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I Need Some Guidance - FM Indoor Antenna

RFP

RFP

Active Member
Good day,

My Fisher 500C is presently connected to a simply single-wire antenna (this thing: https://www.amazon.com/Ancable-Ante...9Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=). FM reception is marginal with the 'Stereo Beacon' dropping out all too frequently with the accompanying 'ump' sound.

I really need some good guidance on finding a better antenna. I want the antenna to fasten to the wall behind the drapes on one side of the receiver. I would prefer non-amplified,' but if that's the only way, I guess I could live with it.

I do not have attic access from this part of my house, so that's out (!)

I live between Fort Worth and Dallas, so I'm awash in FM signals, but the one I'm mostly interested in is 101.1 FM.

Many thanks,

Robert

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The 500C I have also struggles on a few stations to lock. It seemed to be the placement of the antenna more then anything else. The connections on the back are for 300 ohm antenna's twin lead not the 75 ohm coax. Get a pair of rabbit ears or even a cheap T dipole and see if this helps.

OIP.JUrZPaU_BnrVr_sMMQMS6QHaDQ.jpg Rd1bcff56ab14b52d4247ae34bf4992ef.jpg
 
I think a "T" antenna would fit behind your curtains, if you let some of the horizontal elements droop so that it all stays hidden. You might try one of those small, thin, square digital TV antennas which can attach to a wall. I also like the Grundig AM200 antenna, but they may be hard to find.

Since you are in an urban area, you should not need to spend a lot of money...and stay away from powered antennas.
 
This one will be much better than what you have:
https://www.amazon.com/Ancable-Ante...3&sr=1-1-22d05c05-1231-4126-b7c4-3e7a9c0027d0
For best results it needs to be mounted horizontally, stretched out in a T shape. It is directional so it will receive signals at a right angle to the T. For omni-directional pickup, mount the top of the T vertically.
Another choice is this antenna. I have been getting good results with this one on troublesome stations:
https://www.amazon.com/RGTech-Monarch-Antenna-Multidirectional-Reception/dp/B07MKYR9DX
/ref=sr_1_15?dchild=1&keywords=fm+antenna+for+home&qid=1617196861&s=electronics&sr=1-15
This is a thin, flat antenna with a 75 ohm coax cable. I have it mounted to the base board next to the stereo, at a right angle to the stations I want to receive. If your tuner doesn't have a 75 Ohm antenna connection, you will need a 75 Ohm to 300 Ohm balun.
https://www.amazon.com/RGTech-Monar...for+home&qid=1617196861&s=electronics&sr=1-15
 
If your main need is to listen to 101.1 in Dallas, simply stream that. If you have old gear, a $2 cord to any available input is all you need from your phone. The bonus is that the quality will be better.....https://www.wrr101.com/
 
I bought a very flat coax connector that fits in the windo frame. The window will close over it. I connected a short piece of coax to one end that goes to my tuner and another coax cable to my antenna outside. It works great and no drilling through the wall. An easy way to connect an outdoor antenna.
31Z3tmvftdL._AC_SY780_.jpg
 
RFP said:
Good day,

My Fisher 500C is presently connected to a simply single-wire antenna (this thing: https://www.amazon.com/Ancable-Ante...9Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=). FM reception is marginal with the 'Stereo Beacon' dropping out all too frequently with the accompanying 'ump' sound.

I really need some good guidance on finding a better antenna. I want the antenna to fasten to the wall behind the drapes on one side of the receiver. I would prefer non-amplified,' but if that's the only way, I guess I could live with it.

I do not have attic access from this part of my house, so that's out (!)

I live between Fort Worth and Dallas, so I'm awash in FM signals, but the one I'm mostly interested in is 101.1 FM.

Many thanks,

Robert

View attachment 2179716
Click to expand...

The problem with dipoles is their directivity, if the station you want isn't in the direction of the wall behind the drapes it won't work.

I found this outdoor antenna works very well indoor, way better than any dipole I've purchased or made. Amplified antenna are useless, I've tried several and the simple dipole works better.

Screenshot_20210418-074501.png

It's supposed to be omnidirectional but I found watching the tuning meter on the tuner I could turn the antenna for the strongest signal.

you could also put it just outside the window with a wire run through the wall if that works better.
 
Grenadeslio said:
The problem with dipoles is their directivity, if the station you want isn't in the direction of the wall behind the drapes it won't work.

I found this outdoor antenna works very well indoor, way better than any dipole I've purchased or made. Amplified antenna are useless, I've tried several and the simple dipole works better.

View attachment 2200377

It's supposed to be omnidirectional but I found watching the tuning meter on the tuner I could turn the antenna for the strongest signal.

you could also put it just outside the window with a wire run through the wall if that works better.
Click to expand...
I had one of those. They are kind of directional. It didn't work as well as the 1/2 wave omni I'm using now. Its just two stingers connected to a 1" or so square stock that has a pole clamp on it. It can be run horizontal also, which makes it kind of bi-directional if you need a bit of rejection. It came with a coax connector also.
 
Simple rabbit ears is the ticket. It's what I use in two different rooms and they work great. Not amplified. Coax cable connection. And cheap...
 
Halfway between Dallas and Ft Worth is maybe 20-30 miles. A dipole will work if you orient it in the right direction. Maybe an omni-directional one will let you get stations in all directions, as long as the one you want is not broadcast from both cities on the same frequency (not likely).

If you are far from the broadcast antenna, you may need an amplified antenna. I use a "Tower" model from Terk. and it barely works from my long distance to the broadcast antenna.
https://www.terk.com/radio-antennas/
 
I just ordered a Terk Edge amplified FM antenna for use in the garage. Reception in that area has been problematic and the Edge works very well, so I can recommend it. It's cheap enough that it's worth a try. I get noise free reception now on a distant, low power problematic station that had IBOC interference from another station in the same general direction.
 
Picked this one up at a flea market for a buck. Placed against the window glass it works great for FM or TV. Has a single coax output cable.



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Well, here's an update on my "antenna problem." I finally strung a length of RG coax to comment the 500C to the big outdoor antenna, the same one that is connected to the Yamaha receiver in the den. No improvement.

Then a couple of days later, the FM just went dead. Actually, I could get the "between station" white noise all across the band, but no FM.

So, I packed the 500C and shipped it to Ken Leonard at AEA. I'm confident he will find and fix whatever gremlins has been giving me grief.
 
What do you know about your 101.1 in Dallas?. My search says it is an FM translator (relay) station. Which means it runs 250 watts power ERP at very most (FCC Full Legal Power). So bear this in mind. It's a weaker signal on the dial. You may need a little more than a wire dipole for this signal that far out. In my area, a strong translator is good around 18 miles or so. You do have the terrain where you live in your favor, as it is flatter which will help the reception.

Also, note that today's FM broadcast antenna systems favor reception in cars over home reception. Aiming your antenna the right way helps your odds. Don't be surprised if you have to settle for mono that far out from your translator.
 
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From a post by 'larry" over on another thread.

"I just pulled the Antenna plot from radiolocator. Station is 100KW rated power. Tower Height is 1500ft. Location is SSE of Hurst South sw of Dallas. I figure about 25 miles as the crow flies. The cross is the Antenna, the red circle is approx Hurst. This station should be pushing the meter to 4 easily."

Anyway, connecting to the huge antenna outside made zero difference. Had this really been an 'antenna problem,' this would have resulted in a huge improvement. It didn't. So, it's up to AEA now.
 
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