Radio frequencies used in Australia vs USA

Gazbo · Postby **Gazbo** » Wed Sep 01, 2010 11:05 pm

Anyone know if the US uses the same FM frequencies and spacing as Australia?

In other words, will a car radio sourced from the US be able to receive radio here in Australia?

Japan for instance uses different FM spacing to Australia.

Regie · Postby **Regie** » Thu Sep 02, 2010 12:11 pm

i have a feeling that FM stations are the same but AM are different

Col · Postby **Col** » Thu Sep 02, 2010 7:06 pm

My Son [who's involved in radio] tells me:

For FM broadcast it's no worries. A channel has 200Khz of bandwidth [spacing] 100Khz either side of an odd decimal, eg 101.9 [centre frequency] covers 101.8 to 102.0 Mhz.

Hope this helps?

Col

Sailor · Postby **Sailor** » Thu Sep 02, 2010 9:53 pm

Most of the quality radios have a setting that allows adjustment for the spacings between the used frequencies which IIRC is the main difference between countries

Gordo · Postby **Gordo** » Thu Sep 02, 2010 11:48 pm

its fine, I brought my alpine headunit from the us and it works fine for the radio. (havn't tried AM though) I'll try it and let you know

Benny · Postby **Benny** » Fri Sep 03, 2010 1:56 pm

FM is not a problem, but AM radio might be.

Most of the world uses 10Khz spacing between AM channels, but Australia uses 9Mhz, so many AM radios won't work here because they may not be able to get 873Mhz, but they can get 870 or 880Mhz, so the reception will either be non-existant, or very poor at best, unless the AM station you listen to coincides with both 9Mhz spacing as well as 10Mhz spacing.

If you are not a big fan of talk-back radio, then it won't be an issue.