3rd Gen - Poor FM Radio Reception (?)

The reviews on that item basically call it a "Chinese Junk"... haha Not good reviews...(so they might be real, eh.?)
Thanx man....I have learned to live with and weak signal by using the USB input... Thank Dog that is there...!

 

Agreed, a signal booster can only raise the gain so much. Kind of like wearing goggles in a dust storm. Still won't make things crystal clear. Like post #2 said, have a dealer look at it. If they say nothing is wrong then maybe try a stick antenna temporally. If it works better decide if you want to permanently mount it.

 

Sorry for late reply -

Zimn8r & jholey07 - I have the JBL upgrade in my '17 Taco as well . . . . hopefully just not a JBL problem . . . ?!?!

over60 & shakerhood - I don't believe the "shark fin" on the roof has anything to do with FM radio reception, I believe that is only for the Nav/Sirius/Entune reception. My '17 Owner Manual does not show where the AM/FM Radio is actually mounted (in both my 2012 Infiniti & 2016 Subaru, the FM Antenna is part of the rear window glass/defogger).

Trying to look online tonight for where the FM antenna is located on 3rd Gen Taco, there is no clear answer . . . however, from a Google search the Toyota Nation forum had already listed this issue - http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/333-3rd-generation-2014/895450-bad-radio-reception-antenna.html
Didn't read through too hard to see if it was just JBL upgrade, or across all radio styles in various Toyota ?

Apparently we are not alone. Still like the truck though.

 

I got the JBL and get some sat and HD radio drops on occasion.

 

I noticed this also... I park underground and my 2010 Civic can get a full signal all the way to my spot. My truck, hardly past the entrance gate. I agree with you.

 

I've started listening to podcasts more and more. My XM signal was so bad I canceled the subscription and I hate the ads on FM.

 

I don't feel any appreciation for HD radio, even though I'm 45 miles of Boston . . . my 2012 Infiniti doesn't have it (which I am glad for), and my 2016 Subaru keeps going in and out of HD driving to/from Boston either on AM or FM (which drives me nuts, as the sound quality and short time delay) changes.

All said, a 2017 Tacoma should have better reception than a 2012 & 2016 (alternate car/wagon) . . . .

 

Our family vehicle is a Kia Sedona van and its XM/FM/AM radio works very well we have lots of highway over/underpasses and as soon as my truck goes under one, XM went out. In the Kia, it's usually fine unless there are more than two lanes above or we go under a waterway. The Toyota XM antenna is just not what it should be, honestly and that's disappointing.

 

Having the same issue on my 2017 Pro. The radio reception sucks- I haven't had this type of an issue in my 30 years of driving. It's painful to listen to the radio and I live in OC California where there are plenty of radio antennas within sight. The FM signal switches back and forth between static and the HD radio and I want to punch the stereo right in its face.

 

Ok a few things. 1 HD drops off a lot, I believe you can shut off the HD. 2- as will all tuners, it seems the better quality, the more difficult it is to get the weak signals. 3-sat radio sucks in this truck, every dam over pass, hanging tree or what not causes it to loose signal.

 

Yup, mine suckith too! I just traded in a 2014 powerstroke that picked up good station reception an hour and a half outta Houston. These taco tunes drop HD constantly even in town..........grrrrr

 

from what I have found it looks like the NAV antenna is under the dash and the shark fin antenna is the radio antenna that is AM/FM/HD etc.

I have also noticed the poor reception with my radio and it drives me nuts when it constantly switches back and forth between HD and normal. my wife has a 2009 Audi and she receives more stations in her car that I do in my truck.

 

^^^^^ this for mine too.

 

2017 SR5 with entune plus. HD Radio and XM both terrible.

 

I live in NW Arkansas and listen to the edge in Tulsa 130mi away. No reception problems here.

 

mine is fine..

 

Going on 2 years here and not a single issue.

 

Purchased in May, no issues here. I get great reception.

 

Look at Nova Pop-in LEDs ... Strobes and More has them ...

Nice new product...

 

I have a 2017 with JBL, the HD radio reception is terrible. FM ok but HD in/out, AM feels like 1970s. XM can't get one songs worth of playing without drop outs. ANYONE get dealer or others to fix this kind of stuff? XM is useless "send refresh" and I can't figure out how to shut off the HD so it doesn't feel like a Pink Floyd song (intentional dropouts on Wish You Were Here for the youngins).