Rover 75 Saloon, Owner'S Handbook Manual

Page: 123 / 285

Radio Reception
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Radio Reception RADIO RECEPTION
Distortion, interference and lack of signal clarity, are often
attributed to a fault in the radio - this is rarely the case.
Problems of this kind are usually caused by phenomena such as
atmospheric conditions, signal strength, hilly terrain, tall buildings,
bridges and even electrical interference from power lines.
Please remember: A car radio receives signals while the vehicle
is in motion (unlike a domestic set) - constantly changing direction
and moving away from, or nearer to, the transmitter whilst
negotiating terrain with widely differing reception characteristics.
Some interference is to be expected from time to time.
FM transmitters can only broadcast over a limited range and good,
clear signals will only be received in the immediate area of the
transmitter. When travelling, it may be necessary to re-tune the
radio from time to time, to offset the effects of moving from one
transmitter area to another.
While RDS automatic retuning eases this problem, some manual
retuning may still be needed (especially for local stations) in areas
of weak reception.
The broadcast range for good stereo reception (usually within a 50
to 65 km radius of the transmitter) is noticeably less than it is for
mono.
FM Signals (like light waves) travel in a straight line, so large
obstacles, such as tall buildings, can shield the car from the signal
causing distortion or loss of reception (known as dead spots).
Distortion can also occur if FM signals received directly from the
transmitter mix with signals which have been reflected by
obstructions such as mountains, hills and tall buildings (this is
known as multi-path distortion).
ICE 0052A