How to convert to European FM frequencies?

I've taken a portable FM radio from USA to UK and used it with no problems; both use the 88-108MHz band. Is the rest of Europe different?

It's the AM reception that could be a problem: UK (and perhaps the whole of Europe) allocates frequencies 9KHz apart, whereas USA uses 10KHz spacing.

Perce

On 04/06/05 01:47 pm Peter tossed the following ingredients into the ever-growing pot of cybersoup:

I did not know there were several flavours of FM frequency... :-)

The public radio band is approx 88 - 108 MHz.

DAS

Wrong actually. Although the band is the same the frequency assignments are different. If you radio does not have an internal switch to let it's fixed frequency tuner switch over to the alternative frequency assignments you are out of luck. Many radio have such a switch.

Richard.

In North America FM is tuned to odd decimals, 96.5, 102.3, etc. While Europe is 96.6, 102.2, etc.

You may be able to "tune" to a station, but it won't be 100%. If you are using an analogue tuner, typical of portable radios, you wouldn't notice.

I wonder on what basis you make this assertion. For example, my favourite UK radio station broadcasts on 93.5 MHz in the London area. This varies across the country (it is a national station).

Plus, on radios one can step through the frequencies in very small steps, if one has a button and digital display (rather than a dial and analogue display).

DAS

For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling

Actually Europe uses 0.1Mhz stepping, and radio stations can be on any frequency.

Generally this is true, but not for Chrysler ones.

Peter

Most of the Chrysler radios I've seen have a way to convert them to tune in the European increments on FM. It's done in software. There is a combination of buttons to push, and the tuner will switch over to

0.1 increments from 0.2. But I don't know the exact method for your radio. There were several "stock" radios available for your truck, all a little different combination of AM/FM/CD/CD changer/Cassette/external amp. If you have the owner's manual, it might be in there.

Or you might re-post with a more detailed description of your radio. Someone in this group probably knows your answer.

Dan

Another difference is frequency response pre-emphasis. In North America the higher audio frequencies are boosted with a 75degree pre-emphasis and in Europe a smaller 50 degree curve is used.

Richard.

An Akai digital receiver I own (circa 1986) had pc-board jumpers that I enabled to allow FM tuning in 50 khz increments. Also enabled LW band reception (which is, if I remember correctly, a band that is present on European car radios that we don't have in north america). AM band is called MW (medium wave?) in Europe if I recall correctly.

Isin't AM radio tuned in 9 khz steps in Europe (as opposed to 10 khz in NA) ?

(was in Germany for a week a couple of months ago, and heard Rush Limbaugh polluting the airwaves with the help of AFN. There aught to be a law against that ...)

And what is the effect of this difference, in real-world terms?

Unfortunately I don't have owner's manual... ordered one but apparently it's out of stock.

I believe it's Infinity, at least the amplifier is. It's radio/CD/cassette combo with 3-way analogue equalizer, no other distinguishing marks. Searching this NG I found a procedure how to re-tune older Chrysler radios (Set-Sel-station 1 button routine), but it's not applicable to my unit as it does not have Sel button at all. I'm lost... ;(

Peter

AM = amplitude modulation, as opposed to frequency modulation (FM).

FM = in the VHF (very high frequency band) and the rest, i.e. MW, LW and SW are AM.

Yes, LW is a band widely used in Europe. It is particularly well-suited to moving and travelling radios (i.e. car radios). However, with modern technology radios with FM/VHF can lock onto a station and change frequency automatically as the radio moves along. Thus we can hear the much better quality of FM without having to retune manually while driving.

DAS

For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling

Good question. If you listen to a European FM station on a North American radio without the eq switch the higher end of the audio frequency band of each station will be reduced about 5dB at 15,000 cps.

Richard.

Interesting. So it's just a different EQ curve in the broadcast signal, it sounds like.

Was that play on words intentional or a happy accident?

Bill Putney (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my adddress with the letter 'x')

Also, it is Wide band, vs Narrow band. Most utility radio frequencies are NB (Police, Fire, etc) While FM entertainment frequencies are Wide Band.

Jack,,, ========================================