When I'm listening to AM on the radio the reception iserratic. The reception will be clearand the volume good, then it will drop appreciably for no apparent reason. It’s not like I’m going in and out of rangeof the signal, but more like the radio loses power or something. The quality of the output is still good, just the volum drops. Has anyone else experienced anything similar?

 

That is and always has been the nature of AM radio. It is very dependent on atmospheric conditions. The gain levels of AM signals is not very stable. I find that the HD AM stations come in great all the time.

 

I've had a CLK 500 for the past 5 years and in the same area where I'm having volum fluxuation in the 350 the CLK plays fine and steady. I wonder if it's the HD aspect of the AM that's causing the problem. The CLK doesn't have HD.

 

Not likely. I find that HD AM stations sound really good, but, the AM has to be working well to receive the carrier. HD AM sounds ike regular FM. There is a noticable change in volume if the signal switches between HD and the standard signal. Maybe this is happening? I would suspect a bad contact or loose connection in the antenna. AM is very directional and a weakness in the antenna connection would be the simplest thing to check. Does your CLK have an external antenna, or, is it embeded in the rear window or side window glass? I think AM quality sucks without a mast type antenna. There are so many variables. In my new S, the range of the Homelink Garage door opener is very short compared to my E. It turns out, that the infrared coating decreases the signal strength. Good luck and keep us posted as to what you find.