I'm assuming that the Frequency step is different in Japan which is why they will not pick up UK stations. If this is the case most new stereos will work. I bought a Kenwood when I was working in USA and I brought it home with me. The frequency step was different there. It tells you this in the manual. To reset it to the UK I just had to hold down the 2 specified buttons for 2 seconds or something.
Hey presto, all UK stations can be received ahd the correct frequency is shown on the display.

I'm sure I remember hearing somewhere that it is possible to have Japan-spec stereos modified to not only pick up non-Radio2 stations(phew), but also to display the correct frequency on the lcd. Can anyone shed any light on this please.

You may be able to set your radio for UK bands & steps. Sometimes this is by pressing buttons, sometimes by switching toggles on the back of the unit. I suggest you take it out and take it to a apecialist.

If you are unable to convert there are two types of band converter you can get. One allows you to pick up UK stations from ~93MHz up (ie no Radio 2 & 4) the other is switchable allowing reception of Radio 2 & 4 in one position and other stations in the other. Niether of these options allow the unit to show the correct wavelength on the display.

I have a converter of the first type that you are welcome to if you don't mind missing Radio 2 & 4.

I need the same info for the ADDZEST kit that is shipped with WRXs. They don't come with a user manual. Does anyone know which buttons to press or what add-on frequency shifter I would need ?
Thanks....

P.S. Rupert - took a chance with the work address thing.

Thanks for your helpful posts gents. No e-mail address Tim so I can't keep this off-list. What do you mean about the work address ? The stereo I'm referring to is also an Addzest, and I've since discovered that if it won't simply switch over to pick up and display the correct frequencies for the UK, it would need a costly modification (like in the hundreds) to be carried out. So, fingers crossed, somebody must know.......

Addzest is the name Clarion uses in the Japanese market, if that's any help.

Addzest is the name Clarion uses in the Japanese market, if that's any help.

Addzest is the name Clarion uses in the Japanese market, if that's any help.

My inclination would be to buy a UK spec. stereo. I am told that band expanders degrade the sound quality and I would get fed up with the fact that a "band expanded" stereo does not show the correct frequencies and cannot pick up all stations (though in some cases you can do so by flicking a switch).

When I was looking at the options I was surprised at how much cheaper stereos are now than they were a few years ago. You can get a decent Sony CD/Tuner for a couple of hundred quid. Being a cheapskate I bought a virtually brand new Sony out of "Loot" for 80 quid. It works perfectly.

I have a 10/20 (switchable) band shifter which I fitted to my standard Addzest system. I have since fitted a complete new stereo system so you are welcome to it if you would like. It requires connection to a switched live supply and plugs into the aerial. the display stil shows the wrong frequency, buts its easy enough to add 10 or 20 to get the right one! (I also have the rest of the system if any one is interested (speaker,amp, powered sub, DSP etc.)

well timH, that's 2 of us with an addzest that's tuning too low. did you in fact get an answer? having broken the bank on the car, the button pressing option sounds great...

Vanya, no I haven't heard anything on that front. I've tried various key combinations but without success. Maybe Stuart's kind offer is still available. (I'm just listening to cds for now).

Things have moved on somewhat since I first posted this thread. The car's here and the supplied Addzest unit has been fitted with a dongle in the back of it which allows me to pick up all the FM stations, albeit not very strongly, but dislays the wrong frequency, as I anticipated. Not being much of an audiophile (and being tight !) I'm reluctant to ditch the unit because the cd and tape aspects seem to work very well. So does anybody know if some kind of basic signal amplifier can be fitted to the unit/aerial ?