# Car radio **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** hyundai, accent\ **Created:** [June 30, 2010, 8:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-radio/51115 "2010-06-30T20:38:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![abxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7c8e57/32.png) [@abxxx](https://community.cartalk.com/u/abxxx)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 8:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-radio/51115/1 "2010-06-30T20:38:28Z")
When I purchase my 2004 Hyundai Accent the AM radio built into it could not pick up distant stations. Do I need a better radio or better antenna? The radio in the car that I traded in was able to pick up distant stations. Thank you. abxxx ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 11:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-radio/51115/2 "2010-06-30T23:16:52Z")
you’d need a better antenna most likely. And it’s a crap shoot. I’ve put about 4 on my MR2 (the SO keeps taking it through car washes with the power antenna raised), all the same brand, all get different levels of reception ranging from fair to fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![kizwiki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7cd45c/32.png) [@kizwiki](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kizwiki)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 12:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-radio/51115/3 "2010-07-01T00:55:26Z")
Go get an HD stereo system, which will give you a clear signal to about a thousand frequencies, all free. They don’t even cost much. ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 1:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-radio/51115/4 "2010-07-01T01:15:03Z")
Before replacing anything, check the antenna is properly connected and properly grounded. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 1:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-radio/51115/5 "2010-07-01T01:25:24Z")
Assuming the antenna’s connected, I’d do like kizwiki says, get an HD radio. AM sections on radios get little attention these days, they’re worse than the were 20 years ago.