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Does anyone lese have crummy FM radio reception...

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by bullet875, May 6, 2013.

  1. bullet875

    bullet875 Junior Member

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    Is anyone else having crummy FM radio reception with the factory-installed antenna? Would a shark fin help that?
     
  2. mnsweeps

    mnsweeps Member

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    Yeah I have crummy reception with factory antenna...though I live in a big city (LA) and commute within city. I have read some folks have reception improved with shark fin antenna but its a little expensive for me.
     
  3. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    Can't speak for the 2013 you have, but on the 2010 (all models) it is the head unit, not the antenna. I use factory antenna with Kenwood and the reception is day and night better.
     
  4. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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  5. Mrpcar

    Mrpcar Active Member

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    That's funny, with the 5 cars we own the Prius gets the best reception.
     
  6. spoolinq

    spoolinq Junior Member

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    I'm in the same boat. I live in LA and the reception is ok at best. I've heard that the shark fin($80) antenna doesn't really improve the quality and it was just for looks. There's another shark fin version that improves the antenna and it's bigger for a nice price tag of $160?, which is still more than what I'm looking to spend.
     
  7. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    I have a 2010 G3 and the radio reception is abysmal!
    Waaaaaaaaaaaaay worse than any other vehicle in our fleet.

    FWIW...I believe that it's the head unit, which I am unwilling to replace on a company car.
    Besides....radio?
    Really?
    It's like newspapers and magazines. Who the heck bothers with that crap anymore?
    :rolleyes:
    It would be an issue for me since I cover something like 6 counties, but I have an mp3 player, and Goofy does at least have an aux-in jack.
    I can stream the few remaining relevant programs, or use my drive time to listen to a book.

    IIRC, Groucho Marx once famously said that he found TV to be very educational.
    Whenever somebody turned on a TV?
    He'd go to another room and pull out a book. :)

    Get me...
    That's twice I've positively referenced Marx in this forum... :D
     
  8. tach18k

    tach18k Member

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    Well the Prius, does have two antennas, one is on the roof and the other is on the rear passenger port window.
     
  9. mmmodem

    mmmodem Senior Taste Tester

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    No way! Radio is not like newspapers or magazines. The difference being that the alternative is not free. No way I am paying for satellite radio even if there were no commercials. HD radio gives me the same sound quality anyway. iPods and smart phones don't help me because I want current live news.

    I don't have any issues with reception AM or FM on my 2012. It's as good as any other car I've owned.