Hi,

How do I improve my radio reception? I've got a good H/U and a Hirschmann Antenna (with a signal booster installed) yet I'm still getting "fffftttt" sounds quite frequently on most FM channels. I'm still using the original co-axle cable (from 1984) - could this be the source of the problem?! May have just revealed my ignorance but this is really driving me mad so please let me know!

Cheers,

David.

This is a dumb response, but no one else has replied: are you sure your anteanna is extending fully? I thought mine was, but i replaced it after i broke it(oops) and realized that it was supposed to extend like 26 feet high(not really, but significantly above the roof-line). What kind of head unit?

Wipe all oil form the mast. If there is any film on the antenae you may experience the sections not completing a good contact. I use windex. Do not oil.

Actually oil is good. It keeps surface oxidation, which is insulating to electrons, from happening, although most antennas are chrome plated. Oil is an insulator but when there's metal to metal contact there is still an electrical connection and the oil lubricates the sections and puts a lighter load on the motor. The only problem is that it attracts dirt. I do regular cleaning and light oiling for maintance. I also put a dab of grease on connectors and battery terminals.

To check your antenna for proper function, make sure the lower mast section comes all the way up. Tune to a weak AM station. When you touch the antenna mast with your hand, the station has to get louder, if it does not, your antenna or cable may have a problem.
What you are experiencing could be multipath interference. Totally reduce the treble and see (hear) if your fffttt sounds are less. In the US we also had an antenna switch to reduce the antenna hight to reduce multipath interference.

Thanks a bunch for all the advice everyone. Will get to... I've installed a Blau Heidelberg CD51 and am happier with reception but think I may still need to either clean or replace the antenna. I've already laid a new cable.

Cheers

This probably doesn't apply but it happened to me. It also drove me nuts until I figured it out!

When I bought the car ('94 S500), the previous owner tinted the back window. It just so happens that that version employed an antenna (AM) in the window (heater wires), but the FM antenna used a dipole mounted in the (plastic) back bumper.

So AM was bad, could hardly receive local signals but FM was great. To fix, I had to make the AM, FM and cell phone use the whip.

Of interest, my '94 E320 (manufactured about the same time) uses the whip for AM, FM and cell phone.

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Regards . . . . JimF
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'94 S500 Cpe

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