Bizzare Car AM Radio Reception Problem
 

This one is driving me nuts. I had a decent JVC Car stereo. When it
starts getting cold here the reception of most AM stations gets
horrible - a high pitched whine accompanies most signals. Thinking
the JVC was at fault, I purchased a top of the line Pioneer unit. SAME
PROBLEM! It gets weirder. If I take a portable radio into my car,
with the car running, and the Pioneer turned off, no problem with the
signal on the portable. As soon as I turn on the Pioneer, the
portable makes the same high pitched whine!

To recap:
-No problems in the summer, only when it is cold outside!
-Taking a portable radio into the running car does not exhibit the
problem, so I don't believe that there is interference from the car.
-Turning on the car radio causes the exact same interference on a
portable radio in the car.
-I have tried 2 different brands and both had the problem.

Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

In article , KP wrote:
To recap:
-No problems in the summer, only when it is cold outside!

I'm wondering if the heater is interacting with the car radio and a
portable is probably far enough away from the source of the "noise"
that it can't pick up the noise...just radio signals.

--
Sven Weil
New York City, U.S.A.

KP wrote:

-Turning on the car radio causes the exact same interference on a
portable radio in the car.

Is there any accessory connected to the Radio like audio amplifier,
reception amplifier etc. which your turn on with the radio?

--
Vy 73 es 55 de Ralf, DL2MRB
E-Mail:

Thanks for the reponses. There is an amp connected, but I don't think
that the amp is the issue beccause this only happens during the
winter.

The interference happens even if the heater is off. It even happens
if the car is not running!

KP ) writes:
Thanks for the reponses. There is an amp connected, but I don't think
that the amp is the issue beccause this only happens during the
winter.

The interference happens even if the heater is off. It even happens
if the car is not running!



Revisit the amp. If it's not the stereo head (you've changed it), it has
to be something connected to the stereo head which would be the amp. More
likely, it's probably a bad cable or bad connector on the cables going
between the stereo head and the amp.


--
Craig Jackman - Audio Production and Sound Design
Multi-award winning Creative Production, Station Imaging, Comedy, Voices
"Pride is the attitude that separates excellence from mediocrity!"
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

KP,

You didn't mention what type of vehicle was involved. Sounds like it's not
the radio, but something in the vehicle. If its under warranty, bring it to
the dealer, they ought to straighten it out.

-Steve


"KP" wrote in message
...
This one is driving me nuts. I had a decent JVC Car stereo. When it
starts getting cold here the reception of most AM stations gets
horrible - a high pitched whine accompanies most signals. Thinking
the JVC was at fault, I purchased a top of the line Pioneer unit. SAME
PROBLEM! It gets weirder. If I take a portable radio into my car,
with the car running, and the Pioneer turned off, no problem with the
signal on the portable. As soon as I turn on the Pioneer, the
portable makes the same high pitched whine!

To recap:
-No problems in the summer, only when it is cold outside!
-Taking a portable radio into the running car does not exhibit the
problem, so I don't believe that there is interference from the car.
-Turning on the car radio causes the exact same interference on a
portable radio in the car.
-I have tried 2 different brands and both had the problem.

Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

In article , Steve wrote:
To recap:
-No problems in the summer, only when it is cold outside!
-Taking a portable radio into the running car does not exhibit the
problem, so I don't believe that there is interference from the car.
-Turning on the car radio causes the exact same interference on a
portable radio in the car.
-I have tried 2 different brands and both had the problem.

It's RF trash being dumped on the vehicle power lines. Is it related to
the heater being turned on? Start pulling fuses until the problem goes
away and you'll locate the source.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."