Tuner or antenna more important?

[ConradH]

Because of digital TV, twin lead is a thing of the past at the home stores. You can probably get it at Radio Shack and can certainly order it online. A decent dipole is a good place to start but I find the vertical V here is a step beyond without the directional problems of a yagi. It's as easy as a dipole, being nothing more than a couple of wires bent into a V, one soldered to the center pin and one soldered to the shield. I didn't make mine rigid, but made it free hanging from a couple strips of wood. IMO, one of the problems with many antenna designs is they give a diagram but omit practical details of construction, unlike the very good instructions in the previous post.

 

[terra1]

Tuners and antennas work as a team. Depending on which you choose, either can be the weak link.

How are the other stations? Are you getting a strong signal on the other stations? If it's getting a strong signal on the others but not KALX, it could be the station direction giving you problems. You could have building location problems as well. And there may just be stations you won't be able to get very well. Especially community or college stations.

I have lived in the city in the side of a hill and reception was terrible. Moved out to the suburbs and reception improved. I'm just happy if I get the stations I like. But I was using new receivers, not vintage which can have age issues.

A better antenna or tuner may help. You can try relocating the antenna (if it's safe for you to do) or any of the DIY antennas or just try another tuner.

The Pioneer SX-x2x series is pretty old. Part of the problem may be your 626 needs an alignment to perform best.

If the recommended antenna fixes don't work, try a newer receiver or one that has a reputation for better reception. With vintage, you'll still have age issues so test it if buying locally. Take along a folding dipole antenna or a 3-4 ft wire to test it. Does the signal and tuning meters work well, Stereo indicator lights up, etc.

If separates, I would probably get a newer digital read out tuner like a Denon TU-550 which has a good reputation for pulling in stations and you don't have to worry about some of the maintenance issues you have with analog dial tuners. I got mine for $35 but realistically they have been going for $50-75 on eBay. It requires a 75 ohm coax antenna connector.

If buying off eBay, I like buying from listings with pictures of the stereo indicator on.

 

[transmaster]

Because of digital TV, twin lead is a thing of the past at the home stores. You can probably get it at Radio Shack and can certainly order it online. A decent dipole is a good place to start but I find the vertical V here is a step beyond without the directional problems of a yagi. It's as easy as a dipole, being nothing more than a couple of wires bent into a V, one soldered to the center pin and one soldered to the shield. I didn't make mine rigid, but made it free hanging from a couple strips of wood. IMO, one of the problems with many antenna designs is they give a diagram but omit practical details of construction, unlike the very good instructions in the previous post.

Radio Shack does indeed stock 300 Ohm Flat wire at least in my area. A better place to go is here; http://thewireman.com/index.html. They sell 300 ohm Copper clad. I have used copper clad steel for decades you get the advantage of a copper conductor with the strength of steel wire.

300 ohm, 18 AWG, 19 strand copper-clad steel conductors, poly-clad 'window' for full power
VF .91( VF=velocity Factor)
per foot - 0.55
100 ft + 0.44

 

[transmaster]

Presently some of the best FM broadcast tuners that exist are found in after market car radios.They have remote controls and most of them have line level outs that you can use hook them to your home system. If you want the best in AM tuners then look for an AM car radio out of something like a Cadillac, Imperial, or Lincoln automobile from the first half of the 1960's. I have one out of a 1967 Cadillac it is hooked up to a good speaker and it sounds like an old AM console radio listening to doo-wop on this radio just sounds right. You can pick up these old solid state radios, especially the Cadillac/Buick/Oldsmobile Wonderbar radios usually for 100 dollars or less.

 

[superultra]

Just to bring this full circle I'll tell you what I've done in the last year. I never did make an antenna or change my placement, I still probably should. I bought a Kenwood KT-7500 6 months ago, this helped clean some of the signals slightly but didn't help with KALX out of Berkeley. Within the last month I noticed the coax cable disconnected from my antenna. BAM! With the coax dangling six feet out of my window I am able to get KALX, not crystal clear but pretty well. Maybe in another year I'll get it together to build an antenna.

 

[sberger]

Don't know if you have seen my thread from earlier this week about finally using my roof top antenna, but I live in Oakland on the San Leandro border, and while I can get a tiny station like KPOO on Divisidero as clear as bell, and KCEA on the Menlo-Atherton HS campus quite well, and KFJC in Los Altos Hills, I can't get KALX 11 miles away. It's entirely in the opposite direction of pretty much every other station that I can get. I think it's just one of those weird situations where you have to be pointing right at it or it's going to be tough going. Just accepted it and when I want to listen I stream it. Maybe I'll invest in a rotor but hard to justify for one station that I don't listen to all that much anyway.

And to echo what has already been said, a real antenna, as high up as you can get it will make even the meekest of tuners a champ.

 

[FauxHall]

Okay it looks like I have a project this weekend, a dipole antenna. I've attached a photo looking out my kitchen window. You can see my antenna on the left. I'm looking east from the 5th of 7 floors.

I suspect that you could improve the signal strength and maybe quality is you raised that base of the antenna a few feet higher than the metal railing.

That much metal, probably grounded, could be sucking all the EMF energy out of the air.

Try attaching the base of the antenna to a wooden pole or stick (2x4 would work) maybe 6 feet long. Strap the base of the wood to the railing. That would put the base of the antenna a few feet above the metal.

Here's the coverage for KALX.

http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=KALX&service=FM&status=L&hours=U

I'm guessing you're east of Van Ness Avenue and north of California Street so signal strength should be adequate but not super-strong.