Lousy FM Reception?

[simple_in_seattle]

Has anyone else had problems with poor FM reception? I almost always receive static where I never used to in my previous cars. I wonder if the head unit (non-jbl) or antenna is defective.

I haven't hit 3k miles yet but I'll have it looked into when I get the car serviced. Thanks for any helpful replies in advance.

[GreenMachine]

Originally posted by simple_in_seattle@Dec 10 2005, 10:06 PM
Has anyone else had problems with poor FM reception?  I almost always receive static where I never used to in my previous cars.  I wonder if the head unit (non-jbl) or antenna is defective.

I haven't hit 3k miles yet but I'll have it looked into when I get the car serviced.  Thanks for any helpful replies in advance.

[snapback]171531[/snapback]

Is the antenna screwed in tightly?

[DaveinOlyWA]

i have not noticed anything amiss with mine although i must admit i have not played the radio one time since getting my AIC

[phileFriendly]

Originally posted by simple_in_seattle@Dec 10 2005, 11:06 PM
Has anyone else had problems with poor FM reception?  I almost always receive static where I never used to in my previous cars.  I wonder if the head unit (non-jbl) or antenna is defective.

[snapback]171531[/snapback]

Yeah, I have the same problem. Sometimes it is great the whole day, other times it's really static-y. Doesn't seem location specific... also, it seems better for me on rainy days, which is the opposite of what I'd expect. I also have non-JBL, with about 5K miles on it now.

[Vincent]

Same Static Problem With My 05 TRAC Loaner - Possible Loose Antenna

Here in Flat South Florida, I've never had an FM reception or a static problem problem listening to my favorite stations until the Prius arrived. There's definitely an intermittant, low level static noise in my base non-JBL radio.

I do take the antenna off for my local car wash (they wrecked my MDX antenna), so thanks to Green Machine's suggestion, I was able to give the antenna a few extra short turns. I'm headed out to the in-laws later today; I'll report back on the possible antenna fix later.

[hdrygas]

I had some static today in the fog. Is that reasonable?

[Vincent]

Not a Loose Antenna

Well, I tightened the antenna and made the round trip to the in-laws this afternoon with the same low level intermittant static I heard before. I hope it's just a problem with the base radio in my TRAC car, because I'm going to be upset if I hear static in the 06 Premium JBL system.

[simple_in_seattle]

Originally posted by Vincent@Dec 11 2005, 10:04 PM
Not a Loose Antenna

Well, I tightened the antenna and made the round trip to the in-laws this afternoon with the same low level intermittant static I heard before.  I hope it's just a problem with the base radio in my TRAC car, because I'm going to be upset if I hear static in the 06 Premium JBL system.

[snapback]171977[/snapback]

Ugh. Sounds like a few people have this problem. I'm hoping somebody reads this who has any knowledge of service bulletins or repairs for poor FM reception.

[duffetta]

Originally posted by simple_in_seattle@Dec 10 2005, 10:06 PM
Has anyone else had problems with poor FM reception?  I almost always receive static where I never used to in my previous cars.  I wonder if the head unit (non-jbl) or antenna is defective.

I haven't hit 3k miles yet but I'll have it looked into when I get the car serviced.  Thanks for any helpful replies in advance.

[snapback]171531[/snapback]

YES! The radio reception on my '04 is really bad! Stations that I used to pick up in the old car ('95 Geo Prizm) and still pick up in my other car ('00 Honda Odyssey) sound horrible in the '04 Prius. Same route to work, same radio stations, horrible reception in the Prius and acceptable to great reception in the Odyssey. My iTrip for the iPod is unusable in the Prius.

I don't have an explanation. I have seen antennae booster products on the market in the past, and just today was thinking that I would look around to see if they were still available.

Thanks,

Mark

[hdrygas]

Originally posted by hdrygas@Dec 11 2005, 06:49 PM
I had some static today in the fog.  Is that reasonable?

[snapback]171973[/snapback]

I did not mean to imply that my reception is bad all the time but was bad for a brief period while driving in the Fog. My radio is tuned to 88.5. I don't know if it was the fog, the station or sun spots.