FM radio reception?

Mafster

Mafster

New member
I realize our 4Runners come with 2 band antennas, one for FM (powered) and one for AM. Does anyone have problems with reception on FM? Mine is hit & miss and I'm wondering what I can do to fix it. My mast antenna in my 93 4Runner had much better reception overall. Ideas?
 
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They are both for FM. It is called a diversity antenna system uses two antennae mounted at different locations on the vehicle and the HU measures and automatically chooses one that provides the better FM radio signal.

I have no problem with mine. It is possible that one the connectors is not plugged in all the way, on yours?
 
I get AM and FM reception just fine. I live in the bay area so I don't know if that has any bearing on my reception. There are lots of radio stations out here. However, for some weird reason from time to time, the broadcasts cuts out and i hear intermittant morse code like beeps that last about a second. Don't know if it's my system, the broadcast, or just ambient intereference. I have a Toyota stock radio btw. I like the fact that our 4th gen antennas are integrated into the rearmost side windows for a cleaner look. No telescoping atennae to worry about breaking.
 
I had a new deck installed and the stereo guy unplugged what looked to be 2 seperate antenna leads. He said one was powered (assuming the FM) and was not (AM). Each one went to a different side of the 4Runner rear-side window. The powered one to the passenger side. This was the basis for what I was running my info off of. He hooked up the powered one and still my reception isn't what it use to be.

For those of you who have run new stereo decks, how do you hook up the antenna?

Another interesting fact is that Eclipse is owned by Toyota, but our factory stereos don't have much in common with Eclipse stereos, regarding configuration.

Thanks for all your help!!:)
 
Koz,

Thanks! My installer plugged in the one powered (large plug) antenna and ran power to it. So in therory my stereo should be working o.k. for am/fm-though not as well as the factory h.u. because I no longer have the diversity feature? Or do I have no antenna because the system is no longer hooked up in series?

Sorry in advance if this seems like a dumb question, but I'd like to get this straight when I take it to the installer to either re-hook up or plug in an aftermarket hidden powered-antenna.

Also, I know I've seen this a hundred times, but have never said it myself....

I LOVE THIS FORUM/WEBSITE! It really has saved me a lot of work on my 4Runner, cost me a lot of money in mods, and made me a smarter dude (which isn't saying much). :)
 
I have also noticed the occassional fraction of a section blips in my FM reception and I haven't attempted any mods.
 
There are two antennas (one each of the rear sides windows). Each has a coaxial plug. One of these plugs is larger than the other. But they are both only antenna wires. Along with the diversity system is an amplifier. It must be supplied power. So you have one antenna plugged in (which is the possible configuration for an aftermarket HU). And the other should be taped off or stick it somewhere out of the way. Then of course the proper wire for the amp must be feed juice. I bet your antenna amp has no power.
 
Im having the same problem! I hear these little blipps/pops with my FM reception. Did any of you find a solution yet?

Perhaps these are just defective HUs? They are definitely crappy made-in-thailand fujitsus....I'm thinking of getting mine replaced. I will be sure to post if this accomplishes anything.
 
Is there any consistent place where these blimps or mores code sounds occur?? Are they with in say 8-10 miles or closer to a large airport???

I work for the FAA as an Electronic Tech and we have transmitters in various systems using various Frequencies from 75 Megahertz Instrument landing system (ILS) maker beacons which some are locate 4-7 miles from the end of a runway, to 3500watts peak Tacan transmitters at somewhere around 1gigahertz. Upside down ice-cream cone looking building could be anywhere, on an airport or in the middle of nowhere in a farmers field. We also have 10watt and 50watt UHF and VHF communication transmitters (A-G Comm sites) which if close enough can bleed onto a car radio. Comm sites can also be in the middle of nowhere. We also have NDBs (Non Directional Beacons) which are somewhere in the 200-300 kilohertz range 50 watts+ that bleeds in to radios also. Many of these sites use mores code to identify them to the pilots.

These sites are all over the place along with cell sites, TV transmission towers ect
 
turbomech7 said:
Im having the same problem! I hear these little blipps/pops with my FM reception. Did any of you find a solution yet?

Perhaps these are just defective HUs? They are definitely crappy made-in-thailand fujitsus....I'm thinking of getting mine replaced. I will be sure to post if this accomplishes anything.
Click to expand...

Those blips/pops that you are hearing in your SoCal radio may be the sounds of Texas Longhorn cattle hoofing thier way to the Rose bowl. :p
 
fo'runner said:
Those blips/pops that you are hearing in your SoCal radio may be the sounds of Texas Longhorn cattle hoofing thier way to the Rose bowl. :p
Click to expand...

ahh then I have nothing to worry about. Those blips will soon be "defeated" on the 4th :zoom:
 
Ha...the condoms, I mean Trojans, were already beat in a game back on October 15th. You know the one...I like to call it "Pushgate".... The real National Champion is actually playing in the Fiesta Bowl. Go Irish.



Anyway, back tro the point, I have a new '06 and also have the blips in the radio reception, I'm not near any major airports. Sorta annoying, I'm gonna run it by the Service Manager at Toyota when I pick up my tags.
 
sesegal99 said:
Ha...the condoms, I mean Trojans, were already beat in a game back on October 15th. You know the one...I like to call it "Pushgate".... The real National Champion is actually playing in the Fiesta Bowl. Go Irish.



Anyway, back tro the point, I have a new '06 and also have the blips in the radio reception, I'm not near any major airports. Sorta annoying, I'm gonna run it by the Service Manager at Toyota when I pick up my tags.
Click to expand...

I somewhat agree with you - that was a great game and ND has a very worthy team and they probably should be ranked even higher than they currently are. The calling could have gone either way. Technically Bush wasn't supposed to "push" him but you see it happen all the time without being called. Eh... but that aside I think the Irish are very strong...

Glad to hear there are others with the blips/pops I dont live anywhere near airport either. Let me know what they end up doing! Man I love this forum
 
I was at that game, 15th row behing ND's endzone. Best game ever I'm sure. Lost my voice and my ears were ringing for 2 days. Not only was there the push, but the play before was a horrible spot when Leinert fumbled out of bounds. USC had a good run but you can feel it closing down. I'll be very suprised if they can beat Texas, that is one good team.

I'll keep everyone posted reg the bleeps and the blips. It might be the government spying on us.
 
I just noticed something interesting. The same pattern of common audible blips from my stock radio (... ... ... ._._.) are also audible from my computer speakers. It's the kind of intereference you get when a cell phone is nearby too. I'm starting to think it's just common ambient intereference and nothing wrong with my HU in my runner. Weird. Of course, with all the radio waves, home wireless networks in the neighborhood, microwave ovens, cell phones, etc. I'm not surpised.

Another observation, my uncle has an '02 Tacoma and picks up the same series of blips. He has the traditional mast antennae too. His radio is stock.
 
I think the same thing... I spoke to service at my dealer and they have had 0 complaints regarding such a problem. Wy wife said she hasn't heard it so perhaps it is just normal interference and our antennas are just sensitive enough to be picking it up every once in a while. Does anyone have aftermarket Sirius?? I'd think that if it were a head unit or loose antenna connection issue, the sirius would also result in bleeps since the signal is routed through the radio. Hum this is interesting, I'd like to find out what is really hapening.
 
sesegal99 said:
I think the same thing... I spoke to service at my dealer and they have had 0 complaints regarding such a problem. Wy wife said she hasn't heard it so perhaps it is just normal interference and our antennas are just sensitive enough to be picking it up every once in a while. Does anyone have aftermarket Sirius?? I'd think that if it were a head unit or loose antenna connection issue, the sirius would also result in bleeps since the signal is routed through the radio. Hum this is interesting, I'd like to find out what is really hapening.
Click to expand...

yeap my dad can't hear it either... maybe its just us - the ones with sensitive hearing... but i STILL hear it

didn't have it in my 10 year old camry which had a very poor stereo system. Nor do I hear it in my dad's car nor in my brothers 3rd gen 4runner....

what is going on? AHH!
 
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