Honda Car Forum

I have a 2004 TL and noticed that the AM radio reception is abysmal. Have
other's had the same problem?

I didn't renew XM radio -- I just couldn't stand the disc jockeys on the 60s
(my era) music. I complained to no avail.

Thanks for your comments.

- Russ in Santa Barbara

"Russell Lombardo" <rlombardo@cox.net> wrote in message
news:C0433890.13810%rlombardo@cox.net...
>I have a 2004 TL and noticed that the AM radio reception is abysmal. Have
> other's had the same problem?
>
> I didn't renew XM radio -- I just couldn't stand the disc jockeys on the
> 60s
> (my era) music. I complained to no avail.
>
> Thanks for your comments.
>
> - Russ in Santa Barbara
>

Russ, I am with you 100% on XM 6. About 40 years ago I liked the loud, fast
talking DJs, not today I find them annoying. XM 6 is still in the AM days,
not FM!

As far as the AM reception, if you have an embedded radio antenna in the
windows and if you tint those windows with metallic film, you will lose your
AM reception. That happened to me in my BMW. After I had the film removed
and replaced with non-metallic film that restored the AM reception. The
non-metallic is supposedly not as durable, but after 3 years I have seen no
degradation.

If none of that applies to you, never mind.

Hi,

Thanks for the advice but I never tint my windows, so that isn't the
problem.

For other TL drivers, how is your AM reception?

Thanks,

- Russ

On 03/20/2006 12:08 PM, in article YsCdndtCoeNNloLZRVn-vA@adelphia.com,
"User-in-law" <go_spam_yourself@nosuchISP.not> wrote:

>
> "Russell Lombardo" <rlombardo@cox.net> wrote in message
> news:C0433890.13810%rlombardo@cox.net...
>> I have a 2004 TL and noticed that the AM radio reception is abysmal. Have
>> other's had the same problem?
>>
>> I didn't renew XM radio -- I just couldn't stand the disc jockeys on the
>> 60s
>> (my era) music. I complained to no avail.
>>
>> Thanks for your comments.
>>
>> - Russ in Santa Barbara
>>
>
> Russ, I am with you 100% on XM 6. About 40 years ago I liked the loud, fast
> talking DJs, not today I find them annoying. XM 6 is still in the AM days,
> not FM!
>
> As far as the AM reception, if you have an embedded radio antenna in the
> windows and if you tint those windows with metallic film, you will lose your
> AM reception. That happened to me in my BMW. After I had the film removed
> and replaced with non-metallic film that restored the AM reception. The
> non-metallic is supposedly not as durable, but after 3 years I have seen no
> degradation.
>
> If none of that applies to you, never mind.
>
>

"Russell Lombardo" <rlombardo@cox.net> wrote in message
news:C0449F9C.13853%rlombardo@cox.net...
> Hi,
>
> Thanks for the advice but I never tint my windows, so that isn't the
> problem.
>
> For other TL drivers, how is your AM reception?

<trimmed for brevity>

I live in the Mid-Atlantic (Washington, D.C. metro), possibly one of the
worst areas for AM reception because of so many stations crammed so closely
together. That said, I can regularly listen to AM stations from Richmond,
NYC, Philly, and Cincinnati in the evening in my '05 TL. The D.C. AM band
is really pathetic, but I have no trouble picking out the 1,000 watt
flea-powered daytimers in my TL.

Many AM stations lower power in the evenings (winter is worst because of the
short daylight hours) and/or they change the patterns of their signals to
accomodate grandfathered "clear channel" AM stations. You can plug your
favorite stations call letters into http://www.radio-locator.com to get
their power, tower location(s), antenna pattern and predicted coverage area.
Otherwise I'd say to take it to the dealer and demonstrate the issue. A
good dealer will just swap the head unit if there really is a problem.

HTH,

Jeremy

Hi Jeremy,

Thanks for the input. I live in Santa Barbara and our radio stations are
very low power, day and night. I can get the KW stations from Mexico
without a problem.

I was inquiring to see if others have noted that the performance of the
in-window antenna was poor as compared to the free-standing antennas of old.

I think the lack of answers implies that most people don't listen to AM much
anymore. With so many choices on the TL, it's little wonder.

Thanks again,

- Russ

"Jeremy" <moc.liamtoh@avnipwj> wrote in message
news:44STf.7791$vy.993@trnddc01...
>
> "Russell Lombardo" <rlombardo@cox.net> wrote in message
> news:C0449F9C.13853%rlombardo@cox.net...
>> Hi,
>>
>> Thanks for the advice but I never tint my windows, so that isn't the
>> problem.
>>
>> For other TL drivers, how is your AM reception?
>
> <trimmed for brevity>
>
> I live in the Mid-Atlantic (Washington, D.C. metro), possibly one of the
> worst areas for AM reception because of so many stations crammed so
> closely together. That said, I can regularly listen to AM stations from
> Richmond, NYC, Philly, and Cincinnati in the evening in my '05 TL. The
> D.C. AM band is really pathetic, but I have no trouble picking out the
> 1,000 watt flea-powered daytimers in my TL.
>
> Many AM stations lower power in the evenings (winter is worst because of
> the short daylight hours) and/or they change the patterns of their signals
> to accomodate grandfathered "clear channel" AM stations. You can plug
> your favorite stations call letters into http://www.radio-locator.com to
> get their power, tower location(s), antenna pattern and predicted coverage
> area. Otherwise I'd say to take it to the dealer and demonstrate the
> issue. A good dealer will just swap the head unit if there really is a
> problem.
>
> HTH,
>
> Jeremy
>

rll wrote:
>
> I think the lack of answers implies that most people don't listen to AM much
> anymore. With so many choices on the TL, it's little wonder.
>
> Thanks again,
>
> - Russ

I don't listen to AM much at all. Actually, not even much FM
either. I mostly listen to XM and CDs. But the one AM station I do
listen to daily -- a 24 hour news station -- comes in just fine.