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The following is from Vermont Public Radio's website...
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Suggestions for Improving Reception
Treat your FM reception as you would television.
At home, put up a good, directional, rooftop FM antenna, the larger the better (they are not expensive).
Use fully shielded coaxial cable from the antenna to the set, not ribbon cable, and use appropriate adapters to connect it to your antenna and set.
Consider a rotor to permit you to aim the antenna at the desired radio station.
Buy the largest FM antenna you can afford. In this case bigger is better!
Avoid indoor antennas as they are subject to drifting performance as you move about the room and will pick up interference from personal computers, TV's, radios and other appliances.
The ribbon "T" type antenna that is packed with most hi-fi sets is grossly inadequate and will work with only the strongest local signals.
Clock radios, portables or boom boxes without terminals for external antennas will not perform well at home unless you are quite close to the radio station or have an unusually clear path to it.
Most cable companies pay little attention to FM reception so you may find that VPR is not good on the cable. If so, do not connect your FM radio to your cable system. You can usually do better with your own roof top FM antenna.
Automotive reception is very problematical due to the hilly terrain. Look for car radios that have mono/stereo switches. Best reception is in monaural.
A few of the premium factory equipped car stereos have diversity antenna reception. Only two after market car radio manufacturers currently offer it. The diversity system uses two antennas on the car and constantly compares reception on both, switching the better one to the radio. This eliminates about 80-90% of the multi-path picket fence distortion of a moving vehicle.
Trouble-shooting Tips for Poor Reception
Reposition the radio and/or antenna.
Try another radio.
Inspect your antenna connections in back of the set and on the roof for looseness and any corrosion.
Try another antenna.
Use a battery portable radio to sniff out the source of interference.
Use it to check out the nearby utility poles, or neighbors house, or your own abode.
Turn off the power at your main service panel and again listen on your battery radio, did the interference stop? If so the culprit is in your own home.
Compare your reception to that of nearby friends and neighbors. Are you all having the same problem?
Keep a log of time of day and day of week for intermittent interference. This can give you clues as to who is producing the interference.
If your reception has suddenly become poor, ask yourself what might have changed in your vicinity?
Did you alter your antenna connections?
Did you add or remove a set?
Did you move some furniture, especially a metal cabinet?
Did you buy a new appliance?
Is there new construction in the neighborhood?
Did a new radio or TV station go on the air?
Did your neighbor put up a new antenna, maybe for CB?
Has the cable company strung new lines or done any other repairs?
Has it rained a lot?
Was it icy or windy recently?
These can provide clues as to what might have changed.
To Summarize
Indoor antennas of any style are inferior to large roof top Yagi style antennas. For best results put up an FM antenna with a rotor.
Use only shielded type RG-59 coaxial cable between the antenna and the set.
If your set is equipped for only 300 ohm ribbon type cable, buy the appropriate matching transformer to mate it with the coaxial style cable. (Your local TV/ Electronics dealer can help get you the right materials).
If your radio does not have provisions for an external antenna connection, consider replacing it with a better radio that is so equipped.
If you are plagued by interference, prepare to do some detective work. Swap radios and antennas. Talk to the neighbors. Borrow a battery radio and survey your home and the neighborhood for the source of the problem.
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"What's That?" "French Horns!"
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