The frequency range agreed internationally for FM broadcasting includes 88-108 MHz and is used in virtually all countries including Kenya. Japan, in an exception to normal international usage, uses the frequency range 76-90 MHz which is lower and narrower than the international range. Used cars imported from Japan are usually fitted with a Japanese specification car radio which, without modification, only receives Kenyan broadcasts at 90 MHz or below. A common and inexpensive solution has been to fit a “band expander” in the aerial lead to allow more stations to be received.
After the radio expander is installed the radio will display a different frequency to that which is being received. i.e. If you tune into a station at 98.4Mhz and have an a 20Mhz expander installed the radio will display 78.4Mhz.
Limitations of Band Expanders
Common to all FM Band Expanders are radio stations double-ups, caused by shifting 20Mhz bandwidth into 14Mhz bandwidth ( 88Mhz-108Mhz shifted into 76Mhz-90Mhz) and overlapping Japanese FM Band and International FM Band ( 88Mhz-90Mhz). As you can see it is important to work out which frequency shift option suits your requirements.
Another limitation of installing a radio expander is that if two radio stations are are transmitting at a frequency differential the same as the frequency shift of the expander the radio will pick up both stations at the same time. i.e station A transmits at 84Mhz and station B transmits at 104Mhz and you install an expander with a 20Mhz shift, when you tune into station B you will pick up both stations at the same time.
1. The aerial connections for the radio are located on the back side of the radio.
2. Unplug the two aerial plugs, notice that one of the plugs is smaller than the other, this causes a problem in that (to my knowledge) an expander with the smaller plug is not available. To get around this problem cut the smaller plug off, and cut the plug off one of the expanders. Then resold the small plug onto the expander and the plug from the expander onto the wire from the aerial where you cut the small plug from. See below.
3. The aerial wires can now be plugged into the expanders and the aerial plug on the expander can be plugged into the radio. Put the bigger plug in first as the hole for this is the lower of the two. The expander also requires power and should be connected to an accessories power source.