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question about US radio frequencies

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by gania13, Aug 11, 2011.

  1. gania13

    gania13 New Member

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    hi guys,
    i live in israel, and we have european frequencies, with even numbers.
    for e.g. 107.00Mhz.
    i heard that US radios can't play even numbers, so it can only reach it colesly, like 106.90 and 107.10.
    i want to buy an original prius radio from ebay, and probably it will be from the united states,
    so my question is, will i have problems listening to radio?
     
  2. Politburo

    Politburo Active Member

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    If you get a US radio, yes, you will have problems.
     
  3. gania13

    gania13 New Member

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    is there a way to fix it somehow?
     
  4. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    That's weird. My UK radio goes up in segments; 97.00, 97.05, 97.10, 97.15 etc.

    I've heard some Japanese fm radio's done have the full 87mhz - 108mhz coverage in that they miss some entire sections of the frequency.

    I never knew something as simple as fm radio could be so complicated around the world.
     
  5. Politburo

    Politburo Active Member

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    The only way to fix it would be to use a EU OEM radio or an aftermarket unit that supports EU frequencies.
     
  6. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

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    In the US stereo FM stations are at:
    88.1, 88.3, 88.5, 88.7, 88.9, ... 107.9

    JeffD
     
  7. sipnfuel

    sipnfuel New Member

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    What was the original reason for the odd/even frequencies?
     
  8. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

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    The JDM FM band is 76-90 MHz. I have a couple of portable radios that cover 76-108 MHz to cover all options.

    @ the OP
    I have seen portable radios with a hidden switch for North America/Europe center frequencies and with secret keyboard combinations to switch them but not car radios.
     
  9. Politburo

    Politburo Active Member

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    I once had an aftermarket unit with a switch in the back. They probably don't make them like that anymore, but I do not know for sure.

    I don't think there is a real reason behind it. It's just how things developed.
     
  10. gania13

    gania13 New Member

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    too bad...
    ok guys thanks for the help everyone
     
  11. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

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    Monaural FM requires half the bandwidth and was originally allocated every 100 kHz. A Stereo broadcast needs extra bandwidth so every other 100kHz is skipped.

    JeffD
    Inventor of the Phase-Locked-Loop based FM Stereo Demodulator in your radios
     
    4 people like this.
  12. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    Cool! Thank you for that bit of clever engineering.

    Tom
     
  13. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

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    Jeffery, very nice resume, and yes thanks for the decoder. I have enjoyed the efforts of your work for years. I remember when Stereo FM was new to me in '71...... My first Chief Engineer job at a small college FM station. Fun days those!!!