FM antenna?

codyc1ark
codyc1ark Posts: 2,532
edited April 2012 in Electronics
Looking to pick up an FM antenna. My city is in a vally between mountains, and doesn't get the best outside FM pickup, so I'm leaning twards a powered one, but would like to keep it inside, and hidden. I'm not ruling an outdoor one out though, any ideas?
Post edited by codyc1ark on
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,808
    edited April 2012
    Best thing you can do is an out of doors Yagi (or log periodic) directional (beam) antenna with a rotator (unless all the stations you want to listen to are in the same direction from your house) and as high as possible.

    Something on the order of the middle of the three on this page is what you're looking for. Not necessarily this specific Winegard - but this'll give you an idea of the kind of antenna, size, and price. This particular vendor's local to me and pretty good IME.
    http://www.starkelectronic.com/fm.htm

    win6055p.jpg

    There was a company called Antenna Performance Specialists (APS) who made expensive and very high-performance FM antennae - but I think they're out of business (or at least no longer making their 'statement' antenna).

    Can you DIY? There's a design called a "J-pole" for FM that is said to be quite good - no personal experience with 'em, though.
    http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=143368

    Anything less will be a compromise.

    Magnum Dynalab does have a powered indoor/outdoor "whip" antenna that some folks like. Again, no experience with it myself.
    http://www.magnumdynalab.com/fmantenna-st2.htm
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,453
    edited April 2012
    Outside anything less will be wasting your time and money. Those powered antenna's just amplify noise as much as the signal.
    I use a Channelmaster Deep Fringe it's both for my HDTV and FM buy the antenna and the pre amp and amp from Stark electronics set you back about 200.00. Find an old country farm house with a old TV tower ask them if you can take it down most will let you. Buy a rotor your set. I did this 15 yrs ago and it is WONDERFUL.... I pull in 25 HD stations from as far away as 100mi and easily that far for FM.
    you'll also need good RG6 I used quad shielded
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,082
    edited April 2012
    Try this one if you want to stay indoor:
    http://www.godarusa.com/id67.html

    I have one and it works like a charm.
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  • codyc1ark
    codyc1ark Posts: 2,532
    edited April 2012
    Conradicles wrote: »
    Try this one if you want to stay indoor:
    http://www.godarusa.com/id67.html

    I have one and it works like a charm.

    Holy crap! I've got the radio on the right in the third pic? Patrolman sw60 if I remember correctly, great reception. Unfortunately, it was dropped and the antenna broke, but still runs circles around modern radios. I need to dig that out, crack it open and fix it, I think ive got all the parts.

    Thanks for the info, I need to look more into that DIY version, or maybe the one in the quote above. I COULD put one in my attic...
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  • WagnerRC
    WagnerRC Posts: 2,158
    edited April 2012
    Conradicles wrote: »
    Try this one if you want to stay indoor:
    http://www.godarusa.com/id67.html

    I have one and it works like a charm.


    Thank you.

    just ordered one.
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