Radio reception

[RedT]

A question for the electronic experts....after replacing the Magnadyne radio twice in my '04 Meridian because it failed to operate, I finally replaced it with a Jensen VR-185 radio. The problem is that reception is extremely poor, especially when on the road. Many stations less than 25 miles away are barely recieved, and then with static and background noise. I'm hoping that a new antenna would help considerably (am now using the short rubberized original equipment antenna) but don't know what to buy.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.


RedT in Glendale, AZ
'04 Meridian
'03 Jeep Liberty
M&G Brake Sys

[Shadowcatche]

Have you tried unplugging the antenna?
You could then buy a replacement and plug it in (with out mounting it) and find out if that is the problem. My bet is a broken or shorted wire.

[wa8yxm]

Is this a motor home? In another thread somewhere someone ask about poor radio reception in motor homes. I gave a detailed explanation but I'll shorten it a bit here.

1950's and 60's cars had multi-section radio antennas you pulled out and out and out. I could sit in say Coldwater, MI and listen to stations in Chicago, NYC and more no problem in my dad's old pontiac. (All AM)

As time passed and FM became more popular we got these fixed length antennas, what about 3/4 meter long (FM radio is the 3 meter band, that's a quarter wave) Work great for FM but AM reception.. suffered.

Motor homes have this little rubber covered coil of wire, about what, a foot (or 1/3 meter) up on the roof. Forget AM less you can see the tower. FM sufferes.

It's all the antenna.