FM Reception Guide
FM Reception Guide
You are reading this because you are interested in FM broadcast radio and it is generally for one of 3 reasons: you are an FM DXer that enjoys listening and identifying distant FM stations often that arrive to your location via skip (signals that go up from the transmitter antenna and bounce back down to the receiving antenna), you are a program listener that loves your music such as jazz, classical, or rock, or you are a combination that is trying to pick up particular programming from a station or stations at a distance, usually line-of-site rather than skip.
As with any hobby there are tons of myths surrounding FM radio reception and some very knowledgable FM experts even buy into to a few myths. This guide will cut through much of that and point you in the direction you will need for great FM listening without spending a ton of money.
There are essentially 3 areas to consider when planning and purchasing your FM reception system:
-
The FM tuner or receiver is offered in many varieties by several electronics manufacturers.
-
The antenna is critical because it is often the least understood part of the equation. The two basic types to be considered are directional and non-directional.
-
Coaxial cable that runs between the tuner and the antenna is usally an after-thought but it is just as important as the other 2 areas and should be considered carefully.
Please remember, and I’m talking to you and me right now, that you get more out of your investment if you research carefully and determine your needs before making any purchases rather than just rushing out and buying the most expensive items available.
FM Tuners
FM tuners are stand-alone units that require amplification of some sort while receivers are a combination of at least an amplifier and the tuner. Some tuners include both AM and FM and some are FM only. My preference is FM-only tuners, but there are many AM-FM combo units that are excellent and home theater receivers are very popular items today. You can see an excellent selection of new and used tuners of any variation at the following link:
I spent less than $100 on my current tuner (Onkyo T-4087) and it is excellent.
Two of the most notorious FM tuners are the McIntosh MR-78 and the Onkyo TU-9090MkII. These two tuners are known to be excellent tuners both sonically and with distant signals. However, there are better units available for less money that can be purchased easily. In fact, those 2 units are of such a reputation now that they fetch a premium price.
Specifications are always very important when considering FM Tuners. The following are two very good explanations of the specifications to be considered when purchasing an FM tuner:
A site that is dedicated to vintage FM tuners but invariably discusses current tuners as well is the fantastic Tuner Information Center. Spend as much time there as you can to learn all you can about the tools of FM reception for both the program listener and the DXer.
FM Antennas
Many FM enthusiasts spend thousands of dollars on an FM tuner and completely overlook the FM stereo antenna system (coax and antenna). The FM antenna system will make the difference in whether you get full-quieting on an FM signal or can get an FM stereo signal vs. only a FM mono signal. The greatest, most expensive FM tuner available works no better than the FM antenna that is plugged into it.
There are many factors that have to be considered when trying to determine potential distance including FM antenna height above ground, surrounding terrain, local height above sea level, nearby noise sources and other potential forms of interference including high-power FM transmitters or ones located close-by that can de-sensitize even very good FM tuners or FM receivers. Of course, the FM broadcast station at the other end has the same sort of variations including FM transmitter antenna height, FM broadcast station power, and even FM frequency can play a factor with FM stations at 88 MHz having an advantage for distance over FM stations at 108.
THE FM RECEPTION ANTENNA you choose is very important. The best outdoor FM antennas available are large directional FM yagi antennas; any outdoor directional antenna will out-perform any non-directional antenna. The directional FM antennas require a rotator (unless your FM targets are all in one direction) and professional installation; check with a local TV shop that handles TV antennas for FM antenna installation resources. A great value in an FM yagi is the Antennacraft FM6. It has an excellent reputation and can easily be stacked for additional gain and a more narrow beamwidth which is also an advantage.
The best choice in omni-directional (all directions) FM stereo reception radio antennas is the FM reception half-wave dipole antenna available from FM DX Antenna Company. The FM half-wave dipole antenna can be mounted in an attic or closet but for best results mount it outside in the clear. The FM DX Company FM half-wave dipole actually gives the performance originally promised, but disappointedly lacking, from the end-fed FM half-wave antennas available from different manufacturers. Even if you use one of the large FM antenna arrays, you should also have an omni-directional FM antenna along with the large FM array for flexibility.
MOUNTING HEIGHT is generally the key to quality FM reception. Mount your FM antenna as high as possible and clear of obstructions such as trees, buildings, and power lines. Mounting the FM antenna as high as possible will both clear the FM antenna of nearby obstructions and it will overcome the curvature of the earth that blocks distant FM stations. In spite of the fact that longer runs of coax have higher loss, we get better signals from higher FM antennas that more than compensates for cable loss. Oddly enough, though height is usually best, certain types of FM DX (distant signals that bounce, usually off the earth’s atmosphere, but not exclusively) are picked up better with big FM antennas mounted 20-25 feet. When FM DXing, rather than trying to pick up distant stations direct, height approaches the point of diminishing returns somewhat quicker.
For an FM reception antenna inside near your FM stereo setup, your best choice is plain rabbit ears that can be tuned to the FM broadcast band; these will give the best performance in the room with your FM tuner or FM receiver. Without question, the best indoor FM antenna available is here.
A fantastic amount of information on FM antennas is available at the following Web sites:
- Paul’s Antenna Attic at the Tuner Information Center
- FM and TV Antenna Information at the KYES-TV site
Coax
QUALITY COAX is very important to solid FM reception; it is a critical part of the antenna system. Coax is a source of loss of signal from the FM antenna to the FM receiver and can also be a noise introduction point. We lessen the amount of loss by running the coaxial cable as directly as possible to the FM antenna to keep the run short and buying the lowest-loss cable needed for your setting. Fortunately, with satellite TV being so common, RG6 satellite-grade cable is commonly available. This will work great for our needs in most cases. RG11 is a larger coax that has even lower loss. Do not scrimp on your coax; buy the best coax for your setup. You have to make the decisions for your setup but my choice would be RG6 for up to 50 feet and RG11 for any runs longer than that and I absolutely get the best coax I can find; not necessarily the most expensive, but the best. Look for the coax you need at this link to quad-shield coax.
FM PREAMPLIFIERS are usually not something recommended but for two exceptions: On a long coax run where cable loss can be a factor or when using a splitter and running to several different FM stereos an FM preamplifier can overcome cable loss. In the case where it is determined that an FM preamplifier is necessary, mount the FM preamp as close to the FM antenna as possible, preferably mounted just beneath the FM reception antenna. Lower gain is actually best with no more gain than is necessary to overcome signal loss in the cable and it is worth the money to make sure the FM preamp has the lowest noise figure possible. When using a very good sensitive and selective FM tuner or FM receiver you just don’t need an FM preamplifier. After using a Magnum Dynalab 205 tuned FM preamplifier for several years and, though really wanting it to work, never saw that it helped the FM tuner (Onkyo T-9090 MkII) at all. Some people have claimed that it provides a better FM signal for them and it certainly may in some conditions, particularly where the FM tuner or FM receiver are not the best, but no one really viewed as an FM DXing guru or serious FM enthusiast recommends it to my knowledge. If you have a very large investment in your FM reception system, it couldn’t hurt to give the Magnum Dynalab 205 a try, but understand the limitations ahead of time.
Each FM antenna setup is different and what works great in one setting may not work at all in another. The best investment is to get those components that have been shown to work in most settings. Your enjoyment of the FM listening hobby does not have to cost a tremendous amount. It is very easy to get excellent range and quality FM signals without too much investment though it does take research and knowledge.
An outstanding site that will allows you to determine the potential for receiving an AM or FM station at any given location by Zip Code.
AM FM Zip Code Signal Strengths
Another excellent resource is the Radio Locator, the wonderful database of radio stations that includes their coverage maps:
Very informative website. I am trying to improve my FM radio reception along the Jersey shore and have found the information I need. Thank-you.
August 8th, 2007 at 3:51 amcan i use the local cable co. (cable tv) cable to recieve am & or fm signal. i work in a bomb shelter and get no reception am/fm. is it possible to use the tv cable as an antenna. thanks for your advice dave j
September 13th, 2007 at 9:03 amDavid,
Cable doesn’t cover AM but many provide FM reception. You’ll need to check with your provider to see if you can get FM on cable.
However, to answer your specific question, no, you can’t use your cable as an antenna as it won’t do anything.
September 15th, 2007 at 7:51 pmI work 30 miles from my favorite FM radio station and the building is completely metal on the inside and outside. I get a terrible signal from my am/fm radio on the fm side. I only have a small wire fm antenna inside and need an antenna outside to pick up the signal better. If I put the small wire to the glass it clears up, but that is not a good fix for my problem.
September 18th, 2007 at 1:32 pmWhat kind should I use? I would like it to mount onto a metal roof, or the utility pole a few feet away that is about 12 ft tall with electric wires on it attached at about 11 ft high and 2 Dish Network dishes at about 8 ft.
so it is pretty full right now.
Toni Boren
Hi Toni,
Ok, I would prefer to stay away from the utility pole.
If you can get an out door antenna outside the building and mounted on the side of the building towards your goal station it should work fine.
Honestly, you probably could mount your wire antenna outside on the side of the building and pick up a station 30 miles away easily.
The key for you is to get outside away from the metal; height is important but not as important to a station 30 miles away.
Regards,
September 18th, 2007 at 2:07 pmLake
Hello-
September 19th, 2007 at 4:47 pmCan I use the Antennacraft FM6 in my attic w/RG6 to my tuner in my bedroom below?
I now have a wire dipole at the ceiling.
Will a directional Yagi improve reception greatly?
How about an VHF/UHF/FM from Radio shack?
My target stations are in two different directions, I live about 20-30 miles between B-more & DC.
What do you think?
Thanks- Well done website!
Hi,
The FM6 would work in that setting but at that range many users are going with an omnidirectional antenna and having fantastic results with an attic mount.
With the stations being in different directions and at that range the FM6 may not be the way to go.
Regards,
September 19th, 2007 at 10:15 pmLake
HI,
September 29th, 2007 at 5:07 amgreat site,I have the 1/2 Wave Dipole Outdoor Antenna and I would like to get FM signal to all of my radios in my house. I currently have cable TV, can I put the signal into the cable TV coax and then at each receiver split it off without affecting the cable companys signal?
Hi Joe,
Awesome question!
First, I don’t know the answer to your question, but you aren’t the first to ask it. I think it is possible actually, but there is a message board thread to check out.
http://www.highdefforum.com/showthread.php?t=27854
You may have to copy and paste the above link into your browser. It is talking about TV signals but the truth is that you are less likely to get interference in the FM band. They talk about products that would do this. Almost any product that works on VHF television will work on FM unless it specifically states that it blocks the FM band, which a few do. The FM band is generally located between TV channels 6 and 7 just as a note to let you know why TV equipment can, and does, work for FM.
If you search Google or your favorite search engine for combine antenna and cable signal or something along those lines you may find more information.
Please share your results with me if you do have success.
Best of luck with your project!
Regards,
September 29th, 2007 at 5:23 amLake
How do I make sure that the antenna is not going to attract lightning.
October 4th, 2007 at 1:16 pmHi,
This is a very important issue for many, many people.
The basic answer to your question is that you can’t. If you have an antenna mounted outside it can take a lightning strike.
There are other Web sites that can instruct on how to pick a good place to mount the antenna and the proper grounding techniques for such an installation but that is all you can do.
Best of luck with your project.
Regards,
October 4th, 2007 at 1:30 pmLake
All your information on FM antennas that I have been reading has been great.
October 6th, 2007 at 4:48 pmMy question now is, will the FM indoor dipole stero antenna from FM DX Company improve my FM reception from my basement? I have a new Onkyo
AV receiver TX=SR504 with the coax cable connector. I’ve tried the FM
antenna supplied with the unit and also bought a Trex amplified antenna (Edge)
that I’m returning, and can only receive 1 clear station. It surely sounds like the dipole from FM DX company may just be a great improvment.
I need a little help. I have a Boze AM/FM/CD. It has a coax input on the rear of the unit. I live in the mountains of Colorado in a valley, elev. 8,200 ft., but surrounded by mountains. I contacted Boze and they sent me a wire dipole ant. Helped a little, but can only rec. 2 FM stations. A friend suggested a power ant that plugs into the house recepticle. Trying to fine one that will do the trick.
HELP!
October 8th, 2007 at 2:29 pmHi,
He must mean an amplified antenna which might help.
Honestly, your question can be answered by reading the reception guide above. You need a good antenna and I can’t add anythign to that.
The only thing I can add to the reception guide is that if he is talking about one of those things that plugs into the receptacle and supposedly turns your house wiring into an antenna don’t get one of those as they are voodoo; they don’t work at all.
Regards,
October 8th, 2007 at 2:35 pmLake
Brian,
There is only so much any antenna can overcome; it can’t overcome the laws of physics.
The key with FM antennas is height and height is not available in a basement so I would set your expectations low for any antenna that is in the basement.
Regards,
October 8th, 2007 at 2:46 pmLake
Dear Sir,
October 16th, 2007 at 4:44 pmI reciently had a metal roof installed on my house. Before that I was using the dinky little “t” wire antenna supplied with my FM radio.Reception was weak but at least there was some. Now I get zip. Any suggestions?
Thanks!
John Allen
Hi John,
As you have experienced metal roofing and siding block FM radio signals.
You could try to get the T antenna on an outer wall that is to the side of any station you are trying to pick up.
Best thing you can do is to mount an antenna above the roof.
Regards,
October 16th, 2007 at 4:50 pmLake
Hi Lake,
I live in apartment near NYC pre-wired for audio/surround, which I don’t use for my system (Bose recommends using only their cables). My question is, can I use the wiring as an FM antenna? If so, how would I do that?
Thanks,
October 28th, 2007 at 11:33 amPete
Hi Pete,
Generally, trying to use wiring won’t work but if you can hook it up to the antenna terminal on your stereo then give it a try. It might work enough to pick up the stations you are trying to get.
I can’t specifically tell you how to do it but it should not be hard.
R,
October 28th, 2007 at 3:25 pmLake
I am trying to get the “best” sound from my fm tuner and am not a dx’er. Most stations I listen to sound “flat or lifeless” compared to cd or vinyl. Can the sound of the fm be brought up to near this level or am I expecting too much? I recently purchased a dedicated fm antenna with rotor. The antenna is located about 30′ above ground. My cable run is about 60′. Would I hear a difference using quad RG6 instead of standard RG6? Would it be better to use RG11 or Quad RG6? Cost is not an issue.
October 28th, 2007 at 3:38 pmThanks for any help!
Gregg
Hey Lake, I’ve just installed a fairly hi-grade surround sound system. A professional company put it in for me. The FM reception is terrible. He says it is because the AM/FM receiver is right below the 42″ flatscreen HDTV and the hi EMR thrown off by the TV interferes and he knows no solution other than placing the TV away from the receiver. Is this right ?
November 3rd, 2007 at 4:50 amHi Gregg,
There is an FM tuners group and you are going to have to ask your question there. I know some tuners do sound better than others somewhat but the basic sound of the tuner is not really my area and I honestly can’t comment with any reasonable knowledge of that area though there are those that can.
You can get some excellent answers to your question at http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/FMtuners
I really don’t believe the coax would affect the sound of your audio though some people have said different antennas have affected the “warmness” or some other aspect of their reception other than signal, I don’t hold a lot of stock in that. I believe the FM sound quality would strictly be a function of the tuner when compared to other parts of the stereo system.
Regards,
November 3rd, 2007 at 5:16 amLake
Hi Will,
The ultimate way to test the veracity of what the installer said is to unplug the power to the TV and see how the reception is.
I suspect the TV has no affect on the FM reception at your location.
I would suspect it to change the AM reception but I don’t know about the FM. Perhaps you could get an indoor antenna mounted a bit away from your TV and that would help if it is hurting reception.
I happen to have a 42″ LCD with an FM radio about 2 feet from it and I can pick up any station I care to on my FM radio so my LCD doesn’t appear to hurt the FM reception.
Regards,
November 3rd, 2007 at 5:20 amLake
aloha, we recieve almost zero reception in a valley in northwest ct. i do remember some reception before our t.v. antenna blew down.would you recommend an omnidirectional antenna as a place to start?
November 5th, 2007 at 7:57 amHi John,
It depends on the stations you are trying to receive.
If they are all in one direction, I suggest an inexpensive directional such as the FM6.
If the stations are in all different directions, get the omnidirectional and put it as high as possible.
As always, with FM, height is a critical factor so being in a valley you must get whatever antenna you choose as high as possible. Even if you choose a directional get it as high as is possible.
My experience is that most people generally listen to one station for program listening.
Also, a directional will pick up in all directions, but will pick up best in the direction it is pointed and next best to the rear. It picks up the least off the side, but it does pick up some of the side.
Anytime someone has a strong local station, they are more than likely going to pick it up regardless of the direction the antenna is pointed.
I know that is more than you asked, but I just got to thinking about using directional antennas.
Regards,
November 5th, 2007 at 8:13 amLake
I am trying to improve the reception of my car head unit. I have an aftermarket Sony receiver and a new antenna. I lose all of my favorites stations within a 30 mile drive. My other vehile does not lose the same stations on the same route. I am looking for a booster. I returned the unit to Sony twice for reception with no results. I am considering running a new coax for it. Do you have any sugestions. Robert, Greenville SC
November 18th, 2007 at 8:02 pmHi Robert,
Sony makes excellent FM receivers generally so I’m surprised you are having trouble.
Automotive reception is generally easy; the receivers usually work nicely. I don’t recommend a booster. The antenna should be between 29 and 31 inches long and it is ok if it is a motorized antenna that goes up and down. Antennas built into windshields and stunted type antennas are a compromise and could create issues.
If the antennas are generally the same type on your two vehicles then I would suspect there is a problem with your coax, but that is fairly rare though not unheard of.
Sorry you are having problems with your new stereo and good luck getting it worked out.
R,
November 18th, 2007 at 8:49 pmLake
I get terrible reception on any Sony Walkman I own. Other receivers work fine, the problem seems to be related to Sony tuners. This seems to be the case regardless of proximity to the transmitter. Is there any way to boost the reception of the headphone cable/antenna?
November 21st, 2007 at 12:41 pmHi Kiernan,
Sony tuners can vary but generally I find them to be quite nice though anything with Sony on it seems to come at a premium.
Yes, it is actually a way to improve your walkman reception and I wrote a post on this earlier this year.
http://www.amfmreception.com/fm-radio/2007/05/sony-srf-m97-vs-sony-srf-s84
The easiest thing is to get the headphones I mention in that article or to get a better radio which I mention in the reception guide.
There are complicated ways which take away the portability of the radio such as getting an antenna splitter and plugging an antenna into the other headphone jack as the cable on the headphones usually serves as the FM antenna. This is just too much sugar for a dime for me.
You could ask Santa Claus to bring you one of the awesome personal radios I mention in the reception guide!
Regards,
November 21st, 2007 at 1:28 pmLake
Have a aluminum roof and get a lot of static. Tried radio outside and it worked great. Can I replace the fm antenna suppied by sony with some sort of long wire to get oit outside? When I hold on the antenna wire, the static goes away.
December 9th, 2007 at 12:16 pmBob,
Generally a long wire is for use below 30 MHz so I don’t believe it will work for FM reception because FM is from 88-108 MHz.
If you don’t want to mount an antenna above the roof, best thing you can do is to get your radio to the side of the house where the station is to try to offset the affect of the metal roof which will block signal.
Regards,
December 9th, 2007 at 12:25 pmLake
I work in an office away from the window. I have an am/fm radio with a telescopic antenna. I have tried turning the antenna all possible directions. I am getting a poor reception on a certain station that I like to listen to. Would a fm radio with an external antenna get me better reception? If so, what would you recommend?
December 28th, 2007 at 2:32 amwhat about HD (high digital) radio for improved reception?
January 1st, 2008 at 9:14 amI recently installed electronic ballasts in my office lighting fixtures. FM radio reception is now very poor. I cannot install a roof antenna, but I have approx 4 feet of space in the “attic”, the space between the ceiling tiles and the roof. An suggestions?
January 1st, 2008 at 2:16 pmHi Lake,
If I’m looking for an indoor antenna for my HD Radio receiver, would you recommend your indoor FM antenna? (FM Indoor Dipole Stereo Antenna with Fine Tuning) Or does HD radio need a special antenna?
Thanks!
January 5th, 2008 at 12:05 pmHi Judy,
That is a great question!
Your HD receiver does not require a special antenna. Any antenna that works for standard broadcast will work great for HD signals on both radios and televisions. There is absolutely no difference in the functionality of antennas it is all in the reception unit.
Enjoy your HD receiver!
Regards,
January 5th, 2008 at 3:37 pmLake
Hi Margaret,
I don’t know, if your radio generally picks up solid when it is by a window then your building may have concrete and steel which will block FM signals.
Does anyone in the building get good reception? If yes, then you need a better radio and I have written some articles elsewhere on this site about the top radios for reception.
If no one is getting good reception then it may be time to break out the MP3 or CD Player.
Regards,
January 5th, 2008 at 3:42 pmLake
Hi Jerry,
I haven’t purchased and HD radio yet though I am keeping my eyes open so I’m afraid I’m going to have to punt on your question though I do have a recommendation.
The following link will take you to HD radios on Amazon, go there and check out what other buyers have experienced with their HD radios. This will give you a good indication of what to expect. Read a LOT of reviews to get a real idea. One person who sounds like they know what they are talking about can often be mis-leading because they have different expectations than others:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=HD%20Radio&tag=fdac-20&index=electronics&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325
Regards,
January 5th, 2008 at 3:48 pmLake
Hi Bruce Mac,
You are onto your solution.
Many people have successfully mounted outdoor antennas in an attic or crawl space. This will be the only solution that will work for you as long as your roof is not made of metal.
Generally, mounting in the attic is considered to reduce signal by 50% but this is not scientific and it could be less but regardless it is your only shot at good FM reception.
Regards,
January 5th, 2008 at 3:52 pmLake
Hi Lake,
January 5th, 2008 at 8:33 pmThe HD signal keeps cutting out on the Sony HD table top radio I have. Am I correct in assuming from your response that the FM antenna would help? It seems worse at night, just like an FM station. The quality of the sound is fabulous except when it totally cuts out or when it fades and comes back as I walk around the room.
Thanks.
Judy,
Yes, that is correct, reception on an HD radio is just like a standard radio so EVERYTHING in the FM reception guide applies including the use of an antenna.
R,
January 5th, 2008 at 8:38 pmLake
on february 17/ 2009 the analog signal for the t.v. signal will be no longer available, digital will be the only available signal.
January 11th, 2008 at 10:04 pmhow will this affect our older analog tuners and the dxing capabilities?
regards, steve
Hi Steve,
Great question!
This applies to TV signals only as I don’t believe there is a sunset on analog (or “standard”) FM broadcast signals.
Older analog receivers will require a converter box to receive the new digital and hdtv broadcasts. I would guess they are like the set top box I have now from Comcast.
Older televisions will not become obsolete fortunately though I do highly recommend HDTV to everyone as soon as they can swing it as the quality of the signal is amazing. I had almost completely quit watching TV except for sports and now I watch more TV than I really should and I rarely leave the HD channels.
DXing will be hurt I’m afraid but we’ll see. Hobbies adapt and change is not a bad thing. I just don’t completely know how digital signals propagate yet but we’ll find out soon enough. I know that digital and HD broadcasting should allow for more channels with higher quality and that is a good thing.
Quite honestly I “DX” on the Internet almost as much as I do on my tuners these days simply because I can hear stations in CD quality stereo from around the world and hear them live.
I have a friend in New Zealand that runs a wonderful small FM station I can hear in the US in MS over the Internet as well.
TV broadcasts are becoming more and more common online and as bandwidth increases so will the availability of online videocasts such as we are seeing with youtube, etc.
Steve, you made me think this morning! Thanks!
Lake
January 12th, 2008 at 10:45 amDear Sir,
Your information above is great and very useful for me.
As we know that FM radio is working on VHF, I’m wondering to try to use multiple VHF (ham ) yagi antenna for my FM receiver. Ham antenna has a multiple element and longer boom than TV antenna. I assume it will work as famous FM antenna such as APS-13/14.
Do you think it will work?
Do I need to do some modification on it?
regards,
January 16th, 2008 at 11:32 pmPram
Hi Pram,
I like your thinking because it is great fun to experiment with alternative antennas and other means of reception.
If by VHF you mean 6 meter or 2 meter band antennas, you would need to use 6 meter and shorten the elements. However, the distance between radials on a yagi is important as well.
You certainly could adapt a 6 meter band antenna to FM broadcast band use but the reality is that an antenna that is made for FM such as the APS antennas you mention or the Antennacraft FM6 is going to outperform it almost everytime.
The 2 APS antennas you mention are not TV antennas, they are FM antennas that would work with TV, particular the lower end of the TV band but they are cut strictly for FM without consideration to the TV channels. If you are comparing your HAM antenna experiment to TV antennas then you would be able to cut a 6 meter yagi that would outperform a wideband TV antenna.
You would be better off financially getting a bunch of old scrap tv antennas and constructing your own “super” FM antenna with your own boom. There are a few Web sites floating around where that sort of thing has been mentioned. If you did that, you could do it darn near for free and make any sort of antenna you want.
Have fun with your experiment!
Regards,
January 17th, 2008 at 5:30 amLake
I run a 45,000 sq. ft. facility in which we just changed out our shop lighting to Fluorescent fixtures. Since installing, all internal FM radio reception has disappeared. Our building is steel, however, we did get internal FM signals prior to the new lighting.
Is there any way to install a roof antenna which allows the 15 internal radios to receive FM reception without attaching all 15 radios to the antenna?
January 23rd, 2008 at 9:49 amThe 3 Ft. long wire antenna attached to myu FM radio is very inadequate. My radio has no standard TV type hookups that would enable an external antenna such as rabbit ears. My problem is not metal roof or height. I just need to hook up a longer antenna. What do I need to do?
Ed Brister
January 26th, 2008 at 9:40 amHi Jason,
I am not familiar with a way to do that without using a switch to attach the radios to the antenna. I know that cell phones have repeaters that can be set up at sites such as yours but I’m not aware of a solution for FM radio in the same way.
Sorry I wasn’t any more help.
R,
February 29th, 2008 at 12:31 pmLake
Hi Ed,
I have tried to connect antennas to radios without antenna connectors and have not had any luck and have never seen anyone on the ‘Net that has accomplished it either.
Unfortunately, you’ll need to get a radio that has an antenna connection.
Regards,
February 29th, 2008 at 12:33 pmLake
Hi Lake,
Cool website you have here. I live in a metropolitan area and so have fairly good reception on my new Rotel tuner. However, it could be better. Currently, the Rotel supplied T-shaped antenna is laying behind the stereo cabinet, but I plan to relocate it to a wall in the attic. I already have some RG-6 Quad and would like to use it. The run would be about 80 feet.
Do you think this antenna is up for the task or should I upgrade to something better? If so, what would you recommend?
Do you think I’ll need an amplifier?
I’m not looking to get far off distant stations, just make the local ones sound their best for this new beautiful tuner. Thanx.
March 11th, 2008 at 1:04 amHi Lance,
Give the antenna you have a shot first without an amplifier as it should work fine for what you want to do. The beauty of your setup is that you can add an amp if needed or change the antenna with little problem as well.
IF you needed an antenna in the attic I would go with an outdoor model but only if the t-shaped wire antenna didn’t pick up the stations you want. My opinions of the outdoor antennas are in the reception guide above.
Regards,
March 11th, 2008 at 5:16 amLake
I live in Dover, DE and have trouble picking up FM stations. I can only get two or three stations really well. I live in a housing development where no one has an outdoor antenna so I’m not sure I want to go that route. There are many stations out of Philadelphia that I barely receive through my receiver. What antenna do you recommend I buy to pick up these stations. I have a large attic where I could place an antenna if I have to.
Emilio
March 18th, 2008 at 4:48 pmHi Emilio,
The Antennacraft FM6 should work great for what you need. Just point it at Philly and that should solve your problems. Many people use FM antennas in the attic with great result.
The outdoor dipole from www.fmdxantenna.com is your best solution for an omni-directional in the attic. It works best mounted vertical and many people use this in the attic with great success.
Again, the roof must NOT be made of any sort of metal because it will completely blank the signal.
Regards,
March 18th, 2008 at 5:25 pmLake
Great website, I work in the police HQ building, in the center of the building, no windows to the outside. Can’t get reception for my favorite FM radio station. I can’t run any wires to the roof or anywhere else, is there a small antenna that I can use that I can place beside my radio that would work or do you have any other suggestions?
March 19th, 2008 at 8:27 pmHi Paul,
If you aren’t getting any reception at all then there really isn’t anything you can do. If your radio has an FM input I recommend you first try the inexpensive wire antennas commonly available and try different orientations. Try it vertical as that makes it fully omni-directional. It is somewhat directional horizontal so make sure the flat side is facing the radio station transmitter.
The best indoor antenna available is the indoor dipole from www.fmdxantenna.com but please don’t throw money at the problem unless you almost get a quality signal with a wire antenna. Like I always say, there are no miracles with FM radio reception.
Beyond that you may be stuck with your favorite MP3 player.
Regards,
March 20th, 2008 at 3:39 amLake
Hi Lake,
I live in SF Bay Area and have your dipole on roof with about 50′ of RG6 to my tuner. I get great DX out to about 40 miles of big and little stations. I notice thru headphones noise below the signal on all but the powerhouse NPR. This phono jack on the amp is quiet with CD player so is it the coax or the tuner? Or just some atmospherics that may come and go. It kind of ruins the music.
The sound is like a slight buzz noticeable especially during dead air periods.
Tuner: Denon T1500
March 21st, 2008 at 8:45 amHi John,
The NPR station not having the noise indicates something in the antenna system; noise is getting in the antenna system (antenna and coax and connectors). We can test if that is the case.
Unplug the coax at the tuner and get it away from it (as much as you can). If the noise goes away it is in the antenna system, if it stays it is likely either in the tuner or something near the tuner.
If the noise goes completely away then the noise is in the antenna system. Plug the coax back in and unplug the coax at the antenna end (if possible) and if the noise level is the same it is leaking into the coax. If the noise goes away then the noise is getting in the antenna and you may want to attempt to re-locate the antenna.
If it is still there with the coax unplugged from the tuner it is likely in the tuner. You can run your hand around the coax input on the tuner to determine if the source is internal or external to the tuner. If the noise changes with your hand running around the input then it is external; if it stays the same it is probably internal.
FM is fairly easy to clean up as it is not terribly succeptible to interference of this sort.
Regards,
March 21st, 2008 at 9:02 amLake
Hi Lake,
Followed your advice and the noise is from the antenna system. I check the resistance between the central conductor and the ground collar at the wall plate I put in and get no resistance. That’s no good. I will now go upstream. I’ll start by pulling off the wall plate, cutting the coax back and see if I can get infinity ohms there. If not then I may need to pull the mast down and rewire. Oh well.
Thanks for advice. Guess I should have tested resistance early on.
John
March 21st, 2008 at 4:08 pmDear sir,
I work in my basement, with my work station about 10 yards from where two little windows open next to the ceiling. I have an old 11 band Transoceanic radio and love classical music. Also in my office I have three computers, one of them a large IBM server. Indeed, a hopeless set up. What could I do to improve my FM reception?
May thanks
Albert
April 2nd, 2008 at 1:02 pmI have a Sony receiver, and cannot hear the fm stations unless I crank the volume all the way up. It has a short attena that connects to a terminal at the back. Will a longer in-door antenna correct this problem. Also at certain times when I move the wire, I get a lot of static.
April 7th, 2008 at 1:41 pmHello Lake,
My Mother is in a nursing home & can NOT get her favorite FM radio station …any suggestions ?
April 9th, 2008 at 6:50 pmHi Luke, I recently purchased one of those nostalgic all in one phono,cd,tape, and tuner(digital) and I really do get weak reception from NYC(I live in Monmouth County NJ) I realize it is a cheaply made system and only has a 3 foot small black wire out the back of the system, but the signal is there and if I touch it with my hand it really clears many of the stations. I live in a vintage 74 mobile home in a mobile community and know that could be part of the problem. Please let me know what if anything at all can be done. Thank you in advance.
April 10th, 2008 at 5:38 pmI just purchased a sangean wr-2 digital am/fm radio and I want to hook up a external antenna. It has a F type antenna jack. What is this? What do you recommend and where can I purchase one. Thanks Jeff
May 7th, 2008 at 8:51 pmAlbert,
I believe you can follow the basic tenets of the reception guide above and mount an FM antenna as high as possible and run the cable down into hte basement to your FM receiver. Beyond that, I don’t know what to suggest. I don’t get interference on FM from several PCs running in the same room so that does not appear to be an issue for your setup.
Regards,
May 8th, 2008 at 12:55 amLake
Hi Carol,
It appears that there is a problem with the your Sony receiver as this is not the way FM radio should behave; it sounds as if it is malfunctioning so another antenna would not correct the issue, I suspect.
Regards,
May 8th, 2008 at 12:57 amLake
Hi Ellie,
I suggest you get her one of the Sangean PR-D5 AM FM Radios. They are available at amazon.com and other online retailers. It is a great little radio with fantastic sound. Even in the nursing home you can put the radio near a window or outer wall for best reception and as high as you can where she or someone can still access it to turn it on and off. It sounds great but has the best reception of a radio of its size and price range but most important is stereo so will sound a bit better if it can pull in the station.
I don’t suggest a more elaborate setup because of space limitations and what-have-you involved at a nursing home.
Regards,
May 8th, 2008 at 1:03 amLake
Hi Jeff,
The F connector is the same one that TV cable uses on the back of your TV set so it is easily the most common connector in the US and available anywhere including Radio Shack and Wal-Mart.
If you are looking for an antenna for your radio (which is a good radio indeed) just read the reception guide above as it covers antennas.
Regards,
May 8th, 2008 at 1:06 amLake
Hi David,
There are 2 issues with your current setup. One is that unless your radio has an antenna input there is little that can be done. Second, mobile homes tend to be signal blockers.
In your case mounting the radio in front of an antenna and taping the antenna so it runs vertically on the antenna will be all you can do but could help a good deal. If you are like most of us and have a favorite station you listen to the vast majority of the time then it will help to determine the direction of the transmitter (you can do this by going to a Web site listed in the reception guide above) and using a window on the side of your home towards the transmitter.
Regards,
May 8th, 2008 at 1:18 amLake