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FisHn2DMax
11-14-2002, 03:05
Has Anyone else noticed the poor FM reception of the 03 factory Bose systems (AM,CD,DVD,XM works fine). I swear you need to be parked under the FM Radio station transmitter antenna to get a good clean signal! I know of two other 03 owners with the same complaint. I went into the local dealer and they swapped the head Unit out and I still get the same very Poor FM reception? Dealer claims there is no TSB or bulleten out on this problem? However, dealer did say other 03 owners have also complained about this same problem to the dealer. If there are others on this site with this problem, it would be good to know so we can collectively get the General to do something. When you spend the extra $600 Plus for the "upgraded" Bose system, you would think you should be able to pick up local FM stations!

Maybe this is GM's way of getting us to subscribe to XM, by the making the FM totally unbearable?

Those with an 03 GM Factory Stereo system, I would appreciate your experience with FM reception.

Thanks,


:D
conradv
11-14-2002, 10:11
YEP! I complained to my dealer the first week. My '87 Toyota gets twice the FM reception as my $684 option does.

I am very pleased with the rest of the unit. Well, it could have a tad more bass at the top end, but not bad.
HDLD
11-14-2002, 10:38
Previous truck was a 2000 Silverado 1500. Had the CD player and cassette. No Bose of course. I listen to FM all the time and notice no difference in reception between the 2 vehicles. I can be a considerable distance from the station.
conradv
11-14-2002, 10:48
The worst part of my FM reception is that when it is on the edge of stereo/mono (perfect stereo reception in my other 2 vehicles in the same spot) it is just horrible - first louder then softer then louder then softer then..... I've tried the "Alternate Station" thing just for kicks but of course that made no difference.
TxDoc
11-14-2002, 11:04
My FM is like my 97's, it seems fine. The AM is much ,much better, though.
Stage 1
11-14-2002, 11:55
My FM reception is great so far (new truck w/100 miles). Have not tried FM stations at a distance or limits of my reception. So far have listen to station about 40 miles away (station probably has lots of power). Will try stations at 60 miles and report back. Also, not in a flat topography here, rolling hills.
conradv
11-14-2002, 13:15
The test I did was parked in my driveway and went from truck to truck and checked multiple stations. I also checked some of the vehicles at work as well.

Always same results. Bose FM sucked. I'll take it in and see if there is a grounding problem or something.
trout49
11-14-2002, 13:41
My FM works great. However, I have to turn the bass up to max to get any bass at all. It will just sound like all tweeter and midrange no bass.
DMaxCaptain
11-15-2002, 11:26
2003 Bose w/xm. FM reception is as good or better than 2001 D/A that I traded in. Able to pick up good quality from up to 50 miles (Tucson area)...
DMAX Daddy
11-15-2002, 11:37
My reception is great, a lot better than the 99 Suburban I traded in.
matt-max
11-16-2002, 11:00
mine is horrible. way way way worse than my '01. maybe there is an antenna issue that needs to be resolved. either that or all the stations around here decided to cut their wattage just as i bought a new truck. thank god for the xm and the 6-disc!
matt
FisHn2DMax
11-17-2002, 02:48
Well, I guess there are a few of us unlucky Bose owners with poor FM reception, the question is how to resolve it?

Since the dealer has already changed the head Unit and I still have poor FM reception, It does point to something external of the receiver? Since I believe the external Antenna is shared for both Am and FM, you would think AM reception would also be terrible due to the longer wave lengths of AM (570-1600 KHZ) requires a very good working antenna, where-as FM is VHF ( 88-108MHZ) and doesn't require as much of an antenna at these shorter wave lenghts to function?

It's most annoying when the FM stereo signal goes in and out of stereo to mono and back to stereo.
It's almost sounds like audio distortion, until you realize it's the signal strength going in and out thus causing stereo unlock. This could be due to a poor antenna or grounding connection? I'm leaning toward a grounding problem with the Antenna installation during manufacturing. A bad grounding connection in theory could cause a significant change in antenna impedence / resistance at the VHF FM frequencies and not be a problem at the lower HF AM frequencies? (25 years experience as a licensed Ham radio operator, WB7CQM)

I'll check the DC resistance of the antenna ground to chassis and try to compare this with a good FM receiving truck i.e., If I can find one?

Anyone else that has this problem should take it to the dealer and at least report/complain so GM will begin to see this problem is very widespread and hopefully they'll start addressing the problem with a TSB. "The squeaky wheels get the grease".
conradv
11-19-2002, 11:05
On another post on the Duramax forum it was mentioned that the radio needs to be "tweeked" with a Tech II. Any truth to it?