Help Has anyone found a cure for the rubbish FM radio?

[slugger09]

This is my second desire and it has the same problem as the first the FM radio is basically unusable, when you scan sure it will find stations but you can't actually listen to them due to the amount of hiss, even BBC Radio 1 the strongest signal in the UK is a no no, I still have to take my old SE W800i to work to listen to the radio which is a major pain

 

[anoniemouse]

This is my second desire and it has the same problem as the first the FM radio is basically unusable, when you scan sure it will find stations but you can't actually listen to them due to the amount of hiss, even BBC Radio 1 the strongest signal in the UK is a no no, I still have to take my old SE W800i to work to listen to the radio which is a major pain

Have you tried twisting the headphone plug gently to see if you can get better reception, also the supplied headphones get a better signal easier than 3rd party ones.

 

[slugger09]

Have you tried twisting the headphone plug gently to see if you can get better reception, also the supplied headphones get a better signal easier than 3rd party ones.

Yeah tried that and no good, the supplied headphones do get better reception but they don't stay in my ears, I have to use the in ear variety

 

[WozzaTT]

Strange - I get crystal clear recption on most stations, including Radio 1.

 

[anoniemouse]

Yeah tried that and no good, the supplied headphones do get better reception but they don't stay in my ears, I have to use the in ear variety

Have you tried using the foam pads that were supplied to give better grip in your ears?

 

[Adebisi]

Try a metal coat hanger, used to work on my first car

 

[slugger09]

Try a metal coat hanger, used to work on my first car

I shouldn't have to.

 

[turbohobbit]

I shouldn't have to.

FWIW I'm having the same problem. I like the idea of having a radio on my phone, but the reception is utter pony. Using third party headphones (high quality ones) but that shouldn't make a difference, should it?

 

[Griff_LI]

My word, how many times do we have to go through this with the same poster ?

The FM radio uses the earth sheath on the headphones as an aerial - that's why you need the headphones connected even if you're listening on the speaker. So, if you're using 3rd party 'phones your experience will be "different" to that expected by HTC. In some cases it may be better, it most it will surely be worse. I've said it before but if a headphone manufacturer could look at the problem and make a set of headphones with a built-in aerial that can be used on mobiles I'm sure people would buy them.

That said I've had FM radios on my last three (maybe four) phones and it's been difficult to get a usable signal on in every case. The Desire is actually a lot better than the previous ones (all Nokias) but it's still not great. If you're buying the Desire specifically as an FM radio, though, you're missing the point.

 

[brad-short]

The Radio is unusable, period. I came from my Trusty N95 and the radio was superb. Granted, the Desire is a much better unit, but i wanted the FM radio specifically.

 

[brad-short]

If you're buying the Desire specifically as an FM radio, though, you're missing the point.

I disagree, I think you are missing the point. It is obvious that people do not buy a phone for the radio, but if the feature is available, you would expect it to work.

 

[minnnt]

To say the desire is supposedly one of the best phones out there, the FM radio is shocking. I wanted to use it at work and it is a no no. I bought a 5th generation iPod Nano with the radio on, much better, plus the battery actually lasts all day and i dont have to worry about being stuck with a dead phone if i need to use it.

I have the same problem with headphones also.

 

[admob]

The Radio is unusable, period. I came from my Trusty N95 and the radio was superb. Granted, the Desire is a much better unit, but i wanted the FM radio specifically.

snap, i listen to the radio at work all day, my N95 which was meant to be flogged to mizuna.com etc, is still supplying my radio fix, as the desire cant quite cut the mustard..., the supplied head fone are pants as well, they dont stick in very well, the long stick thing attatched to the ear buds really dunt help... internet radio streaming wud help, but the data usage is a killer, id use up my allownace in no time if i had it streaming all day long....

 

[bonerp]

its pony. And if its on the phone - it should work.

 

[slugger09]

Well seems I am not alone, I have tried various headphone from the supplied to Sennheiser CX500's and none make any difference, The radio really was a deal clincher for me, I got rid of my iPhone as was starting to get a bit sick of listening to podcasts and music, I figured that ok the MP3 player won't be the best but at least i'll have the radio, How stupid was I.

 

[Scary]

when you scan sure it will find stations but you can't actually listen to them due to the amount of hiss, even BBC Radio 1 the strongest signal in the UK

No it's not. Radio 1 broadcasts at the same power as Radios 2,3 and 4 and from the same transmitter sites. The station with the 'strongest signal' depends where you are at any one point.

I've not used the radio much but it seems pretty ok, no better or worse at reception than FM radios in other phones and mp3 players I've used. The freezing problem (where the software crashes) I've only had when using the supplied headphones

 

[benchmark]

First and foremost, HTC cannot be responsible for reception difficulties you may experience by the following problems:
1. Using earphones other than the supplied set in the package. Its not anyone's fault that your ears cannot hold them, that is like someone missing some fingers complaining that the phone is not shaped to fit his/her hand. (no offense intended by the analogy).

2. Locations that are not optimum for FM reception. FM broadcast band, generally 88 MHz to 108 MHz, are the most effective for FM reception. The FM broadcast signal is VHF (very high frequency) in nature and generally can only be received within a distance known as "line of sight"... about 40 miles. Without hills, mountains, or buildings to impede its progress, an FM phenomenon commonly known as "diffraction" causes the FM broadcast signal to conform to the curvature of the earth for a distance of approximately 30 miles beyond normal line of sight. It is this phenomenon that provides for long distance or "fringe reception" of the FM broadcast signal. Fringe reception can usually provide a listenable FM signal, although it is often noisy and of low audio quality.


Finally, i get a clean and crisp FM signal on my phone just so you know.

 

[slugger09]

First and foremost, HTC cannot be responsible for reception difficulties you may experience by the following problems:
1. Using earphones other than the supplied set in the package. Its not anyone's fault that your ears cannot hold them, that is like someone missing some fingers complaining that the phone is not shaped to fit his/her hand. (no offense intended by the analogy).

2. Locations that are not optimum for FM reception. FM broadcast band, generally 88 MHz to 108 MHz, are the most effective for FM reception. The FM broadcast signal is VHF (very high frequency) in nature and generally can only be received within a distance known as "line of sight"... about 40 miles. Without hills, mountains, or buildings to impede its progress, an FM phenomenon commonly known as "diffraction" causes the FM broadcast signal to conform to the curvature of the earth for a distance of approximately 30 miles beyond normal line of sight. It is this phenomenon that provides for long distance or "fringe reception" of the FM broadcast signal. Fringe reception can usually provide a listenable FM signal, although it is often noisy and of low audio quality.


Finally, i get a clean and crisp FM signal on my phone just so you know.

Thats all well and good but baffles me then how other phones have no issues? But anyway this thread is going no where

 

[minerwilly]

I use RadioTime so that i can get Talksport , Radio 5 and 80,000 other stations and podcasts . It cost me

 

[slugger09]

I use RadioTime so that i can get Talksport , Radio 5 and 80,000 other stations and podcasts . It cost me

 

[Si Pie]

I'd say the FM radio quality is on a par with my previous sony ericsson phones. Unfortunately the quality on those phones was hit and miss too.

 

[brad-short]

"update" I used the radio in derby and reception was ok. So unless you have a cracking reception you will always struggle. At least I know it works. Still also prices that the radio unit is a basic one

 

[riki1kenobi]

Try using an earphone extension cable.....