Radio static

To look at this problem logically, verify you have a FM antenna on the roof, sounds stupid, I know, you would be surprised! Is it a whip? Is it fully screwed in? If it's a Sharkfin, is it a good one, is it properly connected to the antenna terminal? Next you have the Antenna Pre-amplifier. Does it work? How do you know? Unless you have access to a Spectrum Analyzer you can't really check that one, it's a replace it thing, did problem resolve itself, then amp was bad! Next, is antenna coax feedline. is it fully plugged properly and firmly into the back of the radio? You can check this by tearing into the dash and check the connector yourself. Has the FM always exhibited bad reception? Or did this come on suddenly? Next, Toyota, unfortunately has a bad reputation in the purchase of the FM radios they stuffed in the Gen III series. There are a number of good threads about this problem, search, you will find the threads! That your HU could be bad is not an impossibility!
Does the reception get worse or better when going from acc power, in a Gen II that is radio running off of the 12 battery, most other electronics not activated yet. Does it get noisier when you fully power up the car? Do you you have a portable radio? When listening to a noisey station in the car, is it also bad on the portable radio also?
Is this specific to a particular radio station? Or are all stations noisey?
Sounds like you need to take some time to answer some of the above mentioned questions. Sounds like you need to take the care in to Toyota and have the Service Dept check it out! If they can not duplicate the conditions you say you are having, they are not going to fix it! You will need to prove you have a FM problem, that's why all the questions. before you walk in the door, try to have some intelligent answers ready before they ask questions!
Good Luck, let us know what your outcome is!

 

maybe there's a ham radio operator in the area

 

Actually an Excellent idea!
Most work for a six pack or two, they are usually radio knowledgeable, and the ones I know love to party!

 

lol, funny.....what I meant was maybe a ham radio operator is causing the static, of course maybe you knew that and are pulling my leg

 

No, the chances that his radio is being overloaded by a Amateur radio, is pretty slim. There is just not enough RF power to cause the symptoms! If you drove out to the local television station, there would be much more RF, even then on a properly designed radio, there should be no problem.
It is funny however!

 

yeah, besides you'd hear static more on AM rather than FM

 

Yes. I suspect this has to do with the HD radio electronics. Both my 97 accord and 03 Prius exhibit much less variation in the quality of the radio signal while driving. On the PiP, anything other than HD radio is barely usable.

 

Seems like PriusKitty is getting a lot of static around here! I have noticed that static issue in mine also. I have it on my list for the dealer to look at, after I look at all the K.I.S.S. stuff first (as kk6pd pointed out).

 

why is that? I don't listen to AM or FM, I listen to XM or PANDORA, no static there

 

One word, Ipod!

 

another word: Icash, which I don't have

 

You are more likely to be impacted by those things people use to broadcast their cd player/ipod via FM to their radio than a ham operator. Very different frequencies...so unless the ham radio is broken that isn't going to be a problem. That said, I've noticed I hear a glitch in my radio periodically. It could be a resonant frequency of the engine/breaks or something. I haven't paid too much attention to what I hear since it only seems to happen once or twice in a 60 mile drive.

 

As another data point, my base PiP has much less static than my Honda Element. There is a low point on my commute where I pretty much have change stations in the Element for about 5 min, in the PiP just gets a little bit of static but is fine.

As a ham would say the element is 2 by 3 and the PiP is 4 by 4.

 

I thought the FM radio antenna was in the glass on the side in the back, not on the roof…

 

You are right am and fm from glass in right side rear window XM on shark fin atop the roof of PIP

LG-MS910 ? 2