Radio Reception

RADIO RECEPTION







Distortion, interference and lack of signal clarity, are often attributed to a fault in the radio - this is rarely the case.

Problems of this kind are usually caused by phenomena such as atmospheric conditions, signal strength, hilly terrain, tall buildings, bridges and even electrical interference from power lines.

Please remember: A car radio receives signals while the vehicle is in motion (unlike a domestic set) - constantly changing direction and moving away from, or nearer to, the transmitter whilst negotiating terrain with widely differing reception characteristics. Some interference is to be expected from time to time.

FM transmitters can only broadcast over a limited range and good, clear signals will only be received in the immediate area of the transmitter. When travelling, it may be necessary to re-tune the radio from lime to lime to offset the effects of moving from one transmitter area to another.

While RDS automatic re-tuning eases this problem, some manual re-tuning may still be needed (especially for local stations) in areas of weak reception.

The broadcast range for good stereo reception (usually within 30 to 40 mile radius of the transmitter) is noticeably less than it is for mono.FM signals (like light waves) travel in a straight line so large obstacles, such as tall buildings, can shield the vehicle from the signal causing distortion or loss of reception (known as dead spots).

Distortion can also occur if FM signals received directly from the transmitter mix with signals which have been reflected by obstructions such as mountains, hills and tall buildings (this is known as multi-path distortion.)