I am looking at buying a headunit imported from Japan and I know that several people have done this before. Here is my question: I know the Japanese band goes from 76-90Mhz whereas US and the rest of the world is from 90-108Mhz roughly. I also have seen converters that will drop the US frequency anywhere from 10-20Mhz to accomodate for this difference. i.e. To get KROQ 106.7 you would tune to 96.7 on your Japanese headunit. In addition to this all US stations end in odd decimals i.e. 102.7, 100.3, 105.9 etc, but I have seen Japanese stations mostly ending in even decimals with some being in odd like ours. To accomodate for this, I have seen products that change the step of a headunit from 0.2 to 0.1.

So basically my question is has anyone successfully installed a Japanese headunit and gotten the radio to function properly? If so, did it require two adapters or one and where did you get the adapter (and how much $$$)?? Please let me know because I am looking at buying soon.

 

I know somebody knows...all I need is confirmation that it can indeed be done properly and what parts I need to do it.

 

You need a FM band expander; the more practical one shifts the frequencies UP +14Mhz (from 76-90 to 90-104).

http://www.fmband-expanders.co.nz/

http://www.edl.co.nz/ConvertersHP/PRODUCTS.html

http://www.audiocubes.com/inde...d5c91

I don't use one because I never listen to the radio...

 

I have looked at both of those links and researched a lot on the net. What I am worried about is that I have heard Japanese headunits tune in to even decimaled stations and not odds, i.e. I could tune into 102.6 or 105.8 but not 102.7 or 105.9. Is there any truth to this? Or do I just need the FM Band expander and thats it?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jond2062 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I am looking at buying a headunit imported from Japan and I know that several people have done this before. Here is my question: I know the Japanese band goes from 76-90Mhz whereas US and the rest of the world is from 90-108Mhz roughly. I also have seen converters that will drop the US frequency anywhere from 10-20Mhz to accomodate for this difference. i.e. To get KROQ 106.7 you would tune to 96.7 on your Japanese headunit. In addition to this all US stations end in odd decimals i.e. 102.7, 100.3, 105.9 etc, but I have seen Japanese stations mostly ending in even decimals with some being in odd like ours. To accomodate for this, I have seen products that change the step of a headunit from 0.2 to 0.1.

So basically my question is has anyone successfully installed a Japanese headunit and gotten the radio to function properly? If so, did it require two adapters or one and where did you get the adapter (and how much $$$)?? Please let me know because I am looking at buying soon.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Me just wonder...

Why you want to go tru all these hassle when you can get some good head units here in the U.S.A?

 

Good headunits? I don't want to sound like a jerk but have you seen what the US has to offer compared to Japan?





And my reigning personal favorite...


When was the last time you saw any of these in the US? Granted their are some nice double dins (namely Kenwood and Eclipse), their's nothing as cool as this panasonic.


Modified by jond2062 at 5:34 AM 7/29/2004

 

yeah, I have a JDM 2 din as well. didn't install it because of the radio thing. however, I am more concerned about theft. Although those look nice, are they removable faces?

In japan, you don't have to worry about theft as much as the US. I'd be interested in the FM Band expander though :B

I'd proly just install a GPS/DVD player instead. That comes with a removable face too

-aoib0t, who is more into learning about security mods

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AoiGSR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yeah, I have a JDM 2 din as well. didn't install it because of the radio thing. however, I am more concerned about theft. Although those look nice, are they removable faces?

In japan, you don't have to worry about theft as much as the US. I'd be interested in the FM Band expander though :B

</TD></TR></TABLE>

A, you are right on the mark. I don't think I've ever seen a JDM headunit with a removeable faceplate...

I'm sure you remember seeing all the bicycles parked outside the train stations; probably 90%+ were not locked.

 

yup you can park them at the station and no need to lock.

I had a lock on my JDM bicycle that I took to school

-aoib0t, who rode his JDM bicycle to Fuji station (and it had a basket on front) :B

 

I was worried about theft before I started this thread and now you guys have me all nervous. I plan to get a good security system, but I don't even know what good that will do. If someone really wants to steal something they will steal it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jond2062 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have looked at both of those links and researched a lot on the net. What I am worried about is that I have heard Japanese headunits tune in to even decimaled stations and not odds, i.e. I could tune into 102.6 or 105.8 but not 102.7 or 105.9. Is there any truth to this? Or do I just need the FM Band expander and thats it?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Just the band expander, thats it (unless you have a freak of a radio that doesnt step in .1).

Whoever told you that Japanese radios step in .2 should really go and actually have a look at a JDM car radio.

- Igor (From the land of the JDM import, NZ).

 

if you need an installer, I know a good one let me know

-aoib0t, who wants to promote a friend of a friend on honda-tech :B

 

Thanks for the info guys.

 

Good luck; let's see which unit you end up with

 

Ended up with a Sony WX-C70MD.



This isn't the best picture in the world, but it's the best I could find searching on Google.

 

show off. haha

 

Anyone know of a place in So Cal I can get an FM Band expander??? I don't want to sit here and wait for it to be shipped.

 

they have some crazy looking faces for the cd players in japan. never seen anything like that over here. I think ill just stick with my pioneer premier

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jond2062 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Anyone know of a place in So Cal I can get an FM Band expander??? I don't want to sit here and wait for it to be shipped.</TD></TR></TABLE>

It's a shot in the dark, but try the LAOX store on Western Ave. over there by that King's Hawaiian place. I'm not sure what this particular store sells, but LAOX is a huge electronics chain in Japan.

HTH

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jond2062 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
And my reigning personal favorite...


</TD></TR></TABLE>

That is one sick head unit. I would love to have a tube amplifier head unit. It must sound really warm and clean

 

Here in NZ the vast majority of cars are Japanese imports so we use band expanders all the time. All you need to do it plug it in and connect it to 12V positive, not sure where you can get them in the US but that should be all you need

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kengs &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

It's a shot in the dark, but try the LAOX store on Western Ave. over there by that King's Hawaiian place. I'm not sure what this particular store sells, but LAOX is a huge electronics chain in Japan.

HTH</TD></TR></TABLE>

I contacted LAOX, who then referred me to ODT Video, who then referred me to some guy in LA. After 3 phone calls, it appears I am out of luck.

 

Heres one if you can be bothered waiting for delivery from NZ http://www.dse.co.nz/cgi-bin/d...A3002

 

Thanks for the link, I'll think about it.