Audio System Operating Hints; D Audio System Operating Hints - Toyota RAV4 2011 Owner's Manual

AUDIO SYSTEM
Audio system operating
hints
NOTICE
To ensure correct audio system op-
erations:
Be careful not to spill beverages
D
over the audio system.
Do not put anything other than ap-
D
propriate discs into the CD player.
The use of a cellular phone inside
D
or near the vehicle may cause a
noise from the speakers of the
audio system which you are
listening to. However, this does
not indicate a malfunction.
Radio reception
Usually, the problem with radio reception
does not mean there is a problem with your
radio − it is just the normal result of condi-
tions outside the vehicle.
For example, nearby buildings and terrain
can interfere with FM reception. Power
lines or telephone wires can interfere with
AM signals. And of course, radio signals
have a limited range, and the farther you
are from a station, the weaker its signal will
be. In addition, reception conditions
change constantly as your vehicle moves.
Here are some common reception prob-
lems that probably do not indicate a prob-
lem with your radio:
170
FM
Fading and drifting stations — General-
ly, the effective range of FM is about 25
miles (40 km). Once outside this range,
you may notice fading and drifting, which
increase with the distance from the radio
transmitter. They are often accompanied
by distortion.
Multi−path — FM signals are reflective,
making it possible for two signals to reach
your antenna at the same time. If this hap-
pens, the signals will cancel each other
out, causing a momentary flutter or loss of
reception.
Static and fluttering — These occur
when signals are blocked by buildings,
trees, or other large objects. Increasing
the bass level may reduce static and flut-
tering.
Station swapping — If the FM signal you
are listening to is interrupted or weakened,
and there is another strong station nearby
on the FM band, your radio may tune in the
second station until the original signal can
be picked up again.
AM
Fading — AM broadcasts are reflected by
the upper atmosphere — especially at
night. These reflected signals can inter-
fere with those received directly from the
radio station, causing the radio station to
sound alternately strong and weak.
Station interference — When a reflected
signal and a signal received directly from
a radio station are very nearly the same
frequency, they can interfere with each
other, making it difficult to hear the broad-
cast.
Static — AM is easily affected by external
sources of electrical noise, such as high
tension power lines, lightening, or electri-
cal motors. This results in static.