Got poor FM reception.

mike65

Anyone help with my car radio? Its a 1996 Blaupunkt Madrid unit with tape deck and CD unit in the boot jobbie. The MW/LW reception is grand but on FM it'll only pick up a strong local signal which here means WLR and BEAT, Today FM and RTE 1 are just audible but no good when on the move. The ariel is one of those short bendy items on the rear window, I checked the connection to it and its solid.

Any ideas?

Mike.

peasant

I bet you have pressed a wrong button somewhere, setting the reception preference on "local" transmitters.

This could be done on quite few (old) Blaupunkt radios I've owned. Unfortunately, without the manual (which you probably haven't got) it's a b**** to find out how to change this setting.

Our man in Havana

I pity the fool that listens to WLR and Beat.

mike65

I have the manual and I checked all the setting regards reception sensitivity and its fine, I unhooked the ariel and the reception didnt change so I think
the little amp at the base is bust.

Mike.

colm_mcm

have you tried connecting a different aeriel?

byte

Yes, it could well be the integrated amp. Have you checked to make sure the amp was getting power?

mike65

No would'nt know how! Given the price of a new unit there's little point in a repair job.

Mike.

maidhc

mike65 wrote:

The ariel is one of those short bendy items on the rear window, I checked the connection to it and its solid.

Did the A6 not originally use the rear demister as an ariel? The A4 of that vintage definately did. (It also had the Madrid radio, which incidentally was also fitted to the e-class, and is far better that the newer Balupunkt ones.)

Try a different ariel to start with, and check if the ariel that is there is grounded properly.

bazz26

mike65 wrote:

No would'nt know how! Given the price of a new unit there's little point in a repair job.

Mike.

But if the problem is with the ariel itself you will still be stuck with a new head unit with poor reception. A replacement ariel is alot cheaper than a replacement head unit at this stage.

colm_mcm

wouldn't the short bendy aeriel be a carphone aeriel?

mike65

I'll take a picture tomorrow.

Mike.

peasant

maidhc wrote:

Did the A6 not originally use the rear demister as an ariel?

You couldn't use the demister as an antenna. That is wired to take current only.
If the antanna is part of the glass on any screen (windscreen or backlight) it has to be a seperate circuit with separate connectors. Usually it's just one or two lines.

maidhc

peasant wrote:

You couldn't use the demister as an antenna. That is wired to take current only.
If the antanna is part of the glass on any screen (windscreen or backlight) it has to be a seperate circuit with separate connectors. Usually it's just one or two lines.

That would make sense alright, I never gave it much thought.

The A4 had two vertical lines on the back window, possibly these were the elements for the antenna?

colm_mcm

It wouldn't be the demister circuit itself, just 2 or 3 lines above it as peasant said.

John R

mike65 wrote:

Anyone help with my car radio? Its a 1996 Blaupunkt Madrid unit with tape deck and CD unit in the boot jobbie. The MW/LW reception is grand but on FM it'll only pick up a strong local signal which here means WLR and BEAT, Today FM and RTE 1 are just audible but no good when on the move. The ariel is one of those short bendy items on the rear window, I checked the connection to it and its solid.

Is it the Madrid RCM 148? I have an almost identical head unit and it's FM reception is excellent.

Can you borrow a different head unit to check if it is the aerial or the head that is at fault?

mike65

Its the 105 version. I have no easy swaps availble

Mike.

mike65

piccy of the aerial

Mike.

bazz26

mike65 wrote:

piccy of the aerial

Mike.

That looks like an old car phone aerial to me Mike. I don't remember Audi or VW fitting the ariel to the rear windscreen like that. I could be wrong though.

mike65

Hmmmmm, me goes outside to have a proper look at my own car!

I'm back, there is nothing on the rear screen that looks like an aeriel element nor is there anything in the car to suggest it ever had a phone plumbed in. Usually there is a box of tricks and lots of cable under the rear seat but not in mine.

Mike.

Wishbone Ash

I thought you had a MB - several posters have referred to an Audi or VW???

mike65

I bought an A6 a few weeks ago.

Mike.

Wishbone Ash

mike65 wrote:

I bought an A6 a few weeks ago.

Mike.

Ah! I 've been abroad for several weeks. Well wear.

colm_mcm

http://www.bluespot.co.uk/install/show_model.asp?id=17


There's an amp for the aeriel, That would suggest it's on one of the glass panes, try the rearmost side windows.

mike65

Okay have done some actual research and the those who queried the rear screen aerial are right, the radio element is built in to the rear window demister and the amp is located in the C pillar on drivers side. It looks like a few hours work with all the removing of seats, panels, speakers etc. So I'll leave it for another day.

Mike.

colm_mcm

could the amp be faulty?

mike65

I'm assuming at this point its the cause of my woe (such as it is woe, still got LW/MW)

Mike.

colm_mcm

check out the link above, they can be had for £9.99

maidhc

I wonder if it is possible to use the old carphone antenna instead and the bypass the signal amplifier? Or do they work on an entirely different principle?

bennyx_o

Is it always poor? Or during certain times? Does your car have Daytime running lights?

mike65

Its the same all the time - local statiions with strong signal okay but anything from Mount Leinster very weak.

Mike.

bennyx_o

You car doesn't have HID light fitted, by any chance?