Bought an import and half the dial is unavailable? Cars built for the Japanese market tune a lower FM band than we use here, so most Irish stations fall outside the radio's range. It is not broken — it is set for the wrong country. We recode the tuner to the European band, so the full Irish dial comes in on your original radio.
Same radio, same buttons — the tuner is simply looking in the right place.
Nothing is broken. Japan and Ireland simply use different ranges of the FM spectrum, and a radio built for Tokyo is looking below where our stations actually broadcast.
The stations you can reach are whichever ones happen to sit in the overlap. Everything higher up the band is silent.
Japan steps in 0.1 MHz, Europe in 0.05 MHz, so some frequencies cannot be landed on exactly — even inside the overlap.
A tuner set to Japan does not read the RDS data Irish stations send, so you get numbers instead of names.
The two bands only overlap between roughly 87.5 and 95 MHz. Everything above that — where a large part of the Irish dial sits — is simply out of reach for a tuner still set to Japan. Older imports are narrower still, stopping at 90 MHz.
Which one applies depends on the head unit fitted at the factory. We check that from your registration and a photo of the radio before quoting.
When this applies: The head unit already supports a European region — it was simply set to Japan at the factory.
When this applies: The unit has no European region in its software, or the budget option does not exist yet.
On most units the European band is already in the software, just switched off at the factory. We read the radio, switch the region and rescan, all through the head unit itself.
76–90 MHz, set at the factory. Most Irish stations are out of reach.
87.5–108 MHz with European tuning steps, through the head unit itself.
Presets and RDS names checked with you before you leave.
Most services are done the same day. A straight recode is carried out through the head unit itself, so nothing is dismantled.
We identify the head unit from the build data and a picture of the radio — that tells us whether coding alone will do it.
We connect and read the current region, firmware version and tuner settings before changing anything.
The tuner is recoded to the 87.5–108 MHz band with European tuning steps. On some units this is a firmware change.
A full band scan fills the presets with what is actually receivable where the car lives, not Japanese frequencies.
We tune through the dial together, confirm RDS names appear and set your presets before you leave.
The original region is noted, so the radio can be put back to Japanese spec at any point.
Nothing on the dashboard changes. The only difference is how much of the band the tuner can actually reach.
Only the overlap comes through. The rest of the dial reads as static or nothing at all.
The whole Irish band, correct tuning steps, and station names where the unit reads RDS.
Anything brought in from the Japanese domestic market can be affected — dealer and private imports alike. What matters is the factory head unit, not the badge on the bonnet, so we confirm it from your registration before quoting.
and other Japanese imports
Real cars from the Dublin workshop: what was fitted, what it cost and whether it fits yours.
Straight answers about the band, the coding and what happens to the rest of the car.
Ask on WhatsAppJapan broadcasts FM on a lower band than Europe. A radio built for Japan tunes roughly 76–95 MHz, while Irish stations sit between 87.5 and 108 MHz. Only the narrow overlap comes through, so most of the dial is silent.
In most cases it is software only. We connect to the head unit and change its region setting so it tunes the European band. Where the unit has no European region built in, a small band converter is fitted instead.
No. Recoding the tuner does not touch the rest of the car. Where the menus are in Japanese we can convert the language as a separate job, but the radio work on its own leaves everything else as it is.
On most units, yes — once the region is set to Europe the RDS data Irish stations broadcast is read and station names appear. It depends on the head unit, so we confirm it for your car before quoting.
Yes. The region setting can be put back to Japan at any time, which matters if the car is ever exported or sold on.
A straightforward recode is usually done the same day while you wait. If a band converter is needed the car is booked in for longer, because the unit has to be reached behind the dashboard.
Tell us about your car and what you're after — we'll come back with honest advice and a clear, no-obligation price.
Over 10 years of work since August 2016, we are rated 4.8 from 1,094 Google reviews, as of 9 October 2026.
1,094 Google reviews
Fats friendly and service is next level, always communicating about the work and giving up to dates
1 day ago
Radioking converted the radio in my Japanese import, looks great and great service
1 day ago
They installed Replacement media centre into my Japanese import Nissan Note in record time. Everything works great so far.
5 days ago
Excellent service from Radio King. They supplied and professionally installed a 70mai T800 three-channel camera system in my taxi, covering the front, rear and passenger cabin. The wiring was fitted neatly and everything was fully…
6 days ago
A new radio fitted and the staff were fabulous - fair prices and great service
1 week ago
Very pleasant staff and fitted the carphone mike quickly. Working very well.
1 week ago
The Experience was excelent. I got the screen radio I wanted and a web cámara. The staff is very friendly and respecful. I highly recomend them.
1 week ago
Very helpful and knowledgeable guys delighted with dash cam so far. Thanks again.
1 week ago