weaker stations. It is caused by a couple of reasons>
One being frequency that the AM band lies on, the weaker stations usually had static.
In the auto it was generally caused by the ignition system, more so with the solid wire plug wires............And the ignition points, they would create a noise on some of the same frequencies as the am channels. STATIC.
The fix.............might still be able to get these at radio shack, AM noise suppressor. I believe that these went in the antenna line and worked by cutting out the high frequency static, thus giving you a cleaner signal.
Not to give my age up, 50th ish. But back in the day, the noise was greatest on the weaker stations. It is caused by a couple of reasons>
One being frequency that the AM band lies on, the weaker stations usually had static.
In the auto it was generally caused by the ignition system, more so with the solid wire plug wires............And the ignition points, they would create a noise on some of the same frequencies as the am channels. STATIC.
The fix.............might still be able to get these at radio shack, AM noise suppressor. I believe that these went in the antenna line and worked by cutting out the high frequency static, thus giving you a cleaner signal.
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Pro
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 719
Likes: 2
From: Columbia South Carolina
Pro
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 719
Likes: 2
From: Columbia South Carolina
Actually there was even a Hi-Fi version of AM radios that came out to attempt to get some of the music channels back from FM after most of the AM stations went talk..................The benefit of AM is the low frequency of the band in regards to FM. On a clear night you can get stations on the east coast from the west coast and in between. Something that can't be done on FM..........Years ago on a good night in New York, I have listened to Wolfman Jack broadcasting from the west coast.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
Am stactic is inherent.
Don't hold me on this one, It's been years for me now, but the AM band or Frequency operates in a very narrow band. It's very easily distorted by different building and electricity generation or transmission items, ie: transmission or transformers on the street poles. However, the AM signal can go further into the atmosphere, especially late at night when all or most interferance sources are turned off. Many times here in Philadelphia, at night it is easy to pick up a Ohio or West Viginia and Canada AM stations.
On the other hand is the FM band, which is much narrow, and is almost impossible to distort and gives you excellat sound reproduction. But it is by nature only able to be transmitted in a small radius, often under 100 miles. But it gives you very clear and quality sound.
On the other hand is the FM band, which is much narrow, and is almost impossible to distort and gives you excellat sound reproduction. But it is by nature only able to be transmitted in a small radius, often under 100 miles. But it gives you very clear and quality sound.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Tampa Bay Area, U.S.A. (Zombie Nation)
Some ignition noise is inevitable. Generally, the more you modify the ignition the worse it can be. Any problems with the ignition wires (burned out, high resistance) will make it worse The discriminator circuit in an FM receiver doesn't respond well to the vertically polarized ignition pulses but the detector in an AM receiver responds to vertically polarized noise (static) quite well.
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I'll listen to talk radio on the AM band when I'm in the car. If it is a local station, it comes in very clear and static free. Some of the weaker stations have static though.
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From: Santa Rosa Beach FL
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: EXTON PA
AM radio is a band that manufactures have forgoten about... The quality of the electronics that are used in the head units are cheap..BOSE is just a name the quality has been slipping over the years but at one time was high end..I have the same AM problem and a car stereo installer stated Kenwood has units that have very good units with good AM sections built into their units.. our cars/coupes have a front and rear antenna that needs to be balanced my a connector located by the top of the rear glass..I replaced this rear antenna connector located by the rear defoster coiled wire. it did improve the fm reception and there was a slight improve in AM but not enough to be happy about..In my area of southeastern PA AM band has all news and weather station, all sports station, and the broadcast of the local Major Baseball Team so I have a interest in AM RADIO..BUT I have not gotten to the point of a overhaul of the head unit. A in glass antenna is another reception problem, but that is the price paid for cars today...My car is a 98 coupe
Last edited by kg54trains; Feb 20, 2011 at 01:03 AM. Reason: added text