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Tips to improve FM reception.

9K views 23 replies 16 participants last post by  Jonnyblond 
#1 ·
Hello, thanks for looking, hope you can help me! I have a 06 plate 2.0jts GT. My radio reception is worse than terrible, worst in over 20 years of driving. I have quite a long aerial on roof and looks in decent condition. Have checked back of radio and aerial is plugged in but can only get local stations, anything like radio 1 etc is awful. Is my aerial in rear window or the one on the roof? Does anyone have any tips to improve quality? Is there a booster anywhere? I'm not very technical by the way so can't be tearing my new gt apart! Its driving me mad!
 
#9 ·
Funny, was going to post the same this evening. I could get Absolute/Xfm almost to the A11 turn off on the M11 in my Bora and I lost both in Harlow this afternoon!! I've only got the stubby roof aerial and was going to buy a longer aerial but think I'll watch n wait now.....
 
#10 ·
I just bought a longer aerial from eBay tonight. Will let you know how and what happens. Will get a 12v booster if it doesn't work, not sure what to do/connect the blue wire too however as all the wires at back of stereo are all factory installed in fittings and brackets etc. If anyone can tell me what to do I would appreciate any help!
 
#13 ·
It is on a 156, but what about 147/GT?
 
#14 ·
The poor radio reception is another one of Alfa's brilliant design ideas, very carefully thought out at the time when the V6 Busso engine came to life. No diesel variants were available at this time and Busso couldn't work out why anyone would want a stereo playing whilst goin through the rev range. Because of market forces Alfa had to include a crap Blaupunkt stereo in their cars, but to put the driver off using the stereo, they installed a clever deamplifying chip which made tuning into stations impossible even if near to a transmitter, the driver would then have no choice but to switch the radio off and listen to the horses galloping.

The parts department apparently ordered thousands of these chips and continued to put them in stereos even with the advent of diesel engines.
With Alfa Romeo due to relaunch in America there is to be a rethinking of stereo signal strength, the chips are almost all used up and with Americans generally only driving petrol engines, Alfa need something to cover up the tractor like noise of their diesels otherwise they'll never sell them there.
This is fortunate for Uk drivers as newer 'American' Alfa romeo diesels will now be fitted with MOSFET amps as standard and satellite dishes between the roof and headlining.
V6 drivers will have the upgrade option of engine noise being put through the cars speakers a la the new BMW M5.
 
#21 ·
Go DAB

I put up with useless reception in my 156 sportwagon for a month, then got a Kenwood KDC-DAB4551U head unit - with a stick on DAB aeriel on the windscreen reception in north hampshire is brillient, all the BBC channels plus Absolute, Planet Rock and Magic. It also has a proper ipod / usb connector and aux in sockets. The way to go....
 
#22 ·
I seem to have solved the problem but not with a booster! I ordered a new aerial, its 41cm long, about 10cm than the stock one but it has completely solved all my problems! Can tune in radio stations I couldn't even find yesterday. Was only £5 from eBay but worth it! Haven't even put the booster in so dont think I will bother now!
 
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