american radio frequencies

Audio, Electronics and Lighting questions and answers

Moderators: timk, Stu, -alex, miata, zombie, Andrew

sweep77
Fast Driver
Posts: 109
Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2007 8:58 am
Vehicle: NB8A
Location: Berwick, Melbourne

american radio frequencies

Postby sweep77 » Mon Mar 10, 2008 12:41 pm

any know if its possible to get a cd player from usa and buy an adaptor to change the frequencies to australian ones?

mr_rotary
Racing Driver
Posts: 502
Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2005 1:26 pm
Vehicle: ND - 2 GT
Location: Western Australia

Postby mr_rotary » Mon Mar 10, 2008 1:47 pm

I am sure you can as you require one for jap import cars. The device is called an 'FM Modulator'. Not sure on where to buy though, E-Bay could be one source.

cruisin'
Learner Driver
Posts: 19
Joined: Sun Nov 12, 2006 12:41 pm
Vehicle: ND - 2 GT
Location: Melbourne

Postby cruisin' » Mon Mar 10, 2008 4:57 pm

the FM modulator may or may not be necessary depending on the head unit involved, cost is about $25 from memory & easily fitted, however they will not fix the mismatch between USA Vs our AM frequencies.

User avatar
Benny
Speed Racer
Posts: 2607
Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: NB SP
Location: Gorgeous Sydney
Contact:

Postby Benny » Wed Mar 12, 2008 9:22 am

FM frequencies around the world are all the same, but the spacing between channels on AM are different.
While most of the world use 10kHz spacing between AM channels, we in Oz use 9mHz, for some unknown reason.

If it's only FM that you listen to, and unless you like listening to talk-back radio, or listen to the horse racing etc., then I'd forget about AM and just stick to FM.
Image
ALWAYS RUNNING, SP with Bilstein Coil Overs and Doof Doof sound. Member of the Fat Bastards Racing Team

User avatar
ZenArcher
Fast Driver
Posts: 170
Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 10:40 pm
Vehicle: ND - 2 GT
Location: Nowra
Contact:

Postby ZenArcher » Fri Mar 14, 2008 9:01 am

Jaycar is your friend. They make convertors to do this exact thing with overseas car stereos.

sweep77
Fast Driver
Posts: 109
Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2007 8:58 am
Vehicle: NB8A
Location: Berwick, Melbourne

Postby sweep77 » Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:24 pm

how exactly do the radio stations in america differ to ours? is it just am that differs or fm as well? Japanese stations are in a totally diff band to us but america seem to have the same stations as us.

User avatar
Matty
Racing Driver
Posts: 1652
Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: NB8A
Location: Melbourne
Contact:

Re:

Postby Matty » Sat Mar 15, 2008 9:11 am

sweep77 wrote:how exactly do the radio stations in america differ to ours? is it just am that differs or fm as well? Japanese stations are in a totally diff band to us but america seem to have the same stations as us.

They will be compatible for FM.

User avatar
bruce
Speed Racer
Posts: 7770
Joined: Fri Apr 25, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: NA8 - Turbo
Location: Victoria
Contact:

Re:

Postby bruce » Mon Mar 17, 2008 4:56 pm

[quote="Benny"]FM frequencies around the world are all the same, but the spacing between channels on AM are different.
While most of the world use 10kHz spacing between AM channels, we in Oz use 9mHz, for some unknown reason.
quote]

Read what Benny says! They're not difft, it's just the spacing. Thus you may not be able to tune in your favourite radio station.

sweep77
Fast Driver
Posts: 109
Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2007 8:58 am
Vehicle: NB8A
Location: Berwick, Melbourne

Postby sweep77 » Mon Mar 17, 2008 5:34 pm

cool. i don't use AM anyway.

User avatar
Tedsmx5
Fast Driver
Posts: 164
Joined: Mon Jul 14, 2008 10:35 pm
Vehicle: NA8 - Supercharged
Location: Newcastle.

Re: american radio frequencies

Postby Tedsmx5 » Sun Apr 03, 2011 3:03 am

Car Radios (I'm sounding old here) used to have a switch "9khz/10khz" under the unit.
Ted
Why didn't I buy one years ago?
NA8 Ceramic coated headers, Hi flow cat, 2.5”system, M45 SC 150/62.5 8psi, Dual TB, IC & Adaptronic ECU.

Mr Morlock
Speed Racer
Posts: 6444
Joined: Mon Feb 04, 2008 11:40 am
Vehicle: NB8B
Location: Melbourne

Re: american radio frequencies

Postby Mr Morlock » Sun Apr 03, 2011 6:02 pm

I bought a US radio and the accents drove me mad.

User avatar
Benny
Speed Racer
Posts: 2607
Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: NB SP
Location: Gorgeous Sydney
Contact:

Re: american radio frequencies

Postby Benny » Mon Apr 04, 2011 1:10 pm

Maverick wrote:Sorry if I'm sounding dumb. But just to clear things up for me.
If I purchased an American car head unit and installed in my car without any Australian fm modulator, would a have trouble listening or tuning into Australian fm radio? Considering I never listen to talk back etc on AM radio



You'll have no problem with an American FM radio.
The only problem you'll have is with AM.

Except for the accents!
Mr Morlock, that was very funny! :mrgreen:
Image
ALWAYS RUNNING, SP with Bilstein Coil Overs and Doof Doof sound. Member of the Fat Bastards Racing Team

User avatar
JBT
Speed Racer
Posts: 7946
Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: NC
Location: Brisbane

Re: american radio frequencies

Postby JBT » Mon Apr 04, 2011 3:46 pm

Image
Mr Morlock wrote:I bought a US radio and the accents drove me mad.
Image

User avatar
ak_perth
Fast Driver
Posts: 190
Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2010 7:18 pm
Vehicle: Clubman
Location: Perth, WA

Re: american radio frequencies

Postby ak_perth » Wed Jul 06, 2011 11:29 pm

Hi all,

This is a thread resurrection with a UK theme.

My mum is going is going back to the UK for a holiday. I have found a head unit that i want to buy in the UK, great value, about half the price of buying it in Australia so she's going to bring it back with her.

I have googled whether a UK car radio will work in Australia and have not found any definite answers. Does anyone know if i will have any problems? I'm only interested in listening to FM channels.

Cheers

AK

User avatar
Old Dude
Racing Driver
Posts: 1166
Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 8:06 pm
Vehicle: NB8B
Location: Gold Coast

Re:

Postby Old Dude » Wed Jul 06, 2011 11:37 pm

Benny wrote:FM frequencies around the world are all the same, but the spacing between channels on AM are different.
While most of the world use 10kHz spacing between AM channels, we in Oz use 9mHz, for some unknown reason.

If it's only FM that you listen to, and unless you like listening to talk-back radio, or listen to the horse racing etc., then I'd forget about AM and just stick to FM.


I personally don't know but Benny said FM are the same world wide, and if Benny said it I'd believe him............except you'll have the english accent :wink:

Cheers
Dale 8)
"Everybody dies......, but not everybody lives" ;-)

MX 5 2001 Grace Green
NB8B


Return to “MX5 Audio, Electronics & Lighting”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests