FM 87.7 outside of band...

[xl2023]

There's a local radio station here in Virginia that broadcasts on 87.7 but the Maverick can't tune below 87.9. anyone know of a workaround?

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[UberGadgetFreak]

The US FM Band plan only runs from 88MHz to 108MHz.
FM broadcast band - Wikipedia

Some older vehicles, portables, etc, can tune lower than that for a mix of reasons with the biggest one being that its cheaper to make one radio receiver for multiple regions that can go lower.

With that said, I haven't checked if the Maverick unit is hardware limited for the US band plan specifically or if its a software-defined range. You could try tinkering with the region settings to see if telling it you're in a different region opens up those edge frequencies, but it may not if its limited in the receiver hardware itself.

 

[xl2023]

Interesting. Not really sure how they are permitted to broadcast on 87.7. I'll play with region settings see if it opens up lower range. Funny thing is I've never had this problem with other cars, Ford escape, Toyota yaris

 

[paneubert]

Yeah, that's a weird frequency to be using. Even Wikipedia says the only use at that frequency in the United States is "channel 6" analog TV, which itself was pretty much discontinued a few years back.

Is it a "Franken station"?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_6_radio_stations_in_the_United_States

One of these?

• WDCN-LD Fairfax
• WMTO-LD Norfolk (simulcast on WXTG-FM)

 

[xl2023]

Yup, that's the one, ocho siete punto siete, "La Nueva", out of Fairfax, Virginia. I can best describe them as Spanish variety and occasionally what I can only describe as Spanish hipster music. They are awesome.

Couldn't find any region settings in the settings. Will pull out forscan later and see if there's anything there.

Yeah, that's a weird frequency to be using. Even Wikipedia says the only use at that frequency in the United States is "channel 6" analog TV, which itself was pretty much discontinued a few years back.

Is it a "Franken station"?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_6_radio_stations_in_the_United_States

One of these?

• WDCN-LD Fairfax
• WMTO-LD Norfolk (simulcast on WXTG-FM)

 

[rlhdweman]

Yeah, that's a weird frequency to be using. Even Wikipedia says the only use at that frequency in the United States is "channel 6" analog TV, which itself was pretty much discontinued a few years back.

Is it a "Franken station"?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_6_radio_stations_in_the_United_States

One of these?

• WDCN-LD Fairfax
• WMTO-LD Norfolk (simulcast on WXTG-FM)

Here in the Milwaukee area that frequency was used for our channel 6, in the 80's I could get stereo broadcast for that channel before stereo tvs were mainstream.

 

[billbillw]

Probably easiest to stream their internet feed or TuneIn channel.

 

[KenT]

It is actually the audio frequency of an analog TV station broadcasting on Channel 6, which has a bandwidth of 82-88 MHz. The FCC allows this. You should be able to tune in the analog TV signal of this station on a TV tuned to analog channel 6. There is a station in Chicago which also does this, METV FM. Try 87.9 instead, because the actual audio frequency is 87.75.

 

[tired comet]

Just noticed this today on my Mav hoping there is a work around.
87.7 is an oldies station in the Chicago area.
This is a very known problem for the station since they advertise on their station to check the radio before you buy a new car.
MB radio goes down to 87.7
Will also be looking at trying to figure out a CD player for the Mav if that's possible.

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