Better fm reception

A web search for your model turned up a blank. You aren't kidding about having it for years. I'll give you some generic information about AM radio reception and hope you find something useful.

Generally, AM reception is through a wire coil wrapped around a ferrite (very fast magnetic material) rod. Received signal strength is dependent on the angle between the rod and the radio station's transmitter antenna, so rotating it in a horizontal direction (around an imaginary vertical line through the center of the receiver) is often helpful. The angle of the best direction can be affected by nearby equipment (metal appliances, ductwork, computers, etc.)

Many non-portable audio receivers and a few boom box types have both an AM and and FM antenna terminal on the back. The FM antenna is very much like a TV antenna (you can use a TV antenna) and is generally required to get FM reception except in units with a telescoping antenna mounted to the case. The AM antenna is used to augment the coil signal, and is generally needed only if you are trying to pick up a weak signal. Attaching a wire to the AM terminal may help (make sure you have a good electrical connection between the terminal and the metal of the wire). This wire will also have an optimal angle for best reception. Try arranging it vertically; many AM radio stations transmit vertically polarized signals for the benefit of car radio antennas.The longer the wire is, the better, but it doesn't have to be very large. The physical limit is about 110 yards, the practical limit is how much you can stand to have stretched out behind the stereo. (A thin wire going up the wall to the hook behind a picture will probably not attract much attention.)

Portable radios often use a single telescoping antenna for both AM and FM along with the internal coil previously described. If you have this, experiment with antenna position and radio location. I have been told that some early model LED light bulbs may interfere with AM radio reception, especially if they are within a few feet of the radio.

If there is no FM Antenna connection you can try to move the power cord to different positions and see if you get a better signal. If not then move the unit closer to a window or try various locations that might have better reception.

Hi, I think your units model number is AJ6111. According to the owners manual, the FM antenna is integrated to AC Power Cord. So you can not add antenna. But you can try to re arrange the cord and perhaps add an extension cord to see if reception gets better.

If this is not the unit you have, please try to provide the model number so I can look up the right owners manual and try to help you.

Good luck.

FM reception is weak

What to do

• Extend the power cord as much as possible. The FM antenna is in the power cord.

• Move the power cord to adjust the FM antenna

• If you still have problems with FM reception, you may need an external antenna.

* Call Bose®Customer Service to request one.

The external antenna on your radio is a coax (round) design It needs an adaptor and an antenna which are cheap.

Easy to make, radio shack "F" connector 90 degrees or straight, to 300 ohm wire connections. Attatch a 300 ohm flat ribbon antenna cable to those two screws and plug into radio and see how your reception is. You will need to position the antenna wires to get best reception. I have hid them in back of paintings and so on.

Cheapest solution next to putting an extension cord on radio power cord.

With old radios it worked to connect the antenna to some central radiator or (metallic) water pipe. Some old wire was used to connect it;

HI there,

Well Yes you can improve the reception, please follow the below steps -

Improve FM Radio Reception -
 
1. If you don't have an antenna connected to your FM receiver, purchase a simple dipole antenna--a simple T-shape flexible wire-- and connect it to the FM antenna inputs on the receiver. Because FM signals are directional, you'll want to experiment with the positioning of the wire to find the best reception of the station you're trying to receive.
 
2. If you're still not getting a good signal, try an indoor amplified antenna, which you'll find at an electronics store. Don't buy one unless you get a guarantee that you can return it for full credit if it doesn't solve your reception problems.
 
3. If your signal is weak because you live a long way from the transmitter, install an outside antenna and mount it as high as is practical. If you're primarily interested in getting signals from one station or from a group of stations in one direction, get a directional antenna and point it toward the transmitters.
 
4. If you're using a portable FM radio where the only antenna is the power cord, stretch the cord as straight as possible and experiment with positioning again.
 
5. Temporarily switch to monaural mode to improve a weak signal on an FM receiver.


Improve AM Reception -
 
1. Gradually rotate the radio 360 degrees. Leave it in the position where it sounds best.
 
2. Reverse the AC plug if it isn't polarized. (If you can flip the plug over, then it's non-polarized.)
 
3. Plug the radio into a different AC outlet.
 
4. Move the radio closer to a window.
 
5. Experiment to learn if appliances and powered products in your home are causing interference: computer monitor, television, electric blanket, light dimmer, fluorescent light, hair dryer, air conditioner, smoke detector. If possible, turn off the offending item. Otherwise, move the radio to another room.
 
6. Upgrade to an external antenna if your receiver, tuner or radio has a place to connect one.
 
7. Buy a passive AM antenna that doesn't need to be connected to a radio or receiver.

Good Luck!!

Thanks

If you used the 2 plug nissan radio harness, there should be a blue wire on there which is the (power antenna) even if your car doesn't have a power antenna, this wire needs to be connect to power on the am/fm amplified ant which is used in many nissan cars.

if the jensen has a blue or a blue/white wire, connect it to one of those. if not, you can always connect it to the red ACC wire. that should solve your reception problem..

hope this helps

I was having the same problem with a jvc kd hdr 30. I Installed it myself over a year ago and never wanted to deal with the issue. Finally, I decided to take a look at it today.
On my head unit, all wires were connected except one blue one with a tag that says "do not connect to power, for remote device or power antenna only." This unit is in a '97' MBZ E320 with no visible antenna; I think it is part of the windshield. In any case, between the wiring diagram in the manual and the harness that is part of my car, I was left with 2 blue wires to choose from, one with a white stripe and one with a gray stripe. After testing both for power or ground, I determined neither had power with key on or off. Both had high resistance ground when compared to the chassis ground. In other words, I measured between chassis and these wires. First, I took a wire and connected it to the chassis ground and connected the other end to the blue wire coming from the unit while tuned to a local am station. This simply killed all reception am or fm but did not harm the unit. Next, I connected the blue wire with gray stripe of the car harness to the blue wire of the unit and again this killed all reception. Then I connected the blue wire with white stripe of car harness to the blue wire of unit and presto magic I had great am reception.
I am guessing that this blue wire with white stripe must be part of the antenna itself or perhaps is a connection that increases antenna power. Maybe 'power antenna' on tag refers to an actual powered antenna (like as in amplified?) and not as in an antenna that rises up out of fender, as I believed.
This may not help the first person with the question, but maybe it will help someone out there who searches for these kinds of answers like I do from time to time.

If the antenna is on the front, pop the hood, and locate where the antenna wire connects to the bottom of the antenna and make sure it is connected well. If everything checks out there, you will have to pull the radio from the dash, and look at the back of it. There will be a large black wire by itself connected to the radio. Push it in to make sure its connected as well. That could really be your only problem unless your radio happens to have a fault on the inside which is extremely rare. Hope that helps

I would suggest that the antenna is bad. If the detailer sent the car threw a car wash or just by coincidence the connection may have failed at the base of the antenna. Cheapest troubleshooting solution is buy a replacement antenna for the car and just connect it to the radio without installing it. If the reception dosen't get any better then replace the radio and return the antenna. To recieve AM you must ground the outside body/base of the antenna (not the whip part) to a bare metal part of the car (door jamb etc.). Most car antennas have a TINY center conductor somewhat like copper leaf in the antenna cable that increases the possibility of failure.