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Thread: Car FM signal boosting?

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    Default Car FM signal boosting?

    I've gone from a Toyota OEM Dual Din Radio to an Android head unit.
    Everyone works great, expect the FM fringe reception is crap....

    Sadly, the Android unit was installed prior to me owning the Vehicle, so i cant say how good the Toyota Landcruiser OEM Radio worked with FM fringe reception.
    But i imagine it was a lot better than this Android unit

    I see there are some cheap FM signal boosters.







    I'm sure these are cheap and nasty, but has anyone used them?

    My next thought is the OEM FM Antenna works just fine, it is just the Android Headunit that has a low threshold for FM signal quality and will drop the channel when signal is weak (software driven operation).

    Anyone encountered this situation with an after market radio and found a way to restore good fringe reception?

    Better Antenna? Proper Signal Amplifying? Just a shit head unit for FM?

    This is the Android Head Unit installed:
    Last edited by ol' boy; 04-03-18 at 01:47 PM.
    If u want to go on an expedition get a Land Rover, if u want to come home from an expedition get a Landcruiser!



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    Oceanboy. I can't help but keen on knowing what others can advise.

    I have a Series 2 VE and its FM reception is dismal, pathetic to say the least.
    Just like driving under high voltage wires listening to AM and you get the "zzzzzz" "fuzzy signal; that is my FM when driving in known strong signal areas.
    Most new holdens are the same, pathetic FM radio reception (well that's the new model loan cars I drive when mine is being serviced).

    So yeah, I really hope others can offer advice.
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    Agreed, it is a frustrating problem to have when the most basic, old FM radio can have insanely good fringe reception!
    If u want to go on an expedition get a Land Rover, if u want to come home from an expedition get a Landcruiser!

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    Quote Originally Posted by Xplorer View Post
    Oceanboy. I can't help but keen on knowing what others can advise.

    I have a Series 2 VE and its FM reception is dismal, pathetic to say the least.
    Just like driving under high voltage wires listening to AM and you get the "zzzzzz" "fuzzy signal; that is my FM when driving in known strong signal areas.
    Most new holdens are the same, pathetic FM radio reception (well that's the new model loan cars I drive when mine is being serviced).

    So yeah, I really hope others can offer advice.
    Hmmmm....odd. My VE II was fine as is the current VF II.....different systems too....
    The fact that there's a highway to hell and a stairway to heaven says a lot about the anticipated traffic flow.

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    my holden combo also had terrible FM reception
    i changed the stereo over to an android head unit
    same brand you have and it actually improved it is
    very good around town etc but as i start driving
    down the freeway heading south to grafton etc you
    start to get the crackle

    Last edited by fandtm666; 04-03-18 at 04:22 PM.

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    I find it interesting that every single house in our town needs a VHF Masthead Amp to receiver Melbourne VHF transmissions

    Yet there isn't the same product available for FM Radio, even though the spectrum is the same.
    If u want to go on an expedition get a Land Rover, if u want to come home from an expedition get a Landcruiser!

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    OB im pretty sure that the factory Toyo antennas have an inbuilt booster anyway , if you access the antenna and there are power wires to it then its boosted. maybe they buggered something when installing the new HU ? leaving no power to the booster?

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    Ah ok...
    Its a powered antenna, as in it goes up and down.
    Outside that no idea

    Interesting, found this:



    But I think its just a generic unit.

    Not sure the complete unit has an amp?

    Last edited by ol' boy; 05-03-18 at 08:53 AM.
    If u want to go on an expedition get a Land Rover, if u want to come home from an expedition get a Landcruiser!

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    This turned up.
    I'll install it and see if it makes any difference.

    If u want to go on an expedition get a Land Rover, if u want to come home from an expedition get a Landcruiser!

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    I use an old 25db Gain Kingray MHA connected to an AM/FM receiver and it seems to work quite well.
    Kingray make models that use both low Voltage AC and DC so other than trying to work out where to connect the Head unit to the Cars antenna, there's no reason why it should not work.
    My aging Ford AU looses a local community station not far from the Transmitter but when My Son had a BA Ford, it picked up that station with only one 'Black Spot' in a cutting and it had no visible external antenna.
    We now have a KIA RIO with a 'Shark Fin' antenna and gives nearly as good a coverage as the BA did.
    I stand unequivicably behind everything I say , I just dont ever remember saying it !!

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    BA has a factory powered amplifier -passenger side of rear window
    Last edited by station-rat; 02-04-18 at 09:47 AM. Reason: more info

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    I don't expect much from this unit. Especially as the amp is at the end of the RF cable, not up near the antenna.

    This is a look inside



    Last edited by ol' boy; 02-04-18 at 10:11 AM.
    If u want to go on an expedition get a Land Rover, if u want to come home from an expedition get a Landcruiser!

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    This would be another way to go i guess, a complete new amplified antenna



    Something i hadn't thought, was an amplified antenna replacement, but as the OEM antenna works fine for the stock radio, i figure its the Eonon Android Head unit that is the weak point.

    Yes gordon, i did think down the road you went with a domestic mast head amp.
    But in all my Domestic installs, a passive FM antenna with its own RG6 has always given the best results.
    Last edited by ol' boy; 02-04-18 at 10:22 AM.
    If u want to go on an expedition get a Land Rover, if u want to come home from an expedition get a Landcruiser!

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    I fitted a 10dB Gain Antenna Booster into my landcruiser, switched so I can turn it on and off, some remote areas of the west coast of Tassi, were hard for me to get decent reception , but this booster sure cleared up the FM reception and I know it works, being able to turn it on and off



    Last edited by Rick; 02-04-18 at 10:42 AM.

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    Thanks Rick, i did notice that model also, but i didn't understand why it needed a switch on show??
    I do now... Yes, great idea.

    Thanks for the input
    Good to know it works in the real world.

    What radio to you have fitted?
    Does that shroud fit in the standard Landcruiser switch cutout?

    EDIT: found some detailed info here:
    Last edited by ol' boy; 02-04-18 at 11:08 AM.
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    The 'switched' amp is a great idea.

    I presume when it's turned off the circuit must completely bypass the amp. Eg: connect the antenna straight through.

    It couldn't just turn the power off, because if the power was off and the amp was still in circuit, that would actually attenuate the signal dramatically... the same as turning off a TV masthead amp left in the line does.

    10dB is just enough to give weak signals a bit of kick.

    The ability to turn it off is very good, as using the amp in strong signal areas may cause tuner overload.

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    Quote Originally Posted by mtv View Post
    The 'switched' amp is a great idea.

    I presume when it's turned off the circuit must completely bypass the amp. Eg: connect the antenna straight through.

    It couldn't just turn the power off, because if the power was off and the amp was still in circuit, that would actually attenuate the signal dramatically... the same as turning off a TV masthead amp left in the line does.

    10dB is just enough to give weak signals a bit of kick.

    The ability to turn it off is very good, as using the amp in strong signal areas may cause tuner overload.
    Great point mtv
    I was considering putting a switch in the unit i bought, but that wont work if it leaves the amp in circuit but un-energised.

    Ironically, Ricks unit was the first id seen and sold at Autobarn, but when i went there, they didn't have any
    Might be the way to go
    If u want to go on an expedition get a Land Rover, if u want to come home from an expedition get a Landcruiser!

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    Quote Originally Posted by oceanboy View Post
    Yes gordon, i did think down the road you went with a domestic mast head amp.
    But in all my Domestic installs, a passive FM antenna with its own RG6 has always given the best results.

    This is a leftover from my Sydney TV days and was the best I could afford at the time. However my local AM Radio station added FM to their lineup and put their Transmitter barely 6kms from me and caused problems with the MHA as it never had an FM filter fitted ( No FM here then and it cost extra)
    Around the same time 'TV Aggregation' was introduced and because the local Translator went UHF, I got the 3 commercial channels so the old antenna and the MHA are still up the Tree relegated to just picking up the FM radio stations.
    I stand unequivicably behind everything I say , I just dont ever remember saying it !!

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    Result

    After fitting my cheap eBay FM booster (pictured above)
    And a few weeks testing.

    It defiantly makes each station louder, as in volume.
    It also helps when scan searching for stations (finds stations when it would otherwise skip straight passed)
    Improves the signal of some stations and brings RDS up
    It also doesn't help some other stations, increasing crackle and interference.

    Over all, it is an improvement and i guess all you could expect for $10
    If u want to go on an expedition get a Land Rover, if u want to come home from an expedition get a Landcruiser!

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