Cheap twinlead antennæ

[Ai4i]

I've not used one in many years but recently installed a clock radio in a shielded apartment into which I moved.
What through me was how moving the section between the (folded?) dipole and the antenna input jack has such a pronounced affect on reception, as if the lead-in section were a part of the antenna. The antenna I am using is not made from standard 300Ω, but looks like speaker wire which terminates into an F-connector screwing into a 75Ω input. Any thoughts on this?

 

[K6JHU]

Measure the length. My recollection is that a dipole should be about 31 inches on FM. So if the 31 inches includes the elad in, then they are using it as part of the antenna. My memory seems to be that the dipoles are rather short, so that may be the case.

 

[unitron]

I've not used one in many years but recently installed a clock radio in a shielded apartment into which I moved.
What through me was how moving the section between the (folded?) dipole and the antenna input jack has such a pronounced affect on reception, as if the lead-in section were a part of the antenna. The antenna I am using is not made from standard 300Ω, but looks like speaker wire which terminates into an F-connector screwing into a 75Ω input. Any thoughts on this?

My thought is to ask if the effect is only in effect for the time you have your hand on it.

 

[Ai4i]

My thought is to ask if the effect is only in effect for the time you have your hand on it.

Holding the "downlead" or standing near it has a definite effect, but moving it from the left side of the radio to the right side and then stepping back also will change the reception of target stations.

 

[radiorob2.0]

Measure the length. My recollection is that a dipole should be about 31 inches on FM. So if the 31 inches includes the elad in, then they are using it as part of the antenna. My memory seems to be that the dipoles are rather short, so that may be the case.

Actually 31 inches is quarter wave for broadcast FM. A dipole would be twice that.