Radio appears to have reception problem.

Boo Boo

What brand is it? Huang Zao electric maybe?

It is not uncommon for modern radios/head units to be lacking in radio reception. I believe many are made with the Ipod, usb, Blue TEETH, and Phone control as the focus of their features. "Just say the word and it will play it for you".
This means some radio sensitivity may not be really important to the people who want the above features and so reception isn't a priority in manufacture as it used to be many years ago.

I have a radio out of a1986 Landcruiser which outperforms all modern stuff.

The sensitivity is usually shown as a Milli or micro volts in the specs of the unit.
From memory the lower the Mv means it will interpret an incoming signal ie better sensitivity than one which has a higher figure. I think I got that right. long time since I looked.

Worth a check of this if you can find the specs of the unit and compare against others.

I don't know of anyone who bothers to do this though.

Could be an aerial problem if this is not a factor, possibly connector fault or outer shield not earthing very well.

You can always check the inner core/pin to the tip of the aerial with a ohm meter to check continuity and insulation from the outer shield.

Ross M

G'day fella's

I have had really great reception until just recently.

I have just gone outside to the car to check the make and it's a Pioneer.

I'm a bit of a stickler for a brand that I have had a good run from, hence the Pioneer.

Hey Boo Boo

its time tto DOWNGRADE to the original radio.

Or maybe one of those old valve models that were available.
They pulled in anything

What year make & model is the car? I have heard of some new cruiser owners having issues with antennas - they are built into the windscreen I believe.

cheers

I've found over the years that the standard Toyota radio's are usually the best for long distance reception, usually outperforming most aftermarket units. Quite often with most vehicles the standard radio will have better reception than a fitted aftermarket unit.
The best aftermarket units are the Pioneer units with the "supertuner" front end.
Funnily enough quite often the older units are often better than the latest and greatest, as a previous poster said check the sensitivity (in millivolts) to compare units.
Most modern units are biased towards playing digital music from phones, usb etc rather then radio reception.

Gidday

The standard radio in my Ford Ranger is probably as good as any i have experienced and better than many out in the bush. It has a pull out antenna mounted on the A-pillar, far better i think for pulling in the signal than in-glass jobbies on luxury 4WDs.

Cheers

Hi Boo Boo,
Just check the bleeding obvious - check that the aerial connector at the back of the radio has just not fallen (or nearly) fallen out or become disconnected. They sometimes are a bit of a snap in, and if not originally pushed in hard enough, may have rattled out over time.

Seems strange a reasonable brand radio so quickly loses reception even given all the other comments.

Wayne

Gday Tony,
I guess I'd look at the aerial first - given it's mounted in the RH rear quarter glass of your 200series. If you fit the incorrect tint, you can stuff it up, and I guess you also have to make sure you don't put on aluminium shades etc over that piece of glass - I'm making up some corflute shades for mine.

Assuming thats OK, then I'd buy a $20 spring mounted amplified Aerpro antenna and mount it on the bullbar and see if that helps. If it does, then keep it! But I also wonder why the antenna is at the back of the vehicle and I guess it might be to reduce electronic noise.

Cheers
phil