Audio System Operating Hints; Radio Reception - Toyota Prius 2012 User Manual

1. AUDIO SYSTEM OPERATION

12. AUDIO SYSTEM OPERATING HINTS

NOTICE
●
To avoid damaging the audio system:
• Be careful not to spill beverages over
the audio system.
• Do not put anything other than on
appropriate discs into the CD player
slot.
INFORMATION
●
The use of a cellular phone inside 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, a problem with radio reception
does not mean there is a problem with
your radio ⎯ it is just the normal result
of conditions outside the vehicle.
For example, nearby buildings and ter-
rain can interfere with FM reception.
Power lines or telephone wires can in-
terfere 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, re-
ception conditions change constantly
as your vehicle moves.
Here are some common reception
problems that probably do not indicate
a problem with your radio.
FM
Fading and drifting stations: Generally,
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 transmit-
ter. They are often accompanied by distor-
tion.
Multi-path: FM signals are reflective, mak-
ing it possible for two signals to reach your
antenna at the same time. If this happens,
the signals will cancel each other out,
causing a momentary flutter or loss of re-
ception.
Static and fluttering: These occur when
signals are blocked by buildings, trees, or
other large objects. Increasing the bass
level may reduce static and fluttering.
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 interfere
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 fre-
quency, they can interfere with each other,
making it difficult to hear the broadcast.
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.
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