Testing method for components with reception capabilities

A method for recording and playing back data for comparing vehicle components with signal reception capabilities, comprising the steps of:

• recording audio output from a first component while traveling a test route, the first component generating output from a broadcast signal at a frequency;
• recording audio output from a second component simultaneously with said first audio recording step while traveling the test route, the second component generating output from the broadcast signal at the frequency;
• recording video of environmental conditions encountered while traveling the test route simultaneously with said first and second audio recording steps;
• playing back at least selected portions of the recorded audio output from the first component and the recorded audio output from the second component;
• and
• playing back at least selected portions of the recorded video corresponding to the played-back portions of the recorded audio output from the first component and the recorded audio output from the second component, the playing back of the recorded video occurring simultaneously with and in synchronized relationship to the corresponding portions of the played-back portions of the recorded audio output from the first component and the recorded audio output from the second component.

A method for rating the quality of a recorded FM broadcast, comprising the steps of:

• calculating in a computer a first value indicative of a level of an FM pilot signal embedded in the recorded FM broadcast;
• calculating in a computer a second value indicative of a level of the recorded FM broadcast at a frequency outside of a range of frequencies in which an FM signal is normally modulated;
• and
• computing a rating indicative of noise present in the recorded FM broadcast as a function the first value and the second value.

A method for providing a relative rating of two components with FM reception capabilities, comprising the steps of:

• recording a first audio recording of output from a first component playing an FM broadcast;
• recording a second audio recording of output from a second component playing the FM broadcast, said second recording step occurring simultaneously with said first recording step;
• for each of the first and second audio recordings:
• calculating in a computer a first value indicative of a level of an FM pilot signal embedded in the audio recording;
• calculating in a computer a second value indicative of a level of the recorded FM broadcast at a frequency outside of a range of frequencies in which desired sound in an FM signal is normally modulated;
• and
• computing a rating indicative of noise present in the recorded FM broadcast as a function the first value and the second value;
• comparing the rating of the first audio recording to the rating of the second audio recording to provide an indication of the relative quality of the first and second audio recordings, and consequently the relative quality of the first and second components.

A method for comparing the quality of reception system, comprising the steps of:

• providing a first vehicle with an audio system and a first reception system to be tested;
• providing a second vehicle with an audio system and a second reception system to be tested;
• traveling through a test route with the first vehicle and the second vehicle in close proximity to one another;
• simultaneously recording output from the first audio system and the second audio system during said traveling step with the first and second audio systems producing output from a predetermined frequency;
• recording video of environmental conditions encountered by the first and second vehicles during said traveling step;
• playing back at least selected portions of the recorded audio output from the first audio system and the recorded audio output from the second audio system;
• playing back at least selected portions of the recorded video corresponding to the played-back portions of the recorded audio output, the playing back of the recorded video occurring simultaneously with and in synchronized relationship to the corresponding portions of the played-back portions of the recorded audio output;
• and
• comparing the recorded output from the first audio system with the recorded output from the second audio system in view of the recorded video to obtain a relative quality evaluation of the first reception system and the second reception system.

A method for testing vehicle components with signal reception capabilities, comprising the steps of:

• recording audio output from a first component while traveling a first test route, the first component generating output from a first broadcast signal;
• recording audio output from a reference component simultaneously with said first audio recording step while traveling the first test route, the reference component generating output from the first broadcast signal;
• recording audio output from a third component while traveling a second test route, the first component generating output from a second broadcast signal;
• recording audio output from the reference component simultaneously with said third audio recording step while traveling the second test route, the reference component generating output from the second broadcast signal;
• playing back at least selected portions of the recorded audio output from the first component and the simultaneously recorded audio output from the reference component;
• playing back at least selected portions of the recorded audio output from the third component and the simultaneously recorded audio output from the reference component;
• and
• comparing a relative quality of the first audio recording and the simultaneously recorded audio output from the reference component with a relative quality of the third audio recording and the simultaneously recorded audio output from the reference component to obtain a relative quality evaluation of the first component and the third component.