How does a car radio “hold onto” a weak signal for a long time, but if you change the channel and try to change it back, it can’t pick up on it again?

Question

This also works on an internet signal.

In: Technology

Answer 1

If you are using the seek or scan function there is a minimum signal threshold for the radio to stop on a certain frequency. It is designed to not stop on scratchy radio stations. In other words, “It’s a feature!”

It only becomes an issue when your traveling takes you to an area where the signal is weak. It will always stay on a station once it is tuned in, no matter how weak it gets, but it won’t tune back in due to the way it is designed.

If you could type in a specific frequency, or if your radio allows you to advance from one frequency to the next (88.1, 88.3, 88.5, etc.) using the “tune” function, then you can avoid this problem.