AM Radio Reception is HORRIBLE
#1
Member
Thread Starter
AM Radio Reception is HORRIBLE
Is there any particular reason that AM reception is so bad in this car? I had the windows tinted the day after getting it so I couldn't say if tint on the rear window affects reception.
Am I the only one who listens to talk radio and finds this to be annoying? Where is the antenna in the E?
Anything I can do?
Am I the only one who listens to talk radio and finds this to be annoying? Where is the antenna in the E?
Anything I can do?
#2
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'71 Pinto
Tint install can sometimes cause problems. Have the dealer check it under warranty could be window antenna circuit.
#3
Super Member
Metallic tint films can affect radio reception. If the dealer confirms the window antenna circuit is good then you might consider changing the tint to ceramic films.
#4
Member
Thread Starter
Only thing that's weird is the FM reception is perfectly fine, not sure what that could mean.
#5
Why do you use AM radio anyways? For traffic information there are free apps .... BTW I haven't found AM radio reception great in any cars, not when I'm traveling at least. Listening to it sounds so 90'sh and old school. Just curious.
#7
Super Member
I stream via iheartradio app when that station hasn't upgraded yet.
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#8
Super Member
Cars used to have some of the best AM reception. My current 2004 Infiniti M45 easily picks up AM stations 100+ miles away without a problem. I can hear Tampa's WFLA throughout most of Florida. 1110 WBT (Charlotte, NC) is very easy to pick up in my car, even in the daytime.
I'll post a comparison to the E350 when mine arrives. I do suspect all of the computers in the 'Benz will substantially increase the noise floor.
I'll post a comparison to the E350 when mine arrives. I do suspect all of the computers in the 'Benz will substantially increase the noise floor.
#10
Cars used to have some of the best AM reception. My current 2004 Infiniti M45 easily picks up AM stations 100+ miles away without a problem. I can hear Tampa's WFLA throughout most of Florida. 1110 WBT (Charlotte, NC) is very easy to pick up in my car, even in the daytime.
I'll post a comparison to the E350 when mine arrives. I do suspect all of the computers in the 'Benz will substantially increase the noise floor.
I'll post a comparison to the E350 when mine arrives. I do suspect all of the computers in the 'Benz will substantially increase the noise floor.
#11
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'15 E350 4M Sport
I don't recall my '09 C300 AM reception being bad. My current '13 X3 has decent AM reception with the HD being noticeably clearer (although sometimes annoying when it alternates between standard and high definition). I listen to AM radio during commuting to get latest local weather and traffic (every 10-min) which most FM stations don't provide in sufficient detail or as often. Hopefully the E350 I'm getting will be at least as good.
#12
> I stream via iheartradio app when that station hasn't upgraded yet.
Yeah, me too. My only problem is when iHeartRadio changes the ads (they are more annoying) and even sometimes the content (late night shows).
Still, I can listen to my local talk station anywhere, which is nice.
Yeah, me too. My only problem is when iHeartRadio changes the ads (they are more annoying) and even sometimes the content (late night shows).
Still, I can listen to my local talk station anywhere, which is nice.
#13
Super Member
I understand what you are saying, but my question is why....??? Do AM stations offer greater selection of music / talk shows..... I mean is anything better than FM..? (even advertisements...). I don't see the point for rallying behind a soon to be obsolete technology, or may be I'm wrong.
Otherwise, I dial into BBC World Service (712) 432.5335 or Deutche Welle English (712) 432.2950 on my mobile phone and go from there. My company has unlimited voice minutes, but unfortunately Verizon dumped our unlimited internet plans.
On the lower-use data months, I'll often fire up the Netherlands' Radio 6 or JazzRadio.fr on the mobile. Ironically, at our office we've got a 160Mbps/160Mbps connection and they generally don't care what we do with it as long as it's legal. Almost all of the office listens to European stations during the day.
#14
So FM music quality is worse than AM...??? That is news to me. I have personally experienced only the opposite in almost all the states I've driven through (mostly the northeast). I agree about the range though. I didn't know that in Florida you have that much content in AM radio.
None of them approach the quality of satellite radio , but their content appears very limited.
Anyway if AM works for you guys then let's hope MB improves their AM quality.
None of them approach the quality of satellite radio , but their content appears very limited.
Anyway if AM works for you guys then let's hope MB improves their AM quality.
#15
Super Member
It's not as much that there's a ton of content on AM radio, rather the lack of content available on FM. As we used to say back when I worked in broadcasting, "It's not that we're #1 because we're the best -- we just suck less than the other stations."
#16
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2014 Mercedes E250
A lot of people listen to AM. It's a matter of personal taste. Have you tried HD on AM? It's crystal clear, no static. Only satellite is better, just because it has unlimited range and no commercials. I find something to listen to on AM, FM, and satellite; and I don't need an app or a cellphone to enjoy it, although the guy looking down and sitting through the green light must.
#18
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'15 E350 4M Sport
There's only one AM station I found in the (North of) Boston area. It sounds clearer than regular broadcast but sometimes alternates between the two, since HD seems more sensitive to reception difficulty (and that's mildly annoying). The AM reception is generally decent, although I haven't really checked the range/sensitivity. I don't have any tinting.
#19
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2014 Mercedes E250
My car had a problem with AM reception. The dealer had to contact the Mercedes engineers in Germany to troubleshoot it. There were actually two problems. The long coax cable between the antenna amplifier and the radio unit had a broken wire. This cable was replaced after a month's wait for it to arrive from Germany. It didn't resolve the weak reception. The cable between the antenna and the antenna amplifier was also replaced. This didn't do it either. The antenna itself was finally checked and found faulty. The rear windshield had to be replaced to correct this. Thank goodness it was under warranty. Now the reception is great. I like to listen to a station 200 miles from my town, and it comes in like a local one now. Too bad it took two months to fix the problems. Most of this time was due to Mercedes apparent very clumsy parts distribution system.
#21
Super Member
bmcdanel: Thank you for posting a follow-up.
Now that I have my 2015 E, I can safely say radio reception on this car is excellent! AM and FM. I had a ~175 mile reception on FM this past week, picking up WPOW (Miami) all the way up in Venice, FL. AM's quite good. I'm still able to get HD AM stations in digital 100 miles out mid-day.
Now that I have my 2015 E, I can safely say radio reception on this car is excellent! AM and FM. I had a ~175 mile reception on FM this past week, picking up WPOW (Miami) all the way up in Venice, FL. AM's quite good. I'm still able to get HD AM stations in digital 100 miles out mid-day.
#22
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2014 E350, 2012 SL550
bmcdanel: Thank you for posting a follow-up.
Now that I have my 2015 E, I can safely say radio reception on this car is excellent! AM and FM. I had a ~175 mile reception on FM this past week, picking up WPOW (Miami) all the way up in Venice, FL. AM's quite good. I'm still able to get HD AM stations in digital 100 miles out mid-day.
Now that I have my 2015 E, I can safely say radio reception on this car is excellent! AM and FM. I had a ~175 mile reception on FM this past week, picking up WPOW (Miami) all the way up in Venice, FL. AM's quite good. I'm still able to get HD AM stations in digital 100 miles out mid-day.
Regards,
Don
#24
Member
Thread Starter
My car had a problem with AM reception. The dealer had to contact the Mercedes engineers in Germany to troubleshoot it. There were actually two problems. The long coax cable between the antenna amplifier and the radio unit had a broken wire. This cable was replaced after a month's wait for it to arrive from Germany. It didn't resolve the weak reception. The cable between the antenna and the antenna amplifier was also replaced. This didn't do it either. The antenna itself was finally checked and found faulty. The rear windshield had to be replaced to correct this. Thank goodness it was under warranty. Now the reception is great. I like to listen to a station 200 miles from my town, and it comes in like a local one now. Too bad it took two months to fix the problems. Most of this time was due to Mercedes apparent very clumsy parts distribution system.
Thank you for that reply
I'll ask the dealer to check on it during it's next service. I would hate to have to have the rear window tint removed and redone with non metallic film. Doesn't make sense that it wouldn't affect FM reception but AM only though...
#25
MBWorld Fanatic!
On delivery the AM reception in my Bluetec was abysmal.Took it to the dealer...they found that a part that shouldn't have been painted *had* been painted (can't recall which one).They removed the paint and the AM reception improved substantially.Don't know if my problem affected FM reception because I never listened to it.I listened to AM for news and talk and for music I play the songs stored on my hard drive.