Radio 9 Stations Sounds Slightly Off Freq

[spanky10]

I've had my Smart for about two months now and have noticed that radio stations tuned on the Radio 9 sound like they're tuned ever so slightly off-frequency (for those old enough to remember real tuning dials and not today's PLL circuitry).

It's most noticeable when listening to AM stations and is also noticeable with FM stations too. All are powerful stations, close to the transmitter site (withing 25 miles or so), and during the daytime (no long range nighttime interference).

I've tried re-tuning the station manually and resetting the pre-set buttons, and fiddling with the bass/treble settings, but still have that slightly off-frequency sound quality that I don't have with my other vehicles or with other portable radios.

Does anyone know of a fix for this? A factory reset? A hidden fine-tune feature maybe?

Thanks,
Dave (aka: Spanky10)

[Winnetou]

The following is part of a message I posted on another discussion of the smart radio:

However, as mentioned by others, the sound on A.M. does indeed have a noticeably distorted quality, which does sound rather as though the radio is not finely tuned to the selected stations. To check this, I set up next to the car a high-grade portable signal generator, with a portable frequency counter and small aerial. I chose various A.M. settings on the Radio 9, where no station could be heard, and then adjusted the frequency output of the generator until the modulating tone was loudest on the radio. The frequency counter showed that the frequency matched the setting on the radio. Thus, the smart radio does tune correctly.

I suspected even before I received my car that the problem was due to radio frequency noise arising from digital circuits in the radio or elsewhere in the car. I found that the distortion on A.M. was present even when the radio was operated with the car ignition off. I brought a vintage, entirely analogue A.M. radio into the car, to check for digital noise. With the Radio 9 and the car off, there was none, as might be expected. But when I turned on the Radio 9, the portable radio was overwhelmed with a very nasty digital buzz and hash.

It appears that the distortion on A.M., on the smart radio, is due to radio frequency noise from its own digital circuits. And given how bad this noise was on the portable radio held near by, I should say that the designers did a reasonably good job of keeping most of the noise out of the signal paths in the A.M. circuits of the radio. To reduce it further would likely require considerable modification.

[Fredvon4]

Winnetou

Retired Army aircraft mechanic with several years experience as electrician and Nav aids repairman
Ham radio op

ordered $350 premium radio 10 package...pure junk... IMO (FM section and CD paly back is middle of road adaquate but speakers and sub woffer are junk)

Did very similar test and came to exact same conclusion

I am too busy this year so I am just living with it... but this is my first factory radio that I know must be replaced with an aftermarket head unit to be able to enjoy AM radio

Before the "I hate Rush Limbaugh talk radio" bashers come out of the works and deride all/any AM radio:

I live in rural America out side a small town with a twice a week news paper.

Our local weather is distinctly different for what is reported 2 counties over where there is population enough for a real TV station and daily news

I enjoy local news in the morning with my coffee and on the way to work there is a good segment with farm report, financial news, weather, and upcoming local events like church socials, lodge meetings, barn dances, weddings etc..

On the way home I get our High School sports report before having to endure 10 min of Dallas Cowboy intrigue then update on UT Longhorns

I find FM radio is mostly canned satellite derived and too full of mindless male enhancement type advertising targeted to the region's 18~35 year olds...

At least the AM stations more narrowly target to the real rural population demographics and present advertising that is of some interest to folks my age

[a2jack]

Long time RF guy here.

The Smart radio is a true POS. Made in China by the lowest bidder.

That said, this car is the worst radio interference (RFI) generator of any vehicle I've ever owned.

Like a lot of the old flyers, I wear a hearing aid and can not use it at all in Smartie, as it just screams in my ear. A2Jack.

[Dave777]

Agreed. It is the worst AM radio I've ever had in a car. That said, I've been told by the local GM that smart is aware and is working on a solution.
Will we all get the solution? Don't know.

[spanky10]

Well, pooooooh! Not the news I was hoping for. Sounds like I've got to live with the off-freq sound quality or replace it with an aftermarket upgrade.

Thanks to all that responded.
DaveT

[HGB]

The sad thing is when new cabrio's or Passion's are finally delivered in months from now they will all carry a model 9 or 10 radio. These radios are mandatory options for these models and really should be donated to a target range. The radios are part of a scam put upon us by Penske, a bad joke.
Look at the instructions and it is full of asterisks. Not in USA model, Not in USA model, Not in USA Model, etc.

[Paul A]

My radio 9 FM stations stopped coming it could only get 1 AM station. My dealer ordered a new radio and when it came in it was a euro radio. This radio does have fine tuning on AM & FM it gives me the call letters tells the name of the song if they broadcast it. It also has a TA switch which is for traffic alerts. (Haven't been able to pick up anything on TA) Needless to say they're mistake was my gain. I just hope that nothing goes wrong with this one because he said he won't be able to get another.

[larryperry]

I just posted a question on this topic elsewhere on the forum - this is NOT encouraging. I guess I should not bother to take it back to SMART - except that my Ipod input also does not work. Frustrating - a cool little car with such a noticeably lousy component!

[jwight]

The zombie thread lives!