opastrains
Richmond, MI
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Joined: 05/21/2006
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RCA radio/CD/Tape player has stopped working and want to replace it with an AM/FM unit that also has mp3 connection. Looking for good radio reception as well as mp3 option. Want to connect to existing speakers (A&B) already in unit.
Also, any suggestions on how to get better FM reception. Suspect aluminum structure in fiver affects radio reception.
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SWD
Land of Living Skies
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Joined: 06/07/2005
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Get an after market radio/cd/mp3/usb unit. The factory units were never any good. Do you have an existing antenna? If so check connections inside and out. A good ground is always required for radio reception. If thats OK then I'd suggest a better antenna. Aluminum actually acts as a good ground plane for an external antenna.
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wcjeep
Tacoma, Wa
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Joined: 04/11/2008
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Also recommend Crutchfield. Also recommend stereo with front USB input. I buy nano 4gb flash memory for my stereos. The nano memory sticks out about 1/4". The memory costs $10 at Best Buy.
I've been a Kenwood guy. Just bought the wife an Alpine cde 133. It does everything with good built in Bluetooth for $159. I can also stream music/Pandora from my smartphone.
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donn0128
Pronounced Ore-gun
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Joined: 04/21/2005
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Go to Crutchfield.com and nose around. They have tons of options for you to choose from.
Donn,Lorri,Max (The Rescued Lab)
Resident Know It All 
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RCMAN46
NorthWest
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Joined: 02/24/2008
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When looking for a replacement watch for view angle. Most automotive units I looked at had a good view angle if the unit is below line of sight. But if unit is mounted above line of sight difficult to see the display.
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1775
NY
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Joined: 09/30/2009
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The mp3 connection is common now. Just make sure that the radio that you are looking at has an AUX input. Just plug the earphone jack from your mp3 player into the AUX input with a male to male cable and you will hear your mp3 player through your speakers. There are also radios that will include this and a usb connection that will allow a usb memory stick to be plugged in and you can play mp3 files on the usb drive on your radio. And there are some radios that will play mp3 files that are burned onto a CD through the CD player in the radio. Go to Best Buy and take a look at what car stereos they have. They will also install. Also look in any local car stereo shops. You will see radios that start below a hundred and go up. Listen to them at the store and you will hear what you like. It will be rare to find anything that includes a cassette player any longer. Depending on the age of the vehicle, installation may require pulling the dash off. Older vehicles let you crawl under from below and access the radio for easy installation. If the dash needs to come off, unless you are experienced at this, let a shop do the install.
Roadtrek 190 Popular 2011
Meryl and Me Hit the Road
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AlGreg
Northern NY, San Benito, TX
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Joined: 10/15/2007
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As said before, USB input is the way to go. Put 4 or 5 thousand songs in a 8GB Cruzer Fit thumb drive that is the same size as mini USB mouse reciever and regularly goes on sale at Best Buy for under $10.
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MegaJohn
NW Geogia
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Joined: 08/21/2010
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MitchF150 wrote:I did this with mine using a standard car stereo. Had to fill the large hole left by the OEM unit.
Wish I had gotten one with USB, but it has an AUX, so I can still play the iPod (didn't have the iPod when I got the stereo). It was only $99 or something like that too.
Mitch
Good job, Mitch! Very clean looking install... I really like the rope moulding trim.
Happy Camping!
John.
Stock 2006 Dodge Ram 3500 MegaCab, 5.9L Cummins, Automatic, 2WD, Dually
- 30' 2006 Pilgrim Interntional travel trailer, dry weight ~7k pounds, GVWR ~9k pounds
- Husky weight distributing hitch, friction anti-sway control, electronic brake controller
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MitchF150
Washington, the State
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Joined: 07/13/2002
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I did this with mine using a standard car stereo. Had to fill the large hole left by the OEM unit.
Wish I had gotten one with USB, but it has an AUX, so I can still play the iPod (didn't have the iPod when I got the stereo). It was only $99 or something like that too.
Mitch
*Anything I post is for entertainment purposes only and what usually works for me.. Your Mileage May Vary..
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MegaJohn
NW Geogia
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Last spring we installed a new automobile type unit. We found it at Best Buy for about $120 or so. It has AM/FM, CD, Aux input, & USB... it'll actually play/control our iPod and has a wireless remote.
Our original "clock radio" type unit had a wire hanging off the back for the antenna… reception was marginal at best. We had to move that wire all over the place to get reception! When we installed the new unit, I picked up an automobile type antenna from Auto Zone. I had to get a little creative since the roof's deck was considerably thicker than a car's sheet metal fender. The installation went pretty well... then I covered the antenna base with dicor sealant to prevent future leaks.
After a year, it still performs very well... we love it!
Happy Camping!
John.
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