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Indoor antenna suggestions!

K

KentTeffeteller

Gimpus Stereophilus!
Hi all in the brain trust,

I need advice for indoor antennas or antennas which can be mounted outdoors low on the ground. I need something which can get distant stations (60 miles away) better in stereo than my wire dipole. I can't install an outdoor antenna due to being in a wheelchair and no bucket truck available. I use an HH Scott 312D tuner presently and have my McIntosh MAC 1900 tuner section available too. Thanks! Multipath is a big problem especially in the NCE band. (88.1-91.9)
 
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Rabbit ears are easier to adjust for dealing with multipath than a wire dipole, though they won't have any greater gain (basically the same thing, just differences in convenience). A BIC Beam Box may help with the multipath and is easy to install and adjust, but will have even less gain than the dipole. No personal experience, but I know some folks who have had good experience with these: http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=MDST2
 
Hi,

Looked at the Magnum Dynalab antenna. Sounds like it would be great. I just wished there was a Magnum Dynalab dealer in Tennessee. This would be a 200-300 mile drive to buy one. I may need to bribe some ham operator friends to install me a Yagi and a rotor up on that roof. My 2 tunas deserve better than what they get, and here I am a broadcast engineer and a ham. I could maybe ask if the MD dealer could send me a car to the airport and land the Swift in a town with a dealer. Good excuse to take the plane out for a spin.
 
KentTeffeteller said:
Hi,

Looked at the Magnum Dynalab antenna. Sounds like it would be great. I just wished there was a Magnum Dynalab dealer in Tennessee. This would be a 200-300 mile drive to buy one. I may need to bribe some ham operator friends to install me a Yagi and a rotor up on that roof. My 2 tunas deserve better than what they get, and here I am a broadcast engineer and a ham. I could maybe ask if the MD dealer could send me a car to the airport and land the Swift in a town with a dealer. Good excuse to take the plane out for a spin.
Click to expand...


Hello Kent:

I have been using several ST-2 whips for a while, no problems as long as you have realistic expectations.

BTW, why not just order the ST-2 from AA and have it shipped to your door?

Best,

Paul :thmbsp:
 
KentTeffeteller said:
Hi again,

Thanks! I'll hit Audio Advisor and order one now! Will report back on how it does, appreciate it!
Click to expand...

If it's not too late, I'd recommend Magnums "Silver Ribbon" over the ST-2. I have both and the signal is stronger and cleaner on the scope of my 10b. Costs less also.

The ST-2 comes with a 75 ohm hook up so you will need a 75 to 300 adaptor to hook up to your vintage Mac and Scott. That will cost you 3 db of signal strength. That may not mean much on strong local signals but if your are trying to pull in from farther away, it will start to count.

The SR comes with a 300 lead, so no adaptor needed. You can rotate it for best signal and fine tune it even more by widening or narrowing the ribbons. My only snag with it is the 300 lead is not very long.

Either way, good luck.
 
Second the silver ribbon! Works great. I'm about just about equidistant from Philly and Baltimore. Either 90.9 WHYY Philadelphia and 90.9 Washington D.C. can be tuned in with an adjustment of the Silver Ribbon.
 
I know this sounds wierd, but ive always used an am loop, for fm! range for stations here is 7-50 miles. Dont knock it till you try it.
 
I have no easy access to my roof or attic and use three different antennas for my listening purposes:

- basement listening room: Bic Beam Box. the FM-10 is better than the FM-6. No gain advantage, but directional control whips multipath, resulting in a cleaner signal.

-living room: I ran a line through the wall, out the basement door and onto the ceiling of the front porch, where a homebrew cubical quad is hidden. It works very well, quieter than I expected it to be.

-bedroom: a simple folded dipole. just happens to be enough for my purposes in there.

I've considered only one addition/upgrade: a yagi to replace the quad. It ought to fit nicely on the ceiling of the porch with some utility hooks to hold it in place, permanently oriented toward the only two stations I listen to anymore. (all other radio enjoyment is now being provided my brand new Roku Soundbridge.)
 
When I lived in a loft space and needed an antenna a bit better than a normal dipole, I made a rhombic antenna from 300 ohm flat lead thumb tacked to the ceiling. The antenna was a 10ft x 10ft box because that was the logical dimension for my room. It actually worked pretty well. Since I used clear wire it was not particularly noticeable and passed the wife test.

www.rfcafe.com

Rhombic Antennas for Television, October 1949 Radio & Television News

Although the author focuses on television applications, information provided on signal reflections, shadowing, ghosting, multipath, etc.
www.rfcafe.com www.rfcafe.com
 
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