FM Antenna Shopping

[stateman]

I would like to here from you about what works the best for you , I have to buy a FM antenna for reception , I live in the rural area.

[Smokey]

I would like to here from you about what works the best for you , I have to buy a FM antenna for reception , I live in the rural area.

Your best option will be to put up an outdoor FM antenna (on a mast) which Radioshack carry.

But if you can not go that route, the next best option will be to buy an indoor FM antenna also from Radioshack for $6.99 (below link). Hang it as as high as you can (may be in attic) and then run a feed line from antenna to your receiver. Play with position of antenna to get best reception. I would definitely stay away from amplified FM antenna. They tend to amplify noise along with signal.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062691

http://rsk.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pRS1C-2160603w345.jpg

[dean_martin]

Like Smoke said, the best reception is by one of the old yagi style antennas, but there are some alternatives to installing on the roof. I have one in an attic. It took me a while to position it correctly. You can get a rotor that will allow you to rotate the antenna from your listening room. Radio Shack used to have a Yagi FM antenna on its website. I think it was gone last time I looked.

www.ccrane.com is a good place to look at radio gear, but you might be able to beat their prices.

Parts Express is a good diy site. Here's a search for fm antenna at parts express:
http://www.parts-express.com/wizards/searchResults.cfm?searchFilter=fm%20antenna

[rakeford]

Your best option will be to put up an outdoor FM antenna (on a mast) which Radioshack carry.

But if you can not go that route, the next best option will be to buy an indoor FM antenna also from Radioshack for $6.99 (below link). Hang it as as high as you can (may be in attic) and then run a feed line from antenna to your receiver. Play with position of antenna to get best reception. I would definitely stay away from amplified FM antenna. They tend to amplify noise along with signal.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062691

http://rsk.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pRS1C-2160603w345.jpg
And if you have 75-ohm input on your receiver, also get a Matching Transformer:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062054#

"The Matching Transformer allows you to connect twin-lead antenna connections to a TV or VCR. It connects 300-ohm antenna wire to a 75-ohm input. It also converts signals for use with devices with RF connectors." The twin-lead antenna suggested by Smokey is 300-ohm.

If you have twin-lead 300-ohm antenna inputs on your receiver you don't need the Matching Transformer.

This is exactly what I use. Both bought at Radio Shack. I live close in to the city so this works fine. In rual areas, you may need to higher and/or larger (as Smokey suggested). Radio Shack used to sell a bunch of FM only antenna, but I only see one listed.

A universal HDTV/VHF/UHF/FM Antenna could be useful for TV if your into it.

[dakatabg]

I use the Matching Transformer and each receiver, has the radio shack antennas like on the picture above. Those are very good antennas and they catch the signal. It still depends on your receiver but overall good antennas. The marantz and sansui I use, have it.

[Jack in Wilmington]

I use the Terk amplified antenna on both my receivers with excellent results. I was always having trouble picking up a signal from the Classical/Jazz station in Philadelphia. I found that this solved the problem.

[3LB]

optimal length for stereo FM reception is twix 3 and 4 feet, under optimal conditions (direct line of sight). Height is your friend. Boosters are good for distant signals but won't make obstructions go away.

[rakeford]

Your best option will be to put up an outdoor FM antenna (on a mast) which Radioshack carry.

But if you can not go that route, the next best option will be to buy an indoor FM antenna also from Radioshack for $6.99 (below link). Hang it as as high as you can (may be in attic) and then run a feed line from antenna to your receiver. Play with position of antenna to get best reception. I would definitely stay away from amplified FM antenna. They tend to amplify noise along with signal.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062691

http://rsk.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pRS1C-2160603w345.jpg
And remember, these antennas are directional; which is perfect for rual area where all the radio station are in the same direction (toward the nearest big city).

As oriented in the above picture, the antenna has very little gain to the right or left. But in and out of the page, it's awesome.

[Smokey]

optimal length for stereo FM reception is twix 3 and 4 feet.

If you are DXing, the optimum lenght for FM band will be around 5 feet. This way the antenna will be at resonance at around 100 mhz, and it will reject out of band noise and signal below and above FM band (at least in theory :)).


And remember, these antennas are directional; which is perfect for rual area where all the radio station are in the same direction (toward the nearest big city).

As oriented in the above picture, the antenna has very little gain to the right or left. But in and out of the page, it's awesome.

Thanks for added information. Use to have an outdoor antenna when I was living near Memphis, and if I pointed the antenna toward east or west, I pickup FM stations in that direction.

But if point the antenna toward north or south, the atomospher noise would drown out distance stations south and north of me. So anybody living in the south might run into that north/south noise when FM DXing.

[Poultrygeist]

I bought the biggest outdoor antenna I could find and hung it from the rafters in my attic. I easily pick up good FM from stations 100 miles away. I mounted it so it's easy to turn and since it's in my attic it doesn't need to be grounded nor will it get struck by lightning. I added a splitter so I can also use it for OTA HD TV.

[manlystanley]

I would like to here from you about what works the best for you , I have to buy a FM antenna for reception , I live in the rural area.

I bought a: http://www.winegarddirect.com/viewitem.asp?d=Winegard-HD-HD6055P-HDPlatinum-FM-Antenna-%28HD6055P%29&p=HD6055P

In general, I'm very pleased with it. It picks up perfectly the stations that I want that are about 70 miles away. I receive them in perfect stereo.

Best Regards,
Stan