antenna?

[markw]

It's less about the type of antenna than where it is located. If your antenna only sounds good in the center of the room, then the problem is interference. The best thing to do it to install the antenna higher, if possible outside. For most people who live in metropolitain areas, an omnidirectional antenna similar to a car antenna works best if it is not blocked by other signals, transformers, cables, structures, etc. One anteanna I would recommend is this one from AudioAdvisor.com:

http://www.audioadvisor.com/store/pr...20FM%20Antenna

Dynalab has been in the business a long time, and they know FM better than most.

Many people have found that the "turnstyle" type antennas, such as the small one on the Antennacraft pages, do at least (and i'm being chariatable here) as good a job as that stick antenna. I got one similar from RatShak for under $20 a few years ago. dunno if they still sell 'em.

[daviethek]

I would ask you to consider spending a bit. I had a couple of amplified products for the inside and both did improve the sound marginally but dragged in some noise along with it. When I decided that FM was in fact very important to me ( World Cafe, Mountian Stage, Jazz in the night etc) I went to Radio Shack and bought a standard outside mount dedicated FM antenna. This was about 3 years ago and I think the whole set-up including mounting brackets and the additional RG 59 cable run to the inside ran me about 100.00, plus a days worth of homeowners language for instalation. I just got up on the corner of the building , dragged a compass up there with me, aimed it toward the city and mounted it there. As a result, all the city stations ( approximately 25 miles as the crow flies) come in at around 9 out of 10 on the analog meter on the Mag Dyn. I never worry about reception anymore. Best 100.00 I've spent on hi-fi gear. I would thnk that Maf Dyn's small exterior mount antenna is also good since they make serious products but I have no direct knowledge of it. Consider the long term solution and by-pass the amplified interior stuff. You already have enough stuff plugged in anyway. Good Luck. dk

[Whatever6750]

If i where to have an outdoor antenna what type of wite would i need to run from the rx to it?

[markw]

The 300 ohm has less signal loss but is a bit more susceptible to noise. I use 300 ohm into the house (50') and then convert to 75 ohm coax for the amplifier/splitter. From there, It's sent to four receivers via coax.

Should you choose to go 75 ohm coax all the way, most antennas are 300 ohm and you'll need to purchase a weatherproof 300/75 ohm transformer to mount on the antenna. It's only about $4 or so @ RatShack.

[Whatever6750]

Well im getting my favorite station in perfict now by useing a cable wire from the rx to the antenna that came with the rx on the window. Only thing now is theres a fue stations i would like to get in better. So eavn thow its comeing in good now still looking for possable options for the near future.

[Whatever6750]

GRRR..

Thought i had it all good but its just sooo sinsitive...

Now im thinking i might as well get some type if out doos antenna..

Would need to in the $25 range if possable..

[hermanv]

If the signal is just plain weak, then a directional antenna and a way to aim it is the solution. Most TV antennas pick up FM just fine and can be found dirt cheap at garage sales etc. The more elements the higher the gain and the more directional they become.

If you are lucky then all the stations you want to hear are in the same direction and you can permanently aim the anttenna that way (in the attic sometimes works, on the roof is best).

Now multipath is a different critter, often sounds are garbeled or grainy, sometimes the volume goes up and down fast, kind of like a motor boat. Multipath is a problem in cities with high rise buildings or in hilly areas.

The best solution for multipath seems to be a very directional antenna, one with many elements probably with a boom that's 6 to 10 feet long. By aiming this monster carefully, a clean signal can often be found but it may or may not be pointed directly towards the station. Worse it may need to be aimed differntly for different stations.

If you have cable TV, many cable companies add FM stations to the cable signal. You will need a splitter and a band seperation filter often also called a splitter (good Ol Radio Shack, try and get one that has VHF/UHF/FM outputs) The first splitter (usually a little silver metal can) goes between your TV and the cable outlet on the wall. The second goes between the first splitter and the new cable to your receiver FM input. (It might work without the second splitter) Most frequency splitters have 300 Ohm outputs, often a little short piece of twin lead, so you will also need the 300 to 75 Ohm adapter mentioned earlier in the posts.

[daviethek]

Shielded coaxial cable will run from the outside antenna to your receiver. It is 75 ohm stuff the same as tv cable . It costs maybe 20 bucks for 50 ft. You can buy it practically anywhere. Consider getting the antenna cable with an attached gounding lead. The wire goes inside your house and the groundig wire goes to conductive metal stake that you pound into the ground. Inside the house, you might want to get a surge arrestor type power strip that also has antenna wire in and out on the end of it. The in comes from the antenna and the out goes to your receiver. It might protect your equipment from a lightning strike. These are not expensive items.