Quote:
Originally Posted by Hoppypar
When you did your install, did you have any trouble with basic AM/FM reception? I know you probably utilize Sat Radio but I'm trying to solve a problem with the same Alpine Head unit, but disappointed in radio reception. I know the SSR's have had antenna issues, but there has got to be a way to sove it. Can you help?
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I answered this for Hoppypar in a PM some time ago. Here is what I sent:
The FM radio reception has been acceptable but not ideal. (Some fading) In other words it is not so bad that I want to do anything about it. It does seem a bit weaker and will fade a little more than in my other vehicles in the same area.
Comparing to a Alpine 9814 in my other truck: Scale of 1 to 10 I would put the 9814 at an 8, the W200 at a 6 in terms of actual reception vs expected. Stock in the other truck (Ford F-250) would be a 10. Stock in the SSR would have been 8 on this reception scale.
My opinion without troubleshooting is that improvement could be made by installing some other antenna instead of using the one built into the windshield of the SSR. I say this because with the factory Bose unit the reception even seemed a bit weaker than I would have expected.
I have seen many corvettes with a small dipole style antenna located inside the window right against the pillar. That is what I have thought about using if the problem were to be something I couldn't live with. I have seen these work pretty well.
Now having said all of that I have a comment about Alpine FM performance in general: This is the 4th Alpine head unit I have had in different vehicles. Without exception in the other vehicles (different head units too) , the Alpine has not had as good of FM reception as the stock units. So I guess I have come to expect lesser performance in this area from them. Maybe it is antenna mismatch in every case..I don't know. Each of the others were stock external antennas.
Most of my use has been cassette, CD or Satellite radio on these units and the FM/AM Ok. Overall I enjoy them or wouldn't keep on buying them.
