AM Radio Reception 2015 Edge

[Dmtaurus]

Have a 2015 Edge SEL with the satellite radio.  Satellite radio works great and the FM does too.  But the AM reception is fair at best.  I see the sail antenna on the roof and was wondering if that IS the AM antenna or is it somewhere else.  I looked in a Ford parts catalog and it appears there is a $40 module in line.  I am not sure where to begin.  Any help is appreciated.

[edjunior]

What is this "AM" radio that you are talking about?  It seems I have heard mention of it, but it slips the mind.

 

Oh heck, just funnin' with you.  I haven't listenet to AM radio in so long, I just don't know much about it anymore.  I've had my Edge now for a year, and have never listened to it.  I've had my truck since 2019 and I think I turned it on once or twice just to see if it was really there.  That being said, I don't think the antenna for AM is in the sail.  There's just not enough there to provide any good reception.  I suspect it's like a windshield antenna or something similar.  Anyway, we'll hang out and see if someone comes along that knows.

[garycrist]

Once they got rid of any thing that resembles an antenna and replaced it with a Ferrite Core,

reception has not been the same! Replacing the "Shark Fin" with "Rubber Duck" or anything

else, might be detrimental to reception too. The antenna for AM reception, needs to be matched

to the radio.

 

  

[Wubster100]

AM/ FM1 Antenna

The AM/ FM1 antenna (also called the audio unit antenna) is an on-glass antenna, mounted to the left side of the rear window. It receives AM/
FM radio waves and sends them through the audio unit antenna amplifier to the ACM via the audio unit antenna coaxial cable (also called the AM/
FM1 antenna coaxial cable).

AM/ FM1 Antenna Amplifier

The AM/ FM1 antenna amplifier (also called the audio unit antenna amplifier) amplifies AM/ FM radio signals to improve reception. The amplified
signal is sent through a coaxial cable to the ACM. The amplifier is powered by the ACM through the coaxial cable.

[Wubster100]

The "sail" on the roof is the satellite radio antenna.

[Dmtaurus]

To Wubster, is the AM/ FM1 antenna on or near the rear small, left side sail panel glass and behind the big plastic interior wheel-well cover?  Can you say where the amplifier is located?  My first attempt would be to check the connections for corrosion.

[Wubster100]

@Dmtaurus

 

AM/ FM Radio

When the AM/ FM mode is selected, the radio amplifies radio waves sent from the antenna. It then selects the requested frequency, converts and
amplifies the content. These fluctuating audio signals are output as AC output voltage to power the speakers or as an input to a separate amplifier.

If equipped with a FM2 diversity antenna, FM radio waves are collected and sent to be amplified by the FM2 diversity antenna amplifier. A
coaxial antenna cable sends the amplified signal to the ACM. An ACM antenna signal comparator uses both antenna signals to reduce or eliminate
FM distortion in poor signal environments.

 

If equipped with HD Radio capability, the radio will automatically detect and playback the improved sound quality and multiple programs of HD
broadcasts.

 

AM/ FM1 Antenna

The AM/ FM1 antenna (also called the audio unit antenna) is an on-glass antenna, mounted to the left side of the rear window. It receives AM/
FM radio waves and sends them through the audio unit antenna amplifier to the ACM via the audio unit antenna coaxial cable (also called the AM/
FM1 antenna coaxial cable).

AM/ FM1 Antenna Amplifier

The AM/ FM1 antenna amplifier (also called the audio unit antenna amplifier) amplifies AM/ FM radio signals to improve reception. The amplified
signal is sent through a coaxial cable to the ACM. The amplifier is powered by the ACM through the coaxial cable.

FM2 Diversity Antenna

The FM2 diversity antenna is an on-glass antenna, mounted to the right side of the rear window. The FM2 diversity antenna improves FM
reception in urban areas or anywhere large objects reflect FM signals and create multiple FM signal paths.
FM2 Diversity Antenna Amplifier
The FM2 diversity antenna amplifier amplifies FM radio signals and transmits them through a coaxial cable to the ACM. Voltage for the amplifier is
provided by the ACM through the coaxial cable.

GPS/Satellite Radio Antenna

The GPS/satellite radio antenna contains a GPS antenna circuit board that receives radio waves containing GPS and satellite radio data (vehicles
equipped with a satellite radio). The data is sent through the coaxial cable to the APIM ( GPS data) and through a splitter to the ACM (satellite
radio data).

Cellular Antenna

If equipped, the audio unit antenna contains a cellular antenna circuit board that receives radio waves containing cellular data. The data is sent
through the cellular antenna coaxial cable to the TCU.

TCU Antenna

The TCU antenna is used is used to boost reception for incoming and outgoing cellular network data. It is a compact, cellular phone type, planar
inverted-F antenna

 

 

[enigma-2]

On 8/23/2024 at 7:34 AM, Dmtaurus said:

Have a 2015 Edge SEL with the satellite radio.  Satellite radio works great and the FM does too.  But the AM reception is fair at best. 

As FM is working great, the circuitry is working, after all it's an AM,FM antenna. So, the best way to improve reception in AM is to drill a 1" hole in your fender and attach a 42" telescopic antenna....

 

On my 2009, the AM works great. I can receive at a minimum three stations. Maybe four after 9 pm.

 

(Insert sarcastic laugh).

 

Actually, I never listen to AM or FM. Usually only SIRUS XM news and do-wop. Sometimes a CD or DVD, sometimes a talking book  ripped to the hard disk. (Borrow them from the local library and rip them to the car.)

 

 

Edited September 22, 2024 by enigma-2
Corect speling

[Dmtaurus]

I finally got around to working on this. I bought a new Antenna Isolator Module.  As written above, the upper liftgate panel needs removed and there it is to the left of center on the liftgate.  I bought a used AM/FM1 Antenna Amplifier because Ford doesn't show it on the Ford parts website, so apparently it is not available.  I removed the whole liftgate panel, and it is not on the liftgate.  I removed the large right and left rear panels and the panels that surround the small, sail panel windows.  It is not there.  Maybe Wubster 100's illustration above is for another year or radio setup.

Replacing the Antenna Isolator Module didn't improve the reception.

[edgeidiot]

I know I am late to this party, but have you tried to use one of the apps like iheartradio on your phone and connect by Bluetooth using SYNC? Most AM and FM radio stations are streamed live.

[Dmtaurus]

No, I haven't tried that.  And I'm not trying to be rude, but I guess I look at it this way; the radio should work as well as the AM radio in a 1969 Ford Mustang, and it doesn't.  

Edited Sunday at 05:07 PM by Dmtaurus
misspelling

[enigma-2]

"the radio should work as well as the AM radio in a 1969 Ford Mustang"

 

Back in 1968. AM radio was still widely listened to. Today's it's considered as a last (distant) choice.

 

Back in 69 your car used a 42" whip, sticking out of the front fender. Great place for reception. But it killed the looks of the car. So they relegated to antenna to a "that oughta be good nuf".

[Wubster100]

12 hours ago, Dmtaurus said:

I removed the large right and left rear panels and the panels that surround the small, sail panel windows.  It is not there.  Maybe Wubster 100's illustration above is for another year or radio setup.

Yep, looks like yours is older. That is for the newer radios.

[edgeidiot]

Were you listing to Boss Radio (Rock and Roll) in the 60's? Here in Los Angeles, the only music on AM radio today is from stations broadcasting in foreign languages. Some manufacturers (especially in electric vehicles) no longer include AM radio. Here is an explanation why AM radio does not sound as good in your Edge versus your Mustang:

• Proliferation of LED lights, switching power supplies, electric vehicles, broadband over power lines, and compact electronics has raised the AM noise floor substantially in many urban and suburban areas, reducing usable coverage and intelligibility.

[Dmtaurus]

I like all bands but AM will always be a top choice.  Yeah, Boss radio (Drake developed) was not only in LA but that format was spreading everywhere.  Anyway, my 2013 Taurus has the same radio setup, no fender antenna like the '69 Mustang, and it pulls in AM just fine and the stations are clear, local stations, and distant at night.  Why the Edge is poor is a mystery.  But there has to be an antenna somewhere or the AM stations would not even work.

[garycrist]

I'll call bullshit to a lot of misconceptions on AM radio and reception. I still have the 3/4 inch

hole saw to bore the fender of those Fords, to install the antenna on Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI).

After drilling the hole, running the coax and plugging it into the radio, one had to trim or match

the antenna to the radio. Length to a degree, was tuned by that adjustment. 

 

The Shark Fin on top is for one's cellphone with a ferrite wrapped part for the Low Band (A/M).

It has to be high and in the clear as the bands cellphones are a lot higher sometimes, in the Gigahertz

rather than 1 Megahertz and lower. They are primarily line of sight (Cellphone) where the lower bands may be Worldwide!

 

Internal noise from various electronics in the vehicle causes the problem, not the noise floor!

Poor to no filtering and lack of development of the radio is the problem. I have a Yaesu FT-950 (ham radio)

that picks up the AM band just fine with a short piece of wire.

[enigma-2]

On my car, the shark fin serves two functions (that I'm aware of), one section serves the Siris Radio reception and the other is for GPS. My car has a separate antenna for AM/FM. In driving later year's Edge models (loaners) I dis notice much poorer reception (rural in my area. Only able to listen to three (local) stations. Others were extremely poor. Even on my MKX, reception is still iffy.

 

But then again, I never listen to AM anyway. Mostly Sirus Radio (probably 95%), CD's and DVD's, talking books recorded to the hard drive, or connected jump drives.

 

In later models, I believe that it also connects to cell towers for modem service through the internet. (I've also read that it provides Bluetooth service as well.)

[enigma-2]

"Were you listing to Boss Radio (Rock and Roll) in the 60's?"

 

WLS out of Chicago & WSM out of Nashville. 

 

Dick Biondi was a crazy DJ on WLS back in the 60's. Screaming, always screaming. Huge audience. Used to call himself the "wild I-tralian." First DJ in the country to introduce the Beatles. Several others as well. 

 

Remember he held a contest, which did the audience think would be the bigger hit, the "Beatles" Please, Please Me, or a song (forget which) by the "Peanut Butter Conspiracy."

(Care to guess who won?) That was the first time Americans ever heard the Beatles. 

Anyway, I remember that night (for certain other reasons.) That was right after a basketball sectional game, back in 63. (H.S. Basketball - Indiana.) 

 

He got fired after he cracked the joke "guess what new game they're playing in Washington? Its called Jack-in-the-box." (Jackie Kennedy just announced that she was pregnant.) They cut to commercial and when they came back, he was gone.

 

That was the night the music died. (At least on AM radio ... Dick Biondi was as big a celebrity as we had in the Midwest. And we'd pretty much forgotten Buddy Holly by then.)

 

 

 

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Edited 8 hours ago by enigma-2