Radio Ghost!

[Katxoxo]

It has happened about 4-5 times now. I am happily listening to the newsradio preset channel - and the radio changes to my FM preset channel. On. its. own.

Anyone else experience this??

[Ol'Dave]

Re: Radio Ghost!

Don't laugh now. BUT, I bet you are un-knowingly, steering your car using your right hand low on the steering wheel. If so, guess what. That is exactly where the media button is located, which changes the station on you.

[5bird7]

Re: Radio Ghost!

well, I don't know about that, Dave. I recall several times on our trips up to WA state that both our 02 and our 05 would switch from playing CDs to a particular FM station about 40 miles north of Salt Lake City. Would happen coming and going on I84.

So Kathy, did you note the location you were at when it happened?

[Katxoxo]

Re: Radio Ghost!

Don't laugh now. BUT, I bet you are un-knowingly, steering your car using your right hand low on the steering wheel. If so, guess what. That is exactly where the media button is located, which changes the station on you.

LOL! While I am right handed - I steer with my left. So -- I am not thinking that the steering controls (which are on the right) were accidentally hit. But that was a good call!


Dot: Actually -- you may be onto something. I think it happens only on a particular road (Ocean Avenue -- Malverne) now that you mention it. I am going to watch and see if it happens in a particular spot.

Thanks!

[redbirdsal]

Re: Radio Ghost!

It's happened to CARTOY several times. Just figured it was a malfunction. Never considered it might have something to do with location...

[HKS]

Re: Radio Ghost!

In Europe, when you are listening to a CD, a radio station will break in with news, weather or trafic info. This is probable an option seting on the radios in Eaurope. Maybe there is some related option only trigered by certain FM stations in the US.
HKS

[AZTB]

Re: Radio Ghost!

Had ours switch to an unprogrammed Country Western station one time...just figured it had been built by someone from Tennessee.

[Ol'Dave]

Re: Radio Ghost!

hmmmmmmmm, Bermuda Triangle" symptons.........

[steelblue5505]

Re: Radio Ghost!

Hopfully we will see some replies from those who live in Nevada.......Area51

Let us know if it automaticallly starts plying the theme music from the Twilight Zone

[Katxoxo]

Re: Radio Ghost!

Well -- the location thing may not be my issue. It happened twice today - shortly after I left the house and then again on the stretch of road where it happened previously.

Nothing on the way home today.

I was extremely mindful to keep my right hand OFF the steering wheel -- in the event it is what Dave suspected.

Stay tuned! I am more intrigued than irritated -- but clearly, if this is happening to others, it has to be some electronic mis-wire or something.

[5bird7]

Re: Radio Ghost!

Decided to see what the owners manuals say about the Radio. The 03 manual has been simplified from the explanations in the 02 Manual. I posted below what I found in the 02 manual. There might be something in there that will give you a clue as to what might be happening.
I would still keep track of the locations and the time it occurs - they may be related if it's outside signals interfering.
------------------------------

Traffic announcements
This feature allows you to hear traffic announcements while in CD mode.
These announcements are broadcast by traffic capable RDS stations.
When in this mode, traffic announcements will interrupt radio and CD
play.
² Press the MENU control until TRAFFIC is displayed.
² Press the SEL control to engage the feature. The display will read
TRAFFIC ON.
This feature also allows you to control the volume of traffic
announcements. With the display reading TRAFFIC ON, adjust the
volume using the volume control to the desired level. The volume level
will show at the bottom of the display. Interrupting traffic
announcements will be at the selected volume level.
----------------
Digital signal processing
The digital signal processing (DSP) feature allows you to change the
signal mode to suit your listening tastes.
Press the DSP control to access the
DSP menu. Press the SEL control to
enter one of the following modes:
² DSP OFF
² SIGNAL MODE
² OCCUPANCY MODE
Use the SEL control to select the
desired signal mode (the selected
mode will appear in the display).
The following signal modes can be
selected:
² DSP OFF—disengages the feature
² NEWS—”voice-only” type of sound with a limited audio band
² JAZZ CLUB—jazz club with clearly reflected sounds
² HALL—rectangular concert hall capacity of about 2 000
² CHURCH—church with a high vault
² STADIUM—outdoor stadium with a capacity of about 30 000
Press the DSP control again to access the occupancy modes. Use the
SEL control to optimize the sound based upon the occupa...
---------------------------------
RADIO RECEPTION FACTORS
Three factors can affect radio reception:
² Distance/strength. The further an FM signal travels, the weaker it is.
The listenable range of the average FM station is approximately 40 km
(24 miles). This range can be affected by “signal modulation.” Signal
modulation is a process radio stations use to increase their
strength/volume relative to other stations.
² Terrain. Hills, mountains and tall buildings between your vehicle’s
antenna and the radio station signal can cause FM reception problems.
Static can be caused on AM stations by power lines, electric fences,
traffic lights and thunderstorms. Moving away from an interfering
structure (out of its “shadow”) returns your reception to normal.
² Station overload. Weak signals are sometimes captured by stronger
signals when you pass a broadcast tower. A stronger signal may
temporarily overtake a weaker signal and play while the weak station
frequency is displayed.
The audio system automatically switches to single channel reception if it
will improve the reception of a station normally received in stereo.

[tbird6t4]

Re: Radio Ghost!

Well -- the location thing may not be my issue. It happened twice today - shortly after I left the house and then again on the stretch of road where it happened previously.

Nothing on the way home today.

I was extremely mindful to keep my right hand OFF the steering wheel -- in the event it is what Dave suspected.

Stay tuned! I am more intrigued than irritated -- but clearly, if this is happening to others, it has to be some electronic mis-wire or something.

I think I know the answer to all of this...........it's Alien's playing with your mind.

The solution is to wear a tin foil beanie while driving your RetroBird and that will block them out and the mother ship wouldn't be able to track you either.

There you go! You can thank me later!

Gord

[Katxoxo]

Re: Radio Ghost!

Good grief, Gord! you have a very active imagination!

Thanks, Dot for posting.

Didn't happen today. However, having never used the controls on the steering wheel since owning the car about 2-3 weeks - I decided to test it out. The volume button only increases volume despite hitting the lower volume button.

I am just going to assume to two issues are related and therefore believe there is some wiring issue of sorts.

Stay tuned (pun intended!!!)!

[Treken]

Re: Radio Ghost!

I think I know the answer to all of this...........it's Alien's playing with your mind.

The solution is to wear a tin foil beanie while driving your RetroBird and that will block them out and the mother ship wouldn't be able to track you either.

There you go! You can thank me later!

Gord

I think you are on to something here, Gord...

They are beaming down frequencies that interfear with our stuff...

[5bird7]

Re: Radio Ghost!

Kathleen, Your last symptom with the volume is one that seems to be experienced by those with their "clock spring" starting to go out.
You might want to do a search on "clock spring"