By Redsrover (Redsrover) on Friday, November 02, 2001 - 02:35 pm: Edit

In both the RR Classic and 1997 Disco, I get the worst AM reception. Not only is the signal nonexistant in a tunnel or under a bridge, but theres a constant static that increases with acceleration. Happens in both rigs. What gives?

Red

By Jon Williams (Jonw) on Friday, November 02, 2001 - 02:56 pm: Edit

Welcome to the world of Amplitude Modulation radio performance.

By Redsrover (Redsrover) on Friday, November 02, 2001 - 03:43 pm: Edit

Poor AM reception is not universal...my wife's Yukon is clear as a bell and our old Volvo wagon with antenna embedded in the rear side glass was great as well.

Is there a way to boost the am reception of the head unit in a Rover?

Red

By Jon Williams (Jonw) on Friday, November 02, 2001 - 04:17 pm: Edit

Are you in an area where you particularly need AM radio? Or do you just want to have it work better?

Radio interference can be caused by a number of things, but the first place to look is the radio suppression connections on the ignition coil. I believe (but am not sure) those wires are on the +15 terminal of the coil (or is it -15?) Something 15... Also, your antenna could be crap. Factory antennas corrode at the antenna wire bracket on the base of the antenna. The fix is, of course, to replace the antenna (except for the Disco with the diversity antenna baked into the rear side windows; that's an expensive fix). And if everything else is good, remember your stock head unit on both trucks is a Pioneer unit, which isn't really the best radio ever made, therefore probably doesn't have very good AM gain (although I've never had a problem in my truck).

By Neil Cawley on Thursday, November 08, 2001 - 11:35 am: Edit

I have always had a problem with AM radio reception. I am looking for a good alternative radio for my disco that can still use the CD changer. Any suggestions?
neil

By Jon Williams (Jonw) on Thursday, November 08, 2001 - 11:54 am: Edit

Any CD changer compatible Pioneer radio (to still use the changer on a S1; the S11 use an Alpine changer I think, but I'm not sure). I've heard people say that the Land Rover changer isn't compatible with other Pioneer head units, but this isn't the case in my experience.

By John Cinquegrana (John_C) on Thursday, November 08, 2001 - 12:00 pm: Edit

Jon, AM comes in handy (at least in the New England Area) when you need to hear the latest traffic news, budget cuts, terrorists attacks, etc etc....

Some people depend on it to get to and back from work everday. It also reminds us of alternate side of the street parking rules, street fairs (road closures) and other important stuff (like where Howard Stern will be during the day....)

My reception is also very bad on my RR, I guess I should look inot getting a better antenna.

By Jon Williams (Jonw) on Thursday, November 08, 2001 - 12:48 pm: Edit

I know, I was just giving you a hard time about the needing AM

By John Cinquegrana (John_C) on Thursday, November 08, 2001 - 01:41 pm: Edit

ohhh...

I know, I was kidding about Howard Stern

By Neil Cawley on Thursday, November 08, 2001 - 03:06 pm: Edit

Jon,
Can you tell me the model number of the radio you did use in your D1.
Thanks,
neil

By Jon Williams (Jonw) on Friday, November 09, 2001 - 08:45 am: Edit

Well, I didn't swap one in (cuz my factory radio works fine) but I did try a couple friends' Pioneer radios just for squirts and giggles and that's how I found out they'll work. One of the radios was a model KEH-P1010, and the other was a 2108S or something. Anyway, they plugged right in to the 3 plugs in the factory wiring harness and the CD cable too, and the changer worked from the radio. The only thing that didn't work was the volume controls on my instrument cluster shroud (but who really uses them?).

By Leslie N. Bright (Leslie) on Friday, November 09, 2001 - 09:44 am: Edit

Uh Jon....

Isn't a KEH a Kenwood designation??
(I put a Kenwood KEH in the ol' Heep I had)...

And the only volume controls I use ARE the instrument cluster ones....

-L

By Neil Cawley on Tuesday, November 13, 2001 - 10:42 am: Edit

Jon,
I have done some research and found the KEH-P1010 is a Pioneer number. You can find these new for under $100. I am told the slot/chassis are standard so fit should not be a problem. I think I shall try one.
Thanks

By Leslie N. Bright (Leslie) on Tuesday, November 13, 2001 - 11:08 am: Edit

Wow...

I suppose just because Kenwood uses it doesn't mean that Pioneer can't either, eh?


Of course, companies will regularly update their model designations, so maybe Kenwood dropped it... or Pioneer busted their chops over it or something ....

I agree though, I found the KEH-P1010 as a Pioneer, too...

-L

By Jon Williams (Jonw) on Tuesday, November 13, 2001 - 11:51 am: Edit

Ah, I see you caught that, too. Yeah, I was a little confused by the "KEH" model number for the Pioneer radios, but it said it on the radio's chassis, so I figured they must be right...

Good luck!