I have searched the audio section and the 4th gen section.

i thought there was a stickey for improving the reception in 4th gens?

My reception is really horrible and im getting really tired of it.

So now its time to make things happen.

Any comments and suggestions are welcome thank

 

i also get crappy radio signal in my 6th gen. AM is fine, but FM is pretty bad at times.

 

i get horrible reception for most of the houston stations in baytown. while other cars get them just fine!

 

I assume you are talking about subpar radio reception on an aftermarket head unit.

This has been discussed many times before so I will just give you the Cliff's.

The stock Nissan setup uses both a rod and a window antenna. The radio tuners (both base and Bose) use a diversity circuit which takes the signals from both antennas as inputs. For any given frequency, this circuit compares the signals from both antennas and uses the one that is the "strongest" The effect of multipath signals (refections off buildings, etc)is also greatly reduced by using this circuit to compare the signals from the two antennas.

The system works great as long as you do not swap out the stock head unit.

A lot of the people on here slam Nissan for their decision to go with this system. From an aftermarket pov, I agree, it does suck. However, the vast majority of the demographic that Nissan markets these vehicles to is one that will never change the factory radio out.

My FM reception (from statons ~60+ miles away) went from very good to almost non-existant when I swapped the stock Clarion unit out for an aftermarket one.

I switched to satellite almost immediately.

Also, the "diversity" antenna adapters that you buy merely split the rod and window antenna feeds into two separate Motorola connectors (1 male + 1 female) I have never seen a head unit with two separate radio antenna inputs. Typically the window antenna is better for FM and the rod for AM. Some people get better FM results by turning the connector 180 degrees so the male Motorola connector is connected to the window antenna.

I must say that my FM radio reception improved dramatically recently when I swapped out one aftermarket head unit for a significantly better quality one. Although it is still not as good as stock.

 

thanks for chiming in!

ya im running an aftermarket HU

pioneer premier 880 which i believe is pretty top notch.

hopefully i can get some more responses

 

Pioneer ODR would be considered "top notch".

The Premier series is more mainstream.

 

Mine isn't too bad (JVC HU). It's there when I need to listen to the radio, once every 6 months lol.

I'll do a before and after on my GF's HU install this weekend to see if there's a big difference.

 

just a little insight to why im bringing this up.

I plan on getting the HD radio turner for the 880, but if i cant get better reception the turner would be pretty much pointless.

upon further reading HD radio is broadcasted at a greater range from regular analog radio. So i should get better reception because the signal is stronger. If i read wikipedia correctly.

 

From what I have read, I do not believe peer review is part of the Wikipedia process. So, just like everything else on the internet, Wikipedia info must be taken with a grain of salt.

I have not read anything on this particular site, but you can try here:

http://www.hd-radio-home.com/hd-radi...-coverage.html

 

i assumed the greater range through this part of the article

In regular hybrid mode, a station has its full ± 130 kHz of analog bandwidth, and adds an extra ± 70 kHz for its digital signals, thus taking a full 400 kHz of width. FM stations also have the option to discontinue existing subcarrier services (usually at 92 kHz and 67 kHz) in order to carry extended HD Radio, though such services can be restored through use of the digital subchannels that are then made available.

 

You need to do more research.

Bandwidth dictates the amount of information that can be conveyed in a broadcast signal.

You need to be more concerned with signal power and tuner sensitivity.

 

alright lets get away from the hd radio subject.

so there is no way to increase the radio recption with an aftermarket HU, unless you buy a better quality HU?

 

Sure there is:

1. If you have rear window tint, remove it. (for better FM)
2. If you are using one of the "diversity" antenna adapters, try flipping it 180.
3. The 5th gens use an external powered antenna amplifier to boost the signal. You can score one from a wrecking yard and add it in.

 

Can you elaborate? Where is the antenna located?

 

I would say behind the RH C pillar trim panel.



I am still waiting on the local wrecker to move some 5Gs into the U-pull-it section of their yard.

 

...It still looks like the antenna itself is in the rear window, I don't know how useful the amp itself would be if it was transplanted over.

 

ah i wondered what the rest of the little wires were on the backwindow. cuz they didnt do anything when the defrost was on.

i guess i can try swithing the diversity cable 180, and seeing what happens.

 

Any update?