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Car radios from America

  • 25-09-2009 10:10AM
    #1
    fox65
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 144 ✭✭


    Hi All
    A quick question, has anyone out there purchased a car radio from america and installed it in a car over here. Any experiences, with the killer exchange rate at the mo was thinking of upgrading


Comments

  • #2
    E39MSport
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,721 ✭✭✭E39MSport


    It won't work. IIRC, they scan frequencies differently. I purchased a Pioneer head unit from the US but it was an EU verision. Beware.


  • #3
    Theta
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,760 ✭✭✭Theta


    You can get frequency conversion kits I believe.


  • #4
    stevenmu
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 9,689 Mod ✭✭✭✭stevenmu


    Many will support both 'modes'. Or there may be a system menu to switch between. Do some research into your chosen HU to find out for sure.


  • #5
    fox65
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 144 ✭✭fox65


    Any futher details on what i'm ment to be looking for. What are the two tuning modes


  • #6
    JHMEG
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,686 ✭✭✭JHMEG


    US stereos don't use the same 0.1MHz steps we do, their FM frequencies band is slightly different, and they don't have RDS. Even with a 'band expander' (as used on Jap imports) you'd be missing channels and have no RDS.

    Don't get one unless it can be switched to operate in Europe. 99.99% can't.


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  • #7
    Eoin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,263 ✭✭✭✭Eoin


    JHMEG wrote: »
    US stereos don't use the same 0.1MHz steps we do, their FM frequencies band is slightly different, and they don't have RDS. Even with a 'band expander' (as used on Jap imports) you'd be missing channels and have no RDS.

    Don't get one unless it can be switched to operate in Europe. 99.99% can't.

    Yep, I got stung with one of these as well. It was only sold in the US so no option to change it.
    fox65 wrote:
    Any experiences, with the killer exchange rate at the mo was thinking of upgrading

    Well, sterling rates are good as well so why not look closer to home?


  • #8
    Bluefoam
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,699 ✭✭✭Bluefoam


    www.caraudiodirect.co.uk


  • #9
    brophy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 335 ✭✭brophy


    i previously bought and installed a stereo from the states. Connections are all the same the issue comes when you want to listen to any station that is on an odd decimal frequeny.......

    i.e. if you wanted to listen to 98.1(98fm) you cant cause the stereos only incrememnt in .2mhz so you go from 98 to 98.2

    you are better off buying from the UK


  • #10
    x in the city
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,134 ✭✭✭x in the city


    dont do it, as per last poster


  • #11
    Busta Hyman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 562 ✭✭✭Busta Hyman


    Well i for one am amazed at the random and very helpfull inane facts we all seem to store in our amazing grey matter. whod have thunk it us radios i 0.2 mhz increments ! you learn something new everyday and im only just out of bed.


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  • #12
    DublinDilbert
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,421 ✭✭✭DublinDilbert


    brophy wrote: »
    i previously bought and installed a stereo from the states. Connections are all the same the issue comes when you want to listen to any station that is on an odd decimal frequeny.......

    i.e. if you wanted to listen to 98.1(98fm) you cant cause the stereos only incrememnt in .2mhz so you go from 98 to 98.2

    you are better off buying from the UK

    it really depends on the radio, the OP hasn't mentioned what he wants to buy.

    Most OEM radios can easily be changed to a different region by holding a combination of buttons. I done this when i bought the OEM radio for my E46 from ebay.

    If its an after market unit he'll have to look into whether he can easily change the region setting.

    In saying that its a bit of hassle, so unless the price is very good, probably not worth it.


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