Any Radio 4 listeners with the Stream MP3 HU

[No Waiting]

This is really starting to bug me now... I either listen to the iPod in my car or Radio 4, the iPod works great no problems, but the reception of Radio 4 is very bad.

Often the HU will search for ages before finding a really weak signal. Other stations (Radio 2, Classic FM, other local ones) aways seem perfect.

I'd be interested to hear your experiences with listening to Radio 4...

[Toneboy]

If you look at my post on page three you will see I have raised this question already so it is very interesting that you to have experienced a similar problem.

It does not appear confined to just Radio 4 FM, the 198 Long Wave reception is even worse and many other FM stations are also so mushy it becomes a pain to listen to.

There does appear to be a problem with this radio and from what I gather from my servicing dealer the problem is known to Skoda, but what I can not find out is if it is only confined to the Stream radio or other Skoda supplied radio units. With so much nowadays being managed by Software packages you can not be sure if the problem is down to the Radio Unit or the Software.

The servicing dealer has told me they tried to reprogram the radio in my vehicle, but if anything it has now become worse and you can only use the radio in certain locations. This would indicate to me that it only seems to work when very close to a transmitter and only where you have a clear line of sight to the transmitted signal. For example if you drive into a dip in the road and thus have high banks either side, then you loose the signal, but as you climb back onto the level so reception comes back.

You could say then it is an aerial problem and you can boost the reception by grabbing hold of the roof aerial, but I suspect the problem is in the radio unit because it has worked well for more than a year and only recently started acting up.

[bahnstormer vrs]

I have 'posted' several times before on here to say that IMHO the radio reception for the Stream/mp3 on both FM or MW is just plain rubbish.

When I bought my Octy I intended from the outset to put a mid-range Alpine unit in from my Fabia but had to wait a few weeks before doing so. In that time I was really disappointed. I particularly listen to FiveLive (909 MW) and the presenters all sounded like they were talking from the inside of a tin box - not a radio studio.

I got my Alpine fitted and the MW reception is damn near as good as FM was on the Stream. Additionally, the sound quality (of the Alpine) when playing CDs is vastly improved as well; the OEM speakers are really quite OK but just bear in mind that they are only designed to handle 30W per channel (the Alpine puts out 40W).

[motr]

Originally Posted by bahnstormer vrs

I have 'posted' several times before on here to say that IMHO the radio reception for the Stream/mp3 on both FM or MW is just plain rubbish.

When I bought my Octy I intended from the outset to put a mid-range Alpine unit in from my Fabia but had to wait a few weeks before doing so. In that time I was really disappointed. I particularly listen to FiveLive (909 MW) and the presenters all sounded like they were talking from the inside of a tin box - not a radio studio.

I listen to radio 5 a lot and the reception I have now is so poor, even compared to my 2002 and 2004 fabias.

[Silk]

Originally Posted by motr

I listen to radio 5 a lot and the reception I have now is so poor, even compared to my 2002 and 2004 fabias.

I had the same problem. I got fed up with it in the end and fitted a Blaupunkt DAB 54. Five Live is in a different league on DAB. The downside is, it cost well over £400 including the replacement aerial and CANBUS adapter, and that was using Ebay and fitting it myself.

[Toneboy]

You read that on the road DAB reception is still very patchy so I would need a lot of assurance that DAB is available nationwide before shelling out that sort of dosh. Also there is talk of switching to DAB + and I think you will then need a new radio in order to get it.

Skoda obviously has a real problem with this Stream unit and I want, neigh need, a good listenable radio when I drive.

[bahnstormer vrs]

DAB does not yet have good enough coverage to make it viable, IMHO.

[motr]

Originally Posted by Toneboy

Skoda obviously has a real problem with this Stream unit and I want, neigh need, a good listenable radio when I drive.

Indeed. We have an old P reg escort van at work and I have just been out in it and the reception for radio 5 is better on the original ford stereo than it is with Skodas stream, so, something is clearly not right.