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Bad radio reception

5K views 21 replies 10 participants last post by  95LegendGS 
G
#1 ·
Well I just put a new alpine unit in my car, but now the radio reception is worse then before. How can I get my FM signal to be strong in my GS?
 
#3 ·
Huge antennas with foil balls at the end lol..jk R u sure that all your plugs are all in? Maybe the wire shorted out? Idk just some ideas. Good luck. Personally I would just unplug the antenna power and use an Ipod man. Thats what I did.
 
#5 ·
Which one did yours take? The power antenna only I'm assuming. Check the antenna itself for connections (ground resistance etc), but without the rear glass antenna boosting the signal your options are limited. Does your HU have FM sensitivity adjustment on it?

Some info here: Improve FM Reception

One of the amplifiers mentioned in that article might be an option for you.
 
#7 ·
I too have terrible reception with my 91 LS sedan. I think it has to do with the antenna itself. I unbolted the motor unit and sanded down the grounds to the body and I also cleaned up the antenna mast with WD-40 and it got slightly better. I think I am going to try to replace the unit with a standard whip antenna and hope that fixes it. Has anyone else done that with success???
 
#21 ·
The second antenna is in the back window. I am probably wrong, but i heard it was for the AM reception. I don't beleive there is any way to attach it to your aftermarket head unit. It is basically a smaller version of a standard plug.
They both receive AM and FM, and the window antenna receives FM broadcasts decently, but it is horrible at receiving AM broadcasts.
That plug can be adapted as well.

Anyway, glad you guys found a working solution. I was thinking about upgrading my stereo this summer and wasn't sure how reception would be.
 
#12 ·
Interesting... what is it about the OEM unit that gets better reception? I have switched radio in many cars and the Legend was the worse. The odd duck uses 2 antennas maybe that's why.

Whatever it is, I'm about to try this Y adapter and see if the reception is any better. All I have to do is to built up a metal sleeve to fit the smaller antenna.

 
#14 ·
From my understanding, most aftermarket companies spend the money on the cd section and amplifier section (what most consumers want and use the most) so they use cheaper tuners. The Legend factory radio has a nice, robust built-in tuner. Most factory radios certainly don't have 2 ant inputs. At the time, Acura didn't spare many costs with these cars, or the electronics in them.

Great idea with the ant splitter, let us know if it works!
 
#15 ·
Along with the antenna Y merge, you can buy an adapter that makes that smaller plug a bigger one. GM's use the smaller plug, the adapters are sold at wal-mart, schucks/kragen/checker, autozone, pepboys, etc.. Makes it all plug and play!
 
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