FM radio reception

The stocker in my (10) G3 SUX!!!!
I cover about six counties in the SE (no topographical "diversity") and the radio reception is abysmal.
Since 'my' G3 isn't...I normally carry an mp3 book or plug my droid into the aux-in jack and listen to left wing podcasts (keeps me awake! )
Every other vehicle that I drive allows me to actually listen to RADIO stations that are in the next zip code.

I don't normally like modding cars because it usually brings on trouble or just looks like A$$ however (comma!) if I ever become a Prius owner instead of just a Prius driver....I'm going to do a receiverectomy before I even remove the window sticker. The antenna (antennae?) too.

 

Just to clean-up the discussion about FM radio components. The image is valid for the car production after Dec/2011.


*A Models without Sliding Roof System, *B Models with Sliding Roof System, *C Models with HDD Navigation System for Europe or Australia, *D Except Models with HDD Navigation System for Europe or Australia, *E Models with 8-speaker System
*1 Map Light Assembly
*2 Telephone Microphone Assembly
*3 No. 1 Integration Relay
*4 Amplifier Antenna Assembly - DAB Antenna
*5 Amplifier Antenna Assembly
*6 Roof Antenna Pole Sub-assembly - AM/FM
*7 Window Glass Antenna - FM sub
*8 Stereo Component Amplifier

[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=#444444][FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=#444444][FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=#444444][FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=#444444][FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=#444444][FONT=Tahoma]the GPS Navigation antenna position - it is for RHD, so LHD will be mirrored.[/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

 

Reception has gotten worse imo. I'm getting much more static than when I first got the car.

I end up using internet radio via my phone but sometimes it stops to buffer which is annoying as well.

 

I have a 2011 Prius 2 with the lower-end audio and live in SE PA, which has lots of FM stations. This radio is far and away the worst I've had in 40+ years of car ownership. There are times I can only get a single station to come up in a scan. I had the dealer look at it, and they said, "...Found no concerns with antenna and receiver. Customer may be hitting dead zones that radio station can not broadcast to..." This is a few miles outside of Philadelphia! I will certainly bring it their attention again.

 

There is a TSB No. BE-0017T-0212 issued by TMC Europe for the FM radio with and without CD changer before March 2011 . The TSB includes the roof antenna sub-system replacement and HU software update. In some case the replacement of front speakers as well. I have a version in czech language only, which would not be very helpful to share here, I think.
I didn't have a chance to tested it or ask for the TSB at my dealer as I switched my HU to chinese one.

 

Are there any updates or new information about this? My 2010 with the jbl stock system gets horrible reception, unlike any other car I've had , and still use, in the same location.