My Fm reception is poor. How can it be improved?
54907
lot of factors can influence it (building type, distance to station, etc.), but for starters, did you hook up the included external wire antenna? Also, make sure you switch the switch on the back to "external" if you do. The default is "internal"
54908
Try the external antenna (extended, switch it to external). Try another location in the house for the radio. Try orienting the antenna differently and at least a foot away from large metal objects (which could change the nature of the antenna or block the signal). Try using a dipole antenna located remotely, higher, or in the clear with respect to the desired station. This may mean a getting a balun ($5), some coax (several dollars), and a folded FM dipole antenna ($7). Finally, consider putting an RF preamplifier between the folded dipole antenna and the radio. If none of that helps, you have a difficult location, a faulty radio, or a requirement to receive a station with too weak a signal to your location. When it's finally working and you realize that it has a serious deficit in fidelity (muddy, bassy, little midrange, no highs), as I did, put a more ordinary radio nearby and turn it up just enough to hear the midrange and highs. The combined sound will be a lot more like you had hoped for to begin with. I am profoundly displeased with the lack of audio fidelity and range in this radio. It is essentially a subwoofer with a tuner and not much more. How people rate it so highly is a complete and utter mystery to me. A profound ignorance of audio fidelity in the population at large, I guess.
1097356
Probably by more than half to several hours at best. Transmitting to FM takes a lot of juice, this is not a long-play solution.
2214796
According to my husband, FM reception is fine. Other than just to try it out, we haven't really used it.
671630
What area are you from? I'm in Philly and I get reception on 88.1. If you can't get it on that channel, try the lower fm channels 88.1-90.7You might also want to try higher channels, 107.9-106.5...good luck ; )
2203027
I've broken so many antennas on this radio that I just took a coat hanger, straightened the hook and poked it into the broken antenna end. That works fine, and to really increase the FM reception a trick is to take a wire, that's the length of the antenna, and attach it to a ground in the radio(I use the negative wire coil at one end of a battery) and stretch the wire in the opposite direction that the antenna is pointing. You can play with this wire to fit the station you need help with, but for me in my bad reception canyon location it makes a large difference. It's a funky solution but worth trying. I've broken so many antennas on this radio that I just took a coat hanger, straightened the hook and poked it into the broken antenna end. That works fine, and to really increase the FM reception a trick is to take a wire, that's the length of the antenna, and attach it to a ground in the radio(I use the negative wire coil at one end of a battery) and stretch the wire in the opposite direction that the antenna is pointing. You can play with this wire to fit the station you need help with, but for me in my bad reception canyon location it makes a large difference. It's a funky solution but... » Read More I've broken so many antennas on this radio that I just took a coat hanger, straightened the hook and poked it into the broken antenna end. That works fine, and to really increase the FM reception a trick is to take a wire, that's the length of the antenna, and attach it to a ground in the radio(I use the negative wire coil at one end of a battery) and stretch the wire in the opposite direction that the antenna is pointing. You can play with this wire to fit the station you need help with, but for me in my bad reception canyon location it makes a large difference. It's a funky solution but worth trying. « Show Less
1274114
Try connecting a cord to line-in or the headphone jack (even if nothing is connected to them). This can apparently act as an antenna to improve reception.
2220687
The FM signal from the transmitter is weak, probably because of FCC compliance. It produces unbearable amount of static on my commute route where radio stations are broadcasting on almost all channels. Thanks to one of the reviewers. A practical solution is to plug in a USB cable on the charging port and leave the other end open. The USB cable serves as an antenna. The radio signal is boosted so much that it over powers any local radio station in my area. Now, FM sound quality is now in perfect usable state. A 5-star workaround!
17409
Yes, with the plug in antenna the FM reception is good. However, AM is terrible.
1216917
Check your audio source to find out if' it's putting out and then turn on your receiver, make sure that your cell phone (If that's your audio) source is working properly now turn on your FM radio with the transmitter completely off and search for a channel in your area where you hear no signal and log it down , turn on your transmitter and adjust the frequency to the frequency that you found on your receiver that was blank, you should hear dead silence on your receiver, then turn on your audio source and enjoy. I use it to listen to online radio stations on FM stereo in my car nice!
1385
My FM reception is good even though my unit is in the basement. I've never had any trouble with reception.
273978
Hi. I don't think it will work for weak FM stations because I believe FM uses a different band. You would need a high gain FM antenna. This does a good job on weak (from about 30 miles away HD TV station transmitters with good line of sight-- no mountains etc.). I have not tried it for FM but I doubt it would help.
963729
I do believe you would have to connect an external radio antenna in order to tune in FM radio. A better option is to stream Slacker radio or Pandora.
962885
I had a similar issue, but moved the ground wire and reception is better. Occasionally get some static, but much better than before. Hope that helps.
103756
Hi, I. Cambell, yes it seems like a defect in your particular radio. You may want to consider an exchange. my fm is fine.
884967
To answer your question I am not sure due to the fact that I purposely bought it for FM reception since I had no other way to receive that signal Sorry I could help you further. I have nevr really tried it.
1821318
Reception is limited at best. It does a better job when the power cord is connected. Otherwise I can tune in a station but the moment after I set it down I hear static.
1132623
I don't know. However, I can say the radio reception is terrible. FM was weak and AM was worse. I sold the unit on eBay. Sorry I couldn't help more.