With the radio playing, AM or FM no matter, I get super loud static (HUM/BUZZ! not Hisssss), when I drive underneath power lines.

I very nearly just accepted this annoyance, but sheesh my former cheap (less "sensitive"?) audio systems never behaved like this!

Something wrong in the head unit? In the amp?

I'll hang up now and take my answer off the air,
Tatt

 

This is very normal. Each unit acts a little different . Nothing to worry about unless you go under many powerlines then you might want to replace it with another (brand) head unit.

 

Normal, huh? darn it. I should find some more MINIs to ride in, and check their reception/static out.

Sincere THanks for feedback,
Tatt

 

:smile: I have that static stuff, too, tatt. Most cars I've owned do that. I just turn down the volume and motor on....

Clover

 

I'm cool with a similar approach, motoring on. I'm going to go ahead and ask my bud @ Radio Shack how to stop it from happening . I would have thought nothing of it, if me ol' Tercel did similar... (Maybe I need a cheaper radio - not )

 

Those power lines are like giant antennas, and they're overdriving your radio causing it to hum. Only solutions really would be to RF sheild your whole car (which kills am/fm!) or just motor on!

 

Then my cars must have been abnormal... My Cooper which had HK never experienced this, and my S with HK doesn't do this either...

Heck the only time I get anything close to what you're describing is when I drive near CIA Headquarters... And there's obviously some weird stuff going on there!

I'll just consider myself lucky...

 

I could believe this, if every car got the "buzzz", but even if they are feeling it, they aren't all compelled to be so dang noisy about it. So, what's the differences here? The old Tercel (donated back in January) didn't buzz under the hi-tension wires...

With my Tercel, the amp was probably integrated in the head unit - it was a factory cassette deck (don't laugh the car was a gift, very timely one too), so not a very hi-falutin system...

What else, for differences? Tercel stereo didn't have near the output watts, had fewer speakers to drive...

If you shoved the antenna down into it's pocket in the A-pillar, all reception went wayyy south, where the MCS HK system doesn't care if I have the antenna sitting on the passenger seat next to me, reception is still great...

Today at lunch I'm making that trip to Radio Shack, maybe I can find an in-line filter of some sort... Barring that, I'll hit Costco and buy a case of rolls of aluminum foil , so I can wrap the MCS up like a stick of Wrigley's chewing gum.

I have Way too much to do today , to be foolin' with this,
Tatt

 

I might be about to get lucky, too. I finally did make that promised trip to Radio Smack and found out about something called an RF Choke Filter (p/n 273.104) which allegedly "majorly reduces it, dude". Too bad he was out of stock on these gizmos... I suppose that might bode well for when I finally (go to another Radio Shack and) find one.

Anyone already TRIED this choke filter?

Random related thoughts:
1) MB if you only listen to FM - I don't get this annoying loud hum/buzz when driving under the power lines listening to FM... it's AM only, that makes the noise.

2) Don't hate no me cuz I listen to AM band... I'm a wannabe Radio Geek (I don't own a shortwave unit and never owned a "CB" lol, hence my wannabe status), but that's not why I mention it...

The reason that the "specialist" (sales clerk?) at Radio Shack even knew what I was talking about, was because he "listens to AM890 all the time, man"... ie he had similar issues, in various of his rides. 890 AM is where those in Chicago who elect to do so, can catch as much Anti-NPR programming as their heart desires. It's not one of my Pre-sets, put it that way. I'm just paranoid, since some may think that the only thing on AM radio anymore is ditto-heads or something, and I'm sure not in that camp, not by a lonnngshot.

Feedback still thoroughly appreciated,
Tatt