Car Stereos

hallelujajordan

Hi,

Quick question . . Does anyone have any experience with using US-bought car stereos in Europe ? Will they work ? I know that I need to confirm that the FM frequency range covers Europe, but is there anything else I need to be aware of ? ?

Thanks for your help ?

HJ

crosstownk

The frequency range is practiaclly the same. However, a US FM stereo will only tune in 0.2MHz steps unlike FM tuners in Europe that tune in 0.1 or 0.05MHz steps. For example you can tune top 88.5MHz but not to 88.6MHz - you cannot tune to any frequency where the first digit after the decimal place is an even number. So, if your in Dublin you cannot tune to FM104 (104.4MHz), Newstalk (106.00MHz) and lots of others.

Some RDS fuctions are slightly different - some PTY categories are labeled differently and there is no AF (Alternative Frequency) function. So if you drive from Dublin to Cork you and listen to RTE 2FM you will manually have to change frequency as the US stereo will not detect the stronger signal on an alternative frequency.

hallelujajordan

I'm looking at one in Crutchfields that apparently has European tuning so presumably this means it will increment in 0.1 steps . . Are there any other variables that might cause me a problem fitting in a European car ? Its amazing how much cheaper they are in the US . .

crosstownk

If it has European tuning then you should be OK. I bought most of my ICE in the US and the prices are so much cheaper. Remember to factor in the VAT if your having it shipped. I just 'smuggled' my kit back in my luggage.

hallelujajordan

Excuse the ignorance, but what is ICE ?

Our man in Havana

In Car Entertainment