Even such a trifle as a poorly working radio in a car can spoil the mood on a long trip with a family or a driver who is used to listening to news channels or his favorite wave with good music on the road. What can we say about the occasional annoying wheezing or whistling sounds. The reasons for this phenomenon can be very different, as well as ways to eliminate them. In the article, we will consider why the radio does not pick up well in the car and what to do in this case.
Basic radio settings
The process of setting up the radio is not particularly difficult if you follow the general installation rules.
After installing the radio, be sure to connect the antenna. There are several types of it: on an adhesive basis, telescopic, external, internal. The main condition for her is the ability to work in the AM and FM band mode. Antenna connected but no signal? If the radio does not pick up well in the car, what should I do? An external antenna is usually installed on the glass. In this place, it is most susceptible to interference and damage. If everything is done correctly and there are no obstacles for the operation of the equipment, then you need to configure the device next.
Using the buttons on the panel or the remote control of the radio, radio channels are tuned for reception. The corresponding buttons change the frequency range and search for radio stations, if this frequency is known, you can add it manually. More modern models allow you to search automatically, while the radio wave with a good signal remains in the device's memory.
To remember your favorite channel, you can use numbering. If you want to save a particular radio station, just hold down the key with the selected number for a couple of seconds. Then, after pressing it, your favorite wave will turn on.
Causes of bad signal
There can be several reasons for a bad signal:
- Poor reception of radio stations due to distance from the transmitting signal or the presence of additional interference (railways, power plant towers or mobile operators). Such interference cancels itself after crossing the area of unstable reception. If the mobile phone or tablet computer is close to the radio receiver, there may also be disturbances in the purity of reception during active operation. Often people ask why the radio does not catch well in the VAZ-2114 car, what to do in this case. Experts advisemove the antenna to the roof of the car, thereby isolating interference with the housing.
- Antenna malfunction. You can fix the problem by replacing the antenna, as well as soldering the bad contacts, cleaning the oxidation.
- Hissing or wheezing while listening to the radio may indicate a malfunction of the receiver. Most often, the reason lies in the cracked board. If, after opening the device, the defect is confirmed, the board is soldered. However, this work requires maximum precision, so it is better to entrust it to a professional.
- If the radio in the car does not pick up well when the registrar is turned on, then experienced motorists advise choosing registrars with an autonomous battery. This is explained by the fact that interference is created when the DVR is connected to the cigarette lighter. Also, the problem of interference can be solved by replacing the power supply of the device with a better one, installing a stabilizer or ferrite rings on the power wire, which creates its shielding.
Checking the antenna
If a metal antenna is installed in the car, then one of the reasons for a bad signal may be damage to it.
This situation is possible for the following reasons:
- After washing the vehicle, car wash workers sometimes damage the antenna or simply forget to pull it back out, which also interferes with radio reception;
- often deform the antenna of birds in the parking lot;
- during winter, the device may freeze;
- hail can bend the antenna.
Drivers should rememberthat even minimal damage to the antenna leads to poor signal reception. Therefore, at the first sign, it is necessary to check the retractable element.
If the antenna has an electrical mechanism and extends with the push of a button, icing may interfere with the process and the radio signal will be noisy.
If the antenna is frozen during icing, do not use force to return it to its normal state, especially use pliers.
Checking wire connections
One of the most common causes of interference is a bad connection between the car radio and the antenna connector. This is due to the fact that with poor contact between the antenna cable and the receiver, the radio signal transmission deteriorates. As a result, the speakers produce radio noise and interference. This mainly happens during body vibration or corrosion due to moisture.
Therefore, if the signal transmission quality has deteriorated, after inspecting the antenna, it is necessary to check the cable at the junction with the receiver. When the radio in the car does not catch well, what should I do in this case? Remove the radio from the vehicle or pull it out of the center console to inspect the device from the rear, where the cable connector is located.
If, after a visual inspection, no problems with the connector were found, it is worthwhile to wait with the installation of the receiver back, perhaps the antenna cable has hidden damage. It is necessary to turn on the radio on the wave that interferes, and turn up the volume in order to hear noises. Then move the cable in the place of the connector. If the sound is notchanges, the problem is not at the cable junction. On the contrary, if crackling, whistling and other extraneous sounds appear, then the problem is in the antenna cable or connector.
Checking the performance of the antenna
When the radio does not pick up well in the car, not all drivers know what to do. If the antenna is checked for external damage and there are no complaints about the wire connections, then you should make sure that the signal receiving device itself is working.
If dents, rust or similar damage is found on the antenna, it is necessary to replace the device with a new one.
Modern cars are equipped with a mesh antenna, which is glued to the rear or side windows. Such a device has an aesthetic advantage over an external antenna, but does not differ in the quality of radio signal reception. Also, the sticker can be damaged from the inside, for example, by children. In this case, you will have to buy a new one.
How to choose a new antenna?
Many are interested in, if the radio in the car does not catch well, which antenna to choose.
Devices are divided into two main types: active and passive. Let's take a closer look:
- Active antennas have a radio signal amplifier that provides a high-quality signal in the city and beyond. Due to the internal installation of the antenna, it is protected from the effects of the external environment (precipitation, sun, temperature changes), therefore, its performance is higher. It is best to install the antenna in such a way that it does not interfere withview of the driver and does not come into contact with a metal surface. Most often it is mounted on the rear panel, windshield or window opening.
- The passive antenna is installed outside the car, it is a pin attached to the car body. They fix it with a magnet, by drilling a hole in the body or by fixing it with a pin method. The efficiency of the antenna depends on the height of its location in relation to the conductive surface. It is recommended to use an external antenna for people who overcome most of the traffic outside the settlement. Since the sensitivity of passive antennas is higher than that of active ones.
Signal booster
Usually, when the radio reception is poor, using the amplifier is ineffective. Especially if the poor sound quality is caused by damage to the antenna, wear of the cable or connector. However, as a rule, this leads to a deterioration in the radio signal of all channels.
However, there are cases when new equipment is installed, and some channels continue to broadcast with interference. If the radio does not pick up well in the car, what to do with such a problem? Each radio channel has a different transmitted signal strength, so it is received differently by the radio device. In this case, the use of a signal amplifier is fully justified. At the same time, it is important to clarify that the amplifier cannot cope with interference caused by high-rise buildings or due to terrain features.
Replacing the radio oramplifier
Basically, the radios that come with the car are of good quality for listening to music and receiving radio broadcasts. But not all devices have similar qualities. It is not uncommon for expensive equipment equipped with CD and DVD media with incredible sound quality to have a bad radio tuner. And not always the equipment installed in premium cars is of high quality radio.
For example, drivers often face the problem of poor radio reception in a Toyota car. What to do in this case? Experts explain that some radios are not designed for the frequency range of our radio stations. To get rid of the problem, it is recommended to buy a new suitable radio or amplifier suitable for our country. In this case, it is necessary to remove the regular amplifier from the foreign car.
How to choose a radio?
If a problem with the radio is detected and the radio in the VAZ car does not pick up well, what do experts advise to do? Replace device.
When choosing a radio, first of all, you need to pay attention:
- on the dimensions of the body panel;
- connection system;
- sound carrier;
- radio power,
- acoustic capabilities.
Most buyers believe that the larger the radio screen, the better the quality of the device, but this opinion is wrong. The bulk of the budget options have low-quality color reproduction and a complex menu. It doesn't affect the sound in any way. Nevertheless, the primary function of the radio -listening to music, not watching videos, so it's better to buy a quality device and not overpay for a dubious device.
According to the type of media, radios are divided into cassette, CD, mp3, USB and DVD players. Models with a USB output are considered the most functional. They allow you to play all kinds of music formats from a flash drive, memory card, hard drive, player and phone.
The connection system is not the last thing when choosing a device. The most common is the ISO connector. The connector looks like wires on one side and a plug for connection on the other. If the car does not have a connector outlet, it can be purchased separately.
Probably everyone knows that the higher the power of the radio, the better the sound. It, in turn, can be nominal and makes it possible to listen to music for a long time or maximum, which is important only when the loud sound is turned on. For example, on the forums you can often find the question: it doesn’t catch the radio well on the Pioneer in the car, what should I do? Many answer that the radio tape recorders of this manufacturer are not famous for their strong radio reception.
Multi-band EQ is quite difficult for an amateur to set up, so it is best to buy three or five-band models. An additional advantage will be the ability to adjust the brightness of the backlight, a removable panel and buttons of standard sizes that make it easier to control the radio.
Modern manufacturers offer models designed for every taste and budget. Among them you can choosea radio that meets personal preferences, with the necessary set of used functions.
