'05 Accord EX - Poor FM reception

I just purchased a new Accord EX and have noticed I get very poor FM
reception. It doesn't want to hold a station at all. I get a lot of FM
station drift even with strong signals and on flat terrain. Has anyone
else experienced this?

Where is the antenna located? Does it need to be raised?

 

it is typical of these Hondas. The antenna is built in to the rear window.
There is not modifying you can do. Perhaps an amplifier might work but that
might just amplify the noise.

 

Same here. I got the 05 Accord Hybrid and am pissed to find that its
cheap stereo is not replaceable. Climate control and low frequency
noise cancellation are integrated. FM stations that I used to get
perfectly clearly in my previous car are unintelligible now. I replaced
the tinfoil speakers (you can literally crush them in your hand) in the
rear deck but it seems that the system only puts out a few watts per
channel.

I do not find the radio acceptable at all. I need to contact the
dealership to see WTF is up with this. It's a $30K car that CAN'T have
a decent radio.

 

I have the same problem with my 2004. I really believe the radio is OK, its
the antenna. GM tried that "invisible" antenna in the windshield quite a
few years back and I never liked it either. Nice for looks, lousy for
reception.

 

I have not seen that problem in our 2003 EX with Nav. In fact, the
radio has more sensitivity on both AM and FM than the one in our Jeep
Grand Cherokee with its telescoping outside antenna. I regularly
listen to AM stations 100 miles away. I can also pick up our local FM
music station more than 100 miles away with a good signal. As an
amateur radio operator, receiver sensitivity is an issue with me. I'm
very happy with this radio.

 

my girlfriends 04 Accord is the same way.

You can put in another stereo system but you will have to leave the
original. The stereo can be mounted in the armrest or glove compartment
etc. I would take it to a custom install place and see what they say.

 

Looks like I'll have to subscribe to XM radio.

 

That would sure solve your problem. And you already have the radio.

 

Yeah, it's pretty nice, no station drift at all and no commercials, and
100+ channels. $12.95/mo isn't bad, but I wonder if they are going to
keep raising it year after year, probably.

I wonder why the antenna picks up XM so good? Maybe because it's a much
stronger signal coming from directly overhead, but then why don't I
lose it in a tunnel?? Anyone know the electronics of it??

 

My grandfather has a 2003 Ford Crown Victoria with the antenna in the rear
window as well. I don't know how well it works though. As for the GM
experiment, my father had an '80 Chevy Malibu with the windshield antenna,
but the radio was only AM. I don't remember if AM/FM radios from that
period used the same antenna or a typical one.

 

If you are in a tunnel for more than a few seconds and don't lose
signal, it is because you're driving in an area served by a local
repeater.

The radios buffer a few seconds' content internally, and XM's two
satellites send the same signal a few seconds apart. All this together
gives you a reasonable chance of maintaining a signal when driving
under an overpass for example.

 

"Dick" wrote

Also an amateur radio operator, I had to take the "EX Challenge" this
morning. Mine's an '04 EX auto 4-cyl non-Nav, non-leather. It's the stock
6-CD changer. I live in southern Arizona. My radio works great: at 7AM
(about an hour after sunrise) I was listening to KSL in Salt Lake City, Las
Vegas, KFI in L.A., and could have gotten KNBR in SF if we didn't have a
local station at 690. I was also getting strong signals from numerous
Phoenix stations 100+ miles away, and FWIW there is a mountain range close
by that is "in the way." I could be doing some serious broadcast band
DX'ing with this radio.

The subject line is about FM reception, so I found numerous Phoenix stations
on FM as well on this radio. As characteristic of FM, different spots along
the drive yielded signals for better or worse; occasionally quite strong. I
think it's a fine radio, and I am surprised at how good its reception is
considering the in-the-glass antenna. I expected a lot worse. Oh, and the
audio quality is great, too, but I know that's a matter of opinion.

Howard

 

If you are in a tunnel for more than a few seconds and don't lose
signal, it is because you're driving in an area served by a local
repeater.

The radios buffer a few seconds' content internally, and XM's two
satellites send the same signal a few seconds apart. All this together

gives you a reasonable chance of maintaining a signal when driving
under an overpass for example. <<

Thanks for the explanation.

 

I happen to live in north/central Arizona. Maybe radios just work
better in Arizona?

Dick

 

"Dick" wrote

It's the thin air...

N7SO

 

The stock FM radio can't deal with multipath. The radio might work
great out in the middle of nowhere but it's garbled and fuzzy sounding
in a city.

 

Phoenix, the 5th largest city in the U.S., is not exactly out in the
middle of nowhere. I don't see any multipath problems with our radio
when driving around Phoenix.

 

"Dick" wrote

Nor with mine when driving in Tucson.