• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

FM Summer DXing, FM Antennas/Booster/TV Antennas

M

MarioMania

Because I don't own a house, Been at 4 of my brothers houses

I can't do Rooftop Antennas for both FM or TV, I use mosty the stock Antenna from the Radio or a Indoor Rabbit Ears

I have no say in it

I have a Tecsun PL-310ET with the 3.5mm Jack

I use a Standarn TV Antenna with the VHF Gain Control, or whatever you call it with a Adapter

Doesn't work, What do you guys use for Indoor FM Antennas/Booster for Reception?

Just want it simple as Possible
 
Sorry, I don't know much about FM DXing. I focus on AM and on occasion while driving, DX FM.
I don't find much on commercial FM interesting to me. It's NPR and community radio, which come in well in my home without antennas needed.

In high school, I had a Radio Shack FM-only antenna on the TV antenna pole. It did well bringing in out of area FMs my FM receiver-LP player couldn't bring in inside the home with the standard FM dipole antenna tacked to the wall.
But, you can't erect an antenna at your locale.

Could you place an antenna in an attic?
An attic TV antenna helped our TV reception in suburban Kansas City.
 
Dondd said:
Sorry, I don't know much about FM DXing. I focus on AM and on occasion while driving, DX FM.
I don't find much on commercial FM interesting to me. It's NPR and community radio, which come in well in my home without antennas needed.

In high school, I had a Radio Shack FM-only antenna on the TV antenna pole. It did well bringing in out of area FMs my FM receiver-LP player couldn't bring in inside the home with the standard FM dipole antenna tacked to the wall.
But, you can't erect an antenna at your locale.

Could you place an antenna in an attic?
An attic TV antenna helped our TV reception in suburban Kansas City.
Click to expand...
That's ok

Other people just don't understand I have a prob wording stuff out
 
I understand you ok Mario. You can try making your own antenna with these instructions:
www.instructables.com

Helical Antenna (helix) for FM Radio

Helical Antenna (helix) for FM Radio: This helical antenna worked amazingly well for a poor FM radio. I was receiving only 13 channels according to auto-preset function. This adjustment resulted in 27 presets, more than double the number of channels received in clear stereo. Quick upd…
www.instructables.com www.instructables.com
 
Easy fine tuning for your radio and specific channels

Pull or squeeze this "slinky" to make the spacing between turns more and less in order to fine tune for any particular channel and radio. Low FM around 88 MHz was improved by slightly closer spacing. Longer wavelengths around 107 MHz needed it to be stretched a little for fine tuning. Longer spacing between turns is less inductance per turn. 4 cm seemed to work sufficiently good excellent for any wavelength.
Click to expand...
The what?, I though it was only for FM Transmitters, Not for Broadcast Radio

Like 98.1 = 33 Inches

Can anyone explain 1/4 1/2 Wavlength? Is that like a TV Antenna at 35 inches tall

I always though extening a Antenna for better reception

I'm I doing it wrong all these years?
 
MarioMania said:
The what?, I though it was only for FM Transmitters, Not for Broadcast Radio

Like 98.1 = 33 Inches

Can anyone explain 1/4 1/2 Wavlength? Is that like a TV Antenna at 35 inches tall

I always though extening a Antenna for better reception

I'm I doing it wrong all these years?
Click to expand...
You’re extending the length of the antenna on your radio by hooking that wire to it.
 
So that's why a TV Antenna won't work, It's not configed to the FM Band?

Explane to me what do they mean by a 1/4, 1/8 Wavlength?
 
MarioMania said:
So that's why a TV Antenna won't work, It's not configed to the FM Band?

Explane to me what do they mean by a 1/4, 1/8 Wavlength?
Click to expand...
A tv antenna should work, have you tried a tv antenna with an amplifier included like a Mohu brand?

Where are you seeing anything about 1/4 and 1/8 wavelength in the article?
 
It doesn't say, I just wanna know about it

In pictures, Not Txt or explaining it, It just confuses me more

But, my TV Antenna is like 34 inches long in length

TV Antenna.jpg
 
Sorry I can’t help with pictures. Try putting the antenna in front of a window. Also you can try hooking an amplifier to your tv antenna, like this:
 
MarioMania said:
It doesn't say, I just wanna know about it

In pictures, Not Txt or explaining it, It just confuses me more

But, my TV Antenna is like 34 inches long in length

View attachment 8916
Click to expand...
The two rods are designed for VHF channels. Maybe try shortening them a bit for FM, then play with the switch and the position of the elements for best reception. Just like the gool old days of analog TV. 😃
 
There are several on-line calculators for computing the length of an antenna. I seem to remember that the length of a folded dipole was about 33". In general, the length of a dipole is L= 468/f(in MHz). There are other factors in play but that is enough to start with. And, BTW, the VHF TV band is both below and above FM. However generally only High band VHF (7-13) is in use still.
 
MarioMania said:
I use ahsystems.com

88.1 = 33.493 Inches
107.9 = 27.347 Inches

Covers the FM band

at 1/4 Wavelength
Click to expand...
So, let's say, 30 inches, unless there's a particular station you want to go for.

I've given up on FM DXing because there are so few vacant frequencies remaining, but I still need a good antenna to pick up a half-way decent signal from multiple translators that are located just a little too far from me for a city-grade signal. I've been using a Radio Shack indoor FM rabbit-ears antenna, bought in the 1990s, catalog number 15-1823. (I mentioned that in case you would want to try to look for one on eBay. Unfortunately, all I see on eBay right now are amplified antennas...problem is, they amplify noise as well as signal and, in the end, you're not really any better off...a passive antenna is much better.) Connection is with 300-ohm twin-lead. It's very similar to the TV antenna that you pictured. As a first step, you might try to shorten the telescoping rods on your antenna by 2 or 3 inches and see how that works. Also don't be afraid to reorient the antenna. It doesn't hurt to experiment.

I'd love to have an outdoor antenna at my Denver location, but there's a lot of lightning here in the spring and summer, as well as the occasional ferocious hailstorm, so I don't think it would be safe to have an outdoor antenna.
 
I mostly DX 98.1 here in Carmichael

I got 2 Fringe Tanslators comes in while I'm walking

K251CE (Yuba City)
K251CA (Sacramento)

I don't really DX in my Room, to much interferenc

I do it Outside, Even on FM
 
2,804, divide by frequency in MHz, equals one quarter wavelength of antenna in inches. So, quarter wave of 98.1 is 28.583078491335375 inches.
 
Last edited:
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom