Radio Quality

I just finished my install today. I realize the Radio (as well as the rest of the unit) is in beta. I'm running the B6 code which has the RDTS, a signle strength meter and stereo indicator. I get the RDS info on the stations that have it.

The signal strength meter always reads two bars (of five) when there is no station tuned. I have never seen five bars and when tuned to a "strong" locak station the signal/sound quality fluctuates significantly. What I'm not getting is very good radio quality. I'm interested in finding out what others think of their radio - is it working well? How well does it lock onto the signal and stay locked.

Let me know what you think.

=-Clarke



_______________________________
List 351, empeg 00045, 10gb, Amber

I have gotten 5 bars, but only when I am sitting in traffic. Otherwise, my experience is the same as yours, very poor. I'm willing to be patient, but it would be a shame not to have the FM work as well as my old head unit.
Sheetzam S/N 73

At least I'm not alone in my feeling. I'm sure it will get better - I know these guys are working hard on all of this. I just wanted to see if it was my install or if others were having the same problem.

Hugo, I've got a BMW and it's got the euro antenna plug. The bay came with an american antenna plug. Rather than use an adaptor - which is what I'm currently doing, is it possible to change out the recepticle for a euro one? Is this something that I can buy from you guys?

Thanks!

_______________________________
List 351, empeg 00045, 10gb, Amber

We're working on the radio and have some improvements which should appear in the next beta: however, the radio quality is always going to be limited by the fact that there's a 220Mhz CPU about an inch from the tuner - something most car radios don't have to contend with...

As for the antenna plug on the cage - feel free to remove the existing one (it's screwed on) and fit your own. The next batch may have a euro connector, we've not fixed on this yet.

Hugo

Same here, radio quality is poor. Compared to my 'old' radio before, this is more than poor. Just a figure, In my garage, under weak conditions, i got about 10 stations tuned well (stereo, no noise) with the old radio, with the empeg i get 0 ... no station tuned at all. I have to admit, i'm using a combined GSM/Radio antenna which provides not the best signal strength. First i thought it was broken. But no big deal, i don't listen to radio...Jo

the radio quality is always going to be limited by the fact that there's a 220Mhz CPU about an inch from the tuner

Is there any possiblity of a mode that runs the tuner with the CPU powered down (I suspect not somehow, but I had to ask).

__
Unit serial number 47 (was 330 in the queue)...

Forgive me if I'm wrong but doesn't the Clarion Auto PC have a processor in it too. If it does then how do they achieve their radio quality?

They have a couple advantages:

- Access to OEM radio tuner modules which we don't
- Many many years experience in designing tuners

Unfortunately, they don't seem to be very good at making MP3 players :)

Hugo

In reply to:

---

Unfortunately, they don't seem to be very good at making MP3 players :)

---

You mean fortunately, don't you?