Need Better FM reception

jimmydep

I'm in the New York metropolitan area, some FM stations don't tune in very well. Does anyone know of an FM signal amplifier or antenna that WORKS.

Right now I'm using the 4ft single wire dohickey antenna that came with the receiver.

CoolJazz

Could be a junk receiver! Most of the plastic ones at the big box stores are. You don't mention what it is, but if it came with a single wire antenna instead of a T plastic dipole, then that's not a promising start.

Likely, you have signals bouncing around and it's not weak signal but multipath that's your problem. Or if you're close to any radio or TV transmitter sites, then possibly front end overload and multiple images up and down the dial. Do you notice the same station repeatedly up and down the dial?

Most the little amplified antennas are worst than unamplified...particularly if you're in a strong field, which you probably should be. An outdoor omni-directional antenna is best, but lacking that, go with one of the old BIC Beamboxes from eBay or do the T plastic dipole antenna. Ideally, mount it to some plastic or wood T, the same size as the antenna, and set it up so you can rotate it. Lacking that, T dipole antennas are pretty good, just keep it spread out with the open side pointed towards the signal direction and keep it away from metal objects.

Good luck....

CoolJazz

jimmydep

I'm using a Yamaha RX-V665 as a pre-pro.

I don't notice the same station in multiple locations on the dial, but I do get static on some stations and some of the weaker stations coming in and out of tune.

Thanks for the advice, I'm going to start searching for the dipole antenna.

cnh

How far from NYC are you? That's a factor here. I used to live in Madison, N.J. for a year....about 30 miles or less. And there were some things I could get and others that didn't come in with an amplified in house antenna?

Also, how sensitive is the FM part of your receiver? What kind of receiver are you running?

cnh

jimmydep

I'm 12 miles fom NYC. and from my roof I can see the skyline.

Specs: 50db quieting sensitivity (IHF)....mono 3.0uV (20.8dbf)
Signal to noise...mono\stereo...74db\69db
Harmonic distortion..M\S....0.3\0.3%
Antenna input...75ohm

cnh

Those are decent specs...you should benefit from an amplified antenna...at least 30db or more. Check some online sites.....for non-directional units. I used some kind of Terk 30db when I was in Madison and it 'did' help some!

cnh

Willow

if you have cable TV, you can split the signal from the wall to your receiver..never had issues with this method.

jimmydep

I Have Fios.

So all I need is a signal splitter at the cable box then hook directly to the 75ohm connection on the receiver??

bikezappa

Get some rabbit ears from the shack for $10 and move them for the best FM signal.

Catalog #: 55017638

Hillbilly61

jimmydep wrote: »

I Have Fios.

So all I need is a signal splitter at the cable box then hook directly to the 75ohm connection on the receiver??

That is a cheap solution and often works! Note the splitter, by its nature, splits the signal - meaning its strength too. Done too much and you will get an analog fuzzy TV pic or a digital one that breaks up all of the time. Some splitters will evenly split the signal and others give a preferenace to one side or the other.

A vulnerability lay with where the cable company is getting its signal. If completly outside of the range of your favorite stations, then you get nothing (but unfamiliar stations great!).

Another option lay with getting a FM signal amplifier for your antenna. Here is a link to one IMO is one of the best: http://www.magnumdynalab.com/md205.htm

kevhed72

At our previous house, I had trouble getting a clear signal for Chicago stations. I actually put up an old-school TV antennae - the huge arrow-shaped type you used to see atop everyone's house before cable - in the attic with a signal booster from Radio Shack. We were almost 50 miles from the city and it worked great.

Hillbilly61

kevhed72 wrote: »

At our previous house, I had trouble getting a clear signal for Chicago stations. I actually put up an old-school TV antennae - the huge arrow-shaped type you used to see atop everyone's house before cable - in the attic with a signal booster from Radio Shack. We were almost 50 miles from the city and it worked great.

There's is nothing "old-school" about these antennas! They work extremely well by the nature of the physics that is harnessed by them. Antennas are actually signal amplifiers, requiring no power to amplify! Cable made them go away, as the channel variety in cable remains phenominal.

Attic installations work well, as the FM radio band wavelength will easily pass through wood. A rotor is needed to aim the antenna if preferred sources are arriving from varied points on the compass, as the most sensitive antennas are directional in nature. Powered signal amplifiers often minimize the need to re-aim the antenna if it is coming in clean, but at a low power state and the antenna has a good lobe effect.

Hawking821

bikezappa wrote: »

Get some rabbit ears from the shack for $10 and move them for the best FM signal.

Catalog #: 55017638

lol.. very ghetto but would work

jimmydep

Willow wrote: »

if you have cable TV, you can split the signal from the wall to your receiver..never had issues with this method.

I tried hooking the cable line to the receiver, I didn't get any reception at all, maybe because of the FIOS.

I did get a basic dipole antenna, it helped alot, it reduced the static on the bad stations and gave me about 90% better reception.

Thanks for all your ideas.