mwr Posted October 30, 2006 Share Posted October 30, 2006 My 2005 LGT which I've had for 3+ weeks gets poor FM radio reception compared to the radio in my past 1994 Volvo 850 Turbo. My favorite stations were clear and clean 90% of the time in the Volvo and now are that way 10%-50% of the time depending on which station. Does anyone else notice this? Is there a way to improve the FM reception? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zmarko Posted October 30, 2006 Share Posted October 30, 2006 I've noticed HUGE variances in FM reception in the OEM radios I've had in the 20 or so cars I've owned. I do notice that the Subaru one is fairly weak, however, not the weakest I've ever encountered. They do make fm boosters, however I've never used one so I don't know if they work properly. Might want to check out radio shack (I think that's the last place I remember seeing one). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highlander Posted October 30, 2006 Share Posted October 30, 2006 question: Tinted windows? Some film interferes with the on-glass FM antenna on the rear window. Vir Est Fatum Ut Perficio Concepta Suus Progenies. - Man is destined to fulfill the capacity of his lineage (i.e. Darwinism) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gfxdave99 Posted October 30, 2006 Share Posted October 30, 2006 http://www.legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38358&highlight=reception Sorry to be a search nazi but since i started a thread about this long ago If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough. - Mario Andretti Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwr Posted October 30, 2006 Author Share Posted October 30, 2006 Thanks, but no tinted windows. question: Tinted windows? Some film interferes with the on-glass FM antenna on the rear window. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwr Posted October 30, 2006 Author Share Posted October 30, 2006 Nothing search nazi about that. I did search but didn't use "reception". Thanks for the thread link. http://www.legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38358&highlight=reception Sorry to be a search nazi but since i started a thread about this long ago Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwr Posted October 30, 2006 Author Share Posted October 30, 2006 http://www.legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38358&highlight=reception i started a thread about this long agoI read that thread and it didn't seem like anyone had resolved their poor FM performance. How about you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTsullyman Posted October 30, 2006 Share Posted October 30, 2006 Hmm i have tinted windows and everyone that rides with me on trips they often take says my FM is better than theirs. 2007 DGM LGT 2003 Suzuki SV650S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickeyd2005 Posted October 30, 2006 Share Posted October 30, 2006 My 0.02. My FM reception is average. Maybe a little bit better than my '98 Outback which had a power antenna. My windows are tinted. My guess is a slightly loose antenna connection at the head unit. However, I don't know your frame of reference so your definition of poor might actually be what I consider average. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kopy_kat Posted October 30, 2006 Share Posted October 30, 2006 i tinted my windows.. i did not notice any degradation of FM reception. it was not all that strong to begin with. but AM reception went to hell. i can't get anything when the engine is on. when the engine is off i can get the AM stations that are further away.. but this wasn't an issue before i tinted my windows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gfxdave99 Posted October 30, 2006 Share Posted October 30, 2006 I think that was sadly my point, nobody has come up with a good solution yet and as far as tint causing problems its if you use metallic tint, the radio waves bounces off the tint. Regular plastic tint has no effect on reception. If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough. - Mario Andretti Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gfxdave99 Posted October 30, 2006 Share Posted October 30, 2006 Oh.. One thing I can tell you is that its the antenna and not the stereo. (since i have an aftermarket panasonic HU) If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough. - Mario Andretti Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocco Posted October 30, 2006 Share Posted October 30, 2006 question: Tinted windows? Some film interferes with the on-glass FM antenna on the rear window. i do, and i've noticed a difference in reception since tint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highlander Posted October 30, 2006 Share Posted October 30, 2006 i tinted my windows.. i did not notice any degradation of FM reception. it was not all that strong to begin with. but AM reception went to hell. i can't get anything when the engine is on. when the engine is off i can get the AM stations that are further away.. but this wasn't an issue before i tinted my windows. That is probably due to a bad ground somewhere. Could be the antenna cable itself, or totally unrelated. AM noise trouble shooting is a PITA. Biggest reason I got out of the Car Audio biz. Vir Est Fatum Ut Perficio Concepta Suus Progenies. - Man is destined to fulfill the capacity of his lineage (i.e. Darwinism) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdisco Posted October 30, 2006 Share Posted October 30, 2006 The legacy's reception is weak at best. My window tint didn't help. Also I think some of the stations have cut back on their signal strength as of late. Why can't we get a cool little shark fin like BMW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted October 30, 2006 Share Posted October 30, 2006 Don't the 850 have an external antenna? Volvo, before they went to the antenna on the glass, had one of the longest antennas around. My sister's S90's antenna will hit my parent's garage door if it is left extended. None of the other cars will come close to hitting it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwr Posted October 30, 2006 Author Share Posted October 30, 2006 Don't the 850 have an external antenna? Volvo, before they went to the antenna on the glass, had one of the longest antennas around. My sister's S90's antenna will hit my parent's garage door if it is left extended. None of the other cars will come close to hitting it.My 94 850 Turbo Wagon had the antenna built in to the left rear window as I recall. It had no extending external antenna. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TPLGT Posted October 31, 2006 Share Posted October 31, 2006 I think it's pretty funny that there is a thread on this...I just got my windows tintied and my AM reception went to shit. I listen to a lot of sports radio so I'm not pleased....I wonder if there is a better way to ground it.? Rehab is for quitters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outahere Posted November 1, 2006 Share Posted November 1, 2006 I think it's pretty funny that there is a thread on this...I just got my windows tintied and my AM reception went to shit. I listen to a lot of sports radio so I'm not pleased....I wonder if there is a better way to ground it.? Subaru did issue a TSB (15-115-05) for 2005 Legacy and Outback wagons with poor AM reception. Dealers were instructed to add an additional ground wire, I believe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spicish22 Posted November 1, 2006 Share Posted November 1, 2006 the radio in my 05 is pretty weak. it is very noticable when you switch cars and drive the same spots ie to work. my gfs car (merc sable) has a much better radio (fm) signal all the way to work where as my car looses it in certain spot. i also noticed this with a rental, ithink it was an accord. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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