Any way to improve FM reception of factory-installed satellite radio?

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todd.mancini@gmail.com - 19 Mar 2007 16:48 GMT

I have an Audi Q7 with the factory-installed head unit, including a
Sirius tuner. The car has a small, roof-mounted antenna which seems
to be optimized for satellite reception, but does a really poor job of
FM reception. The volume of an FM station sounds as if it is
pulsating when I listen to it. I live about 25 miles NW of Boston; I
also have a Lexus RX300 which pulls in FM (over a regular rod antenna)
just fine.

Any recommendations for improving reception? My dream solution would
be a device that I could simply put in the car somewhere (perhaps
plugged into 12V) and it would magically improve the FM reception
without me hooking it up to anything. (I'm not holding my breath on
this dream coming true, mind you...)

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Darthn3ss - 19 Mar 2007 17:44 GMT

call the company that operates the radio station and complain.

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Darthn3ss

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The Lull - 19 Mar 2007 18:08 GMT

On Mar 19, 8:48 am, todd.manc...@gmail.com wrote:

> I have an Audi Q7 with the factory-installed head unit, including a
> Sirius tuner. The car has a small, roof-mounted antenna which seems
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> without me hooking it up to anything. (I'm not holding my breath on
> this dream coming true, mind you...)

...I think your best option would be to install your own powered
anteanna (basically replacing the factory one).
Sorry!
~Mister.Lull

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I. Care - 20 Mar 2007 01:32 GMT

> On Mar 19, 8:48 am, todd.manc...@gmail.com wrote:
> > <SNIP>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> <SNIP>

I have had the same problem on several cars with after market installs
using several different brands of receiver. I have read (somewhere) the
cause is the stock radio has a narrower RF bandwidth which makes the
station come in better at the expense of the full range of the music
broadcast. The after market radio is wider bandwidth to capture more of
the music.

Adding an RF amplifier, as you wish for, also amplifies the noise, it
doesn't know the difference between music and noise. I think most
people buy upgraded systems to listen to CD's, MP3's, Tape, iPod's, and
probably don't listen to much FM etc.

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I. Care
Address fake until the SPAM goes away ;-}

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