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View Full Version : How can I boost my FM receiver without spending a ton?



lancesaville
07-24-2009, 04:15 PM
The lakes I go to are just out of range of most of the radio stations from the city. Without spending over $100 bucks or changing my head unit, what is the best addition to my current head unit that will help me pick up those fuzzy FM radio stations. I'm thinking an external antenna (maybe wire to the tower? :) and I've heard of 'boosters'? Stereo wizards, I need some sound advice. No pun intended.

jmvotto
07-24-2009, 04:25 PM
THis is cheap not sure it will work great? read the reviews first

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_12044UA60/FM-Signal-Amplifier.html?search=car+fm+receiver+booster

you can get a saelitte radio fm adapter ( if you have a sirius or xm already from you home or car)

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_607FMDA25/FM-Direct-Adapter.html?search=car+fm+receiver+booster

you could probably use this with an ipod as well with the proer adapter.

my .02

sandm
07-24-2009, 04:31 PM
xm or ipod is the only way to go. fm, if it's fuzzy will probably always have some issues with it, especially if you want to crank it up. nothing like listening to music cranked up and static comes over the speakers....

you can try an fm signal booster, but I don't think you will really like the results.

lancesaville
07-24-2009, 04:50 PM
thx guys, but the booster info says it won't work well if there's mountains, and they're all around the lake, so that's prob not gonna be a viable option. The XM thing sounds alright, but I don't have a subscription, I'll look into that option tonight, but it would prob require a diff head unit. thx again

sandm
07-24-2009, 05:31 PM
almost all the current market heads have xm capability. if not, then they make an fm adapter. not the best sound quality, but better than fm.. if you have the factory radio in your lsv, then it's xm ready.
only downside is it cost money every month, but having 100+ channels, many commercial free is a bonus.. we turn ours on every spring and shut it off in the fall when the boat goes into storage.
it's $7/month for us since we have an existing subscription for my wifeys murano. think it's $21 total for 2 units..

jmvotto
07-24-2009, 09:44 PM
Check out the second link on my post you can get the xm portable unit if hu is not xm ready and put it through a decicated fm channel , no static i have it in my suburban works great.

what HU do you have?

lancesaville
07-24-2009, 10:00 PM
it's a kenwood kdc mp238, it SAYS it's satellite ready, which I think means I need an antenna kit and subscription and I'm ready to go. I think.

jmvotto
07-24-2009, 10:17 PM
yep, these are the kits you may need.

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_113MP238/Kenwood-KDC-MP238.html?tp=5684&tab=other_items#Satellite%20Radio%20Tuners



Also you can iput the ipod through the 1/8 mini jack aux on the front

lancesaville
07-24-2009, 10:40 PM
So I guess that just leaves the question - which is better, XM or Sirius ?

jmvotto
07-24-2009, 10:46 PM
they merged so pick either, probably the cheaper kit.

http://www.radiosatellite.org/

you can now get the best of srius on xm and the best of xm on sirius..

gus 08 mobius lsv
08-05-2009, 04:47 PM
So I guess that just leaves the question - which is better, XM or Sirius ?

i just talked to an audio installer about this the other day. he told me it depends on your type of music you like so check the listings but sirius has something xm doesn't right now according to him and thats u can use it like your dvr sat box for tv. u can pause the live feed and u can rewind up to 44 min on some units that u buy. so say u turn it on and just missed your fav song u can rewind it to the beginning of the song. something to think about