1999 Ford Explorer Owner Guide 1st Printing - Page 78

Controls and features Cleaning cassette player (if equipped) Clean the tape player head with a cassette cleaning cartridge after ten to twelve hours of play in order to maintain the best sound and operation. Cassette and cassette player care • Use only cassettes that are 90 minutes long or less. • Do not expose tapes to direct sunlight, high humidity, extreme heat or extreme cold. Allow tapes that may have been exposed to extreme temperatures to reach a moderate temperature before playing. • Tighten very loose tapes by inserting a finger or pencil into the hole and turning the hub. • Remove loose labels before inserting tapes. • Do not leave tapes in the cassette player for a long time when not being played. Radio frequency information The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Canadian Radio and Telecommunications Communications (CRTC) establish the frequencies AM and FM stations may use for their broadcasts. Allowable frequencies are: AM 530, 540-1600, 1610 kHz FM 87.9, 88.1-107.1, 107.9 MHz Not all frequencies are used in a given area. Radio reception factors Three factors can affect radio reception: • Distance/strength. The further an FM signal travels, the weaker it is. The listenable range of the average FM station is approximately 40 km (24 miles). This range can be affected by "signal modulation." Signal modulation is a process radio stations use to increase their strength/volume relative to other stations. • Terrain. Hills, mountains and tall buildings between your vehicle's antenna and the radio station signal can cause FM reception problems. Static can be caused on AM stations by power lines, electric fences, traffic lights and thunderstorms. Moving away from an interfering structure (out of its "shadow") returns your reception to normal. 78