Radio Reception Issues

[Jesse Davidson]

So I noticed the FM Static quite a bit the first month of owning my 16. I am within a few miles of the broadcast tower and tuned to the most powerful station in the city. I had hoped the April software update listed on this forum would solve the problem (my 16 is an early april build with Carplay and bose). The dealer did the software update today. i drove 30 mins home, all with 10 miles of the broadcast tower. The reception was so bad I couldn't stand to listen to it. it would cut in and out, and the sound has a constant light static in the background. It sounds just as bad in HD on or off. My subaru gets this station crystal clear 60 miles from the city. I'm a few miles from the freakin tower and can't get it clear. Needless to say i feel sick to my stomach having just shelled out my hard earned money on a $53k pickup, with a $500 up-charge for Bose speakers to hear the extra fine definition of the static noise.

 

So my question, is it even worth the hassle to have the dealer go through the motions of trying to replace the actual radio head unit? From other's comments, it probably won't solve the problem. Xm sounds okay, and so does music from my phone, so i don't think its the speakers.

Complain about anything and everything

 

Did not help on one of my 2014's. Had one module replaced. Not going to fool with the other one. Talking with GM but no offers for help.

not surprised

[ShamrockShooter]

Has anyone had success with FM amplifiers or after market antennas improving the reception on a 2016?

[WhiteMike]

Going on 2 years 7 months for my 2014 Sierra. My front dash speakers still crackle and worse than my $15.00 alarm clock radio. Its PATHETIC.

 

Sounds crazy, but I am NEVER buying a GM again. I get it, problems exist... but better stand by your product and be willing to fix any and all problems. Ive taken it to the dealer multiple times for this issue. Still no fix. I planned on taking it next week for other issue.

 

Sad thing is, everytime I get in the SLE truck without Bose radio, those are fine. All SLT had this issue at my dealer. Service manager acknowledged rhe problem but years later still no fix.

 

I plan on writing a couple letters this week and sending certified mail to their headquarters. Enough is enough.

[ShamrockShooter]

I found that by moving the sound 2 clicks toward the rear makes the crackle and static on fm much less noticeable. I know it doesn't fix the problem but it makes it liveable anyway.

[ShamrockShooter]

It does seem the front base speakers are where the static and crackle are amplified the most.

[GeorgeMJ]

I took my 2016 Silverado in the last week of August for what the service dept. said on the phone was the "1 hour Android update" to the Mylink system, that GM says on the paperwork would take 2 hours. I complained about the FM reception and was told that "this update might take care of some issues". Well it didn't. It may have made the radio a tad more sensitive on FM, (remember it was 6 dB less sensitive than most radios tested). However the noise has not improved. I think that without the Delco engineers' experience, the GM engineers that specified the radio system to LG or whomever were not very experienced in FM listening and just plain forgot about the quieting technology that every auto manufacturer uses in their radios. Sounds like a $9.95 portable FM radio. I rode in my friend's 2016 Malibu to test the FM and it sounds the same. GM may not realize how important this issue is and as I mentioned to my salesman, I wouldn't have bought this truck if I had known of the FM radio problem. The noise is just plain annoying. So, where do we go next?

[WLC]

I took my 2016 Silverado in the last week of August for what the service dept. said on the phone was the "1 hour Android update" to the Mylink system, that GM says on the paperwork would take 2 hours. I complained about the FM reception and was told that "this update might take care of some issues". Well it didn't. It may have made the radio a tad more sensitive on FM, (remember it was 6 dB less sensitive than most radios tested). However the noise has not improved. I think that without the Delco engineers' experience, the GM engineers that specified the radio system to LG or whomever were not very experienced in FM listening and just plain forgot about the quieting technology that every auto manufacturer uses in their radios. Sounds like a $9.95 portable FM radio. I rode in my friend's 2016 Malibu to test the FM and it sounds the same. GM may not realize how important this issue is and as I mentioned to my salesman, I wouldn't have bought this truck if I had known of the FM radio problem. The noise is just plain annoying. So, where do we go next?

Back and forth to the dealer. Nobody knows what to do! Edited September 5, 2016 by WLC

[ShamrockShooter]

try putting it a couple clicks to the rear. it almost makes it so i cant hear it. i wonder if you could swap out the front bose speakers for the non-bose speakers and see if that solves the problem. My fathers work truck package speakers dont seem to have any issues with static.

[WLC]

My radio is ok with a cd or Sirius radio. Kinda rules out the speakers.Local fm stations are terrible.Am is not so great either. These radios and headlights are making me think about trading for one good truck. Wonder if I could find one.

[WLC]

PM GM for the umpteenth time. Nice talk, no action. Just want you to take it(them) back to the dealer. They cannot duplicate any issues at the dealer. Nobody knows nothing and now another recall for our trucks.How many does that make? SAD

[GeorgeMJ]

OK, I'd like to make a correction to this post. Evidently

 

I took my 2016 Silverado in the last week of August for what the service dept. said on the phone was the "1 hour Android update" to the Mylink system, that GM says on the paperwork would take 2 hours. I complained about the FM reception and was told that "this update might take care of some issues". Well it didn't. It may have made the radio a tad more sensitive on FM, (remember it was 6 dB less sensitive than most radios tested). However the noise has not improved. I think that without the Delco engineers' experience, the GM engineers that specified the radio system to LG or whomever were not very experienced in FM listening and just plain forgot about the quieting technology that every auto manufacturer uses in their radios. Sounds like a $9.95 portable FM radio. I rode in my friend's 2016 Malibu to test the FM and it sounds the same. GM may not realize how important this issue is and as I mentioned to my salesman, I wouldn't have bought this truck if I had known of the FM radio problem. The noise is just plain annoying. So, where do we go next?

OK, I'd like to make a correction to this post. Evidently the Android update may have made an improvement to my Mylink radio's apparent sensitivity in my 2016 pickup with non Bose radio. After driving for the last two weeks and comparing to another GM vehicle I would say that the sensitivity is there, now as good as the car, but still lacking in noise reduction on weak signals. Evidently GM has used DNR, (Dynamic Noise Reduction), for quite some time and I believe that is what we were used to. I finally found a site where the gentleman knows about the application of DNR on GM radios and I have found the National Semiconductor IC that makes it possible. I feel that this is what is lacking, in my 2016 Mylink anyway. The history of GM and DNR is, from the website Greyghost.moo.com:

"General Motors (specifically, their Delco Electronics division) was one of the few companies to put DNR in a consumer product. Many of the Delco car radios produced in the late 1980s have a DNR circuit built in. It can be turned on readily with the push of a button. You might look at your own set to see if it has this feature. Some later sets (probably produced in the 1990s) have an "Auto DNR" designation on the front panel, implying that some circuit logic exists to enable the feature when it would help and turn it off when it would not."

 

This dynamic noise reduction along with switching from stereo to mono on weaker signals, (some older folks will remember the "stereo" light on the radio flickering), and limiting the bandwidth, or cutting high frequencies provided 10 dB or more of quieting during loss of signal, weak signal and multipath. These were some of the finest radios ever made especially from about 1991 and up. My 2011 GMC had the best radio I ever saw in a vehicle.

 

From National Semiconductors about the LM1894, (also see LM832), Dynamic Noise Reduction chip data:

 

The LM1894 is a stereo noise reduction circuit for use with
audio playback systems. The DNR system is non-complementary,
meaning it does not require encoded source material.
The system is compatible with virtually all prerecorded
tapes and FM broadcasts. Psychoacoustic masking, and an
adaptive bandwidth scheme allow the DNR to achieve 10
dB of noise reduction. DNR can save circuit board space
and cost because of the few additional components required.

Complete applicaation note available here: https://www.engineering.uiowa.edu/sites/default/files/ees/files/NI/pdfs/00/79/DS007918.pdf

 

Now, 10 dB is not a whole heck of a lot but I feel that this is where the radio in my 2016 Mylink is deficient, and from what I am reading about the noise in some folks dash speakers, (my truck doesn't have those), many others may have this problem or perceive it to be weak reception. I believe either these radios have no DNR or very weak DNR. Mine is close to my 2007 Pontiac radio with Pioneer sound system, but not quite there. I think I'm about done as I even took the FM pre-amplifier out of my truck since it no longer helps, rather it makes the situation worse in reducing the effect of DNR by keeping the signal stronger. Another situation that makes it seem worse is quiet passages on FM and low modulation levels that make the difference between signal and noise closer.

 

"Psycoacoustic Masking" is the key here. It "sounds" better! Any small thing can affect this. One suggestion to those with the dash speakers is to reduce the high frequency response of the radio by reducing the "treble" control to mid-range or less or the highs on the equalizer if that's what you have. We older guys have an advantage there since our ears already do this. Placement and response of speakers can mean a lot here as well. The door speakers down near your feet tend to mask some of the noise from poor FM reception.

 

I believe one person also mentioned that his 2016 truck is better than his 2014, is that correct? Any others have a similar comparison?

Also, do you notice any distant AM stations at night lighting up the HD radio indicator? KYW in Philadelphia does on my radio and I'm near Pittsburgh.

[OmniCamaro]

Can't remember if I posted here or not yet.....

 

XM reception is pretty bad, especially the higher number the station. Certain areas of our small city, dead & in/out signal. Can't imagine being in a bigger city.

 

 

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[GeorgeMJ]

XM will be bad in hilly terrain with lots of trees and small towns with buildings, anything that will shield the satellite. Larger cities will have terrestrial transmitters that will fill in around town to overcome the effect of large buildings and bridges. I live near Pittsburgh and I heard that the original plan was for 50 fill in transmitters in the metro area. Don't know how many they ended up with. I worked for a tower owner that XM wanted to lease space from for a transponder.

[WhiteMike]

try putting it a couple clicks to the rear. it almost makes it so i cant hear it. i wonder if you could swap out the front bose speakers for the non-bose speakers and see if that solves the problem. My fathers work truck package speakers dont seem to have any issues with static.

 

I have been fighting this battle with my 2014 truck now for 2.5 years. I have a 2014 SLT with Bose Radio. I have rode in 2014, 2015, 2016 SLE loaner vehicles and they all sound great. I'm taking my truck in for the airbag recall this week. I will ask them to replace the front dash speakers with the "regular" non-bose speakers that are in the SLE models. Sad I have to go to a lesser sounding speaker, but if it stops the horrible crackling sound I would be more than happy.

 

I'll let you guys know what I find.... Not holding my breath.

[ShamrockShooter]

Yes please let us know it that makes it better.