FM antenna

[ric]

Looking for recommendations for a *good* indoor FM antenna. Does
such a beast exist? Trying to improve reception of a college (88.3 MHz)
station.

Any ideas? Yes, I'm aware of the FM-2G-C. But that's an outdoor
alternative. Is the "FM Reflect" any good?

http://www.ccrane.com/fm-reflect-antenna.aspx

Thanks.

[Dimitrios Tzortzakakis]

I don't think so, all indoor antenae have to be placed near a window for
optimum reception.Better have a roof FM antenna installed by an electrician,
you'll have excellent reception.And $ 25 is too much just for a piece of
wire.

--
Tzortzakakis Dimitrios
major in electrical engineering, freelance electrician
FH von Iraklion-Kreta, freiberuflicher Elektriker
dimtzort AT otenet DOT gr
? "ric" > ?????? ??? ??????
...
> Looking for recommendations for a *good* indoor FM antenna. Does
> such a beast exist? Trying to improve reception of a college (88.3 MHz)
> station.
>
> Any ideas? Yes, I'm aware of the FM-2G-C. But that's an outdoor
> alternative. Is the "FM Reflect" any good?
>
> http://www.ccrane.com/fm-reflect-antenna.aspx
>
> Thanks.

[JeB]

On Mon, 20 Jun 2005 23:03:30 -0700, ric > wrote:

>Looking for recommendations for a *good* indoor FM antenna. Does
>such a beast exist? Trying to improve reception of a college (88.3 MHz)
>station.
>
>Any ideas? Yes, I'm aware of the FM-2G-C. But that's an outdoor
>alternative. Is the "FM Reflect" any good?
>

do you have any sort of external antenna on the receiver now?

you can likely make an antenna out of twin lead for a few $$ that
works as well as the FM reflect. I'd make the feed in line pretty
long so you can try it in different areas of the room, then cut to
length if it doesn't need to be very far from the receiver. The net
likely has lots of sites with "how to" info. In addition to the
basic dipole design you might look up JPole, etc.

[ric]

Dimitrios Tzortzakakis wrote:

> I don't think so, all indoor antenae have to be placed near a window for
> optimum reception.Better have a roof FM antenna installed by an electrician,
> you'll have excellent reception.And $ 25 is too much just for a piece of
> wire.

Thanks, but from what I've read, the "FM Reflect" is far from just
"a piece of wire" or a standard dipole. But, I am leaning towards
trying the FM-2G-C indoors, next to a window. If that is not sufficient,
outside it goes.

[ric]

JeB wrote:

> >Looking for recommendations for a *good* indoor FM antenna. Does
> >such a beast exist? Trying to improve reception of a college (88.3 MHz)
> >station.
> >
> >Any ideas? Yes, I'm aware of the FM-2G-C. But that's an outdoor
> >alternative. Is the "FM Reflect" any good?
> >
>
> do you have any sort of external antenna on the receiver now?

Just a cheap FM dipole (inside.)

> you can likely make an antenna out of twin lead for a few $$ that
> works as well as the FM reflect.

Have you tried the FM Reflect?

I'm leaning towards the FM-2G-C, indoors at first. I think it will
suffice (my target station is at 88.3 MHz after all.)

http://www.fanfare.com/fm-2g-c.html

[JeB]

On Tue, 21 Jun 2005 13:15:32 -0700, ric > wrote:

>> >
>>
>> do you have any sort of external antenna on the receiver now?
>
>Just a cheap FM dipole (inside.)
>
>> you can likely make an antenna out of twin lead for a few $$ that
>> works as well as the FM reflect.
>
>Have you tried the FM Reflect?

no ... but looking at it you can see it's not much more than your
dipole.

>
>I'm leaning towards the FM-2G-C, indoors at first. I think it will
>suffice (my target station is at 88.3 MHz after all.)
>
>http://www.fanfare.com/fm-2g-c.html

It's your $120. You might try a Jpole made from twin lead first ...
probably under $5.

[JeB]

On Tue, 21 Jun 2005 13:15:32 -0700, ric > wrote:

>JeB wrote:
>
>> >Looking for recommendations for a *good* indoor FM antenna. Does
>> >such a beast exist? Trying to improve reception of a college (88.3 MHz)
>> >station.
>> >

here are some antenna ideas if u want to take the time to build one.

http://www.pcs-electronics.com/en/guide.php?sub=antennas

or you might buy pizza & beer for any geeky ham radio type
friends/acquaintaces you might know of. If reception is a problem in
your area this might be a paying hobby.

[ric]

JeB wrote:

> >http://www.fanfare.com/fm-2g-c.html
>
> It's your $120. You might try a Jpole made from twin lead first ...
> probably under $5.

I looked at the Jpole plans at the URL you gave. It is much too
large at 144 MHz, and would be larger still for 88.3 MHz. But
thanks for the idea.

[ric]

JeB wrote:

> here are some antenna ideas if u want to take the time to build one.
>
> http://www.pcs-electronics.com/en/guide.php?sub=antennas

Thanks for the site. I haven't the time (or in many cases the room)
for most of them.

> or you might buy pizza & beer for any geeky ham radio type
> friends/acquaintaces you might know of. If reception is a problem in
> your area this might be a paying hobby.

Alas, my only "geeky ham radio type friend" moved out of the area last
year. He yearned for the open spaces of Washington state. I'm in Southern
California.

The FM-2G-C is looking like my most convenient option. I've got an
email pending regarding their return policy.

[JeB]

On Wed, 22 Jun 2005 12:07:55 -0700, ric > wrote:

>JeB wrote:
>
>> here are some antenna ideas if u want to take the time to build one.
>>
>> http://www.pcs-electronics.com/en/guide.php?sub=antennas
>
>Thanks for the site. I haven't the time (or in many cases the room)
>for most of them.
>
>> or you might buy pizza & beer for any geeky ham radio type
>> friends/acquaintaces you might know of. If reception is a problem in
>> your area this might be a paying hobby.
>
>Alas, my only "geeky ham radio type friend" moved out of the area last
>year. He yearned for the open spaces of Washington state. I'm in Southern
>California.
>
>The FM-2G-C is looking like my most convenient option. I've got an
>email pending regarding their return policy.

Post a reply if it turns it that it works much better than what you
have.

you might also take a look at this:
http://kalx.berkeley.edu/recept/antsurvy.htm

[ric]

JeB wrote:

> >> http://www.pcs-electronics.com/en/guide.php?sub=antennas
> >
> >Thanks for the site. I haven't the time (or in many cases the room)
> >for most of them.
> >
> >> or you might buy pizza & beer for any geeky ham radio type
> >> friends/acquaintaces you might know of. If reception is a problem in
> >> your area this might be a paying hobby.
> >
> >Alas, my only "geeky ham radio type friend" moved out of the area last
> >year. He yearned for the open spaces of Washington state. I'm in Southern
> >California.
> >
> >The FM-2G-C is looking like my most convenient option. I've got an
> >email pending regarding their return policy.
>
> Post a reply if it turns it that it works much better than what you
> have.

There is growing support in a very similar whip, the
Magnum-Dynalab ST-2. Two individual endorsements, plus:

http://www.magnumdynalab.com/x_revst2sleuth.htm

> you might also take a look at this:
> http://kalx.berkeley.edu/recept/antsurvy.htm

I will. No decision is imminent.

[JeB]

>>
>> Post a reply if it turns it that it works much better than what you
>> have.
>
>There is growing support in a very similar whip, the
>Magnum-Dynalab ST-2. Two individual endorsements, plus:
>
>http://www.magnumdynalab.com/x_revst2sleuth.htm
>

my guess is that one of those homemade's built on a SO239 will work
as well ... and could be built for < $10 out of welding rod, etc.
YMMV

[ric]

JeB wrote:

> >The FM-2G-C is looking like my most convenient option. I've got an
> >email pending regarding their return policy.
>
> Post a reply if it turns it that it works much better than what you
> have.

Well, the FM-2G-C has arrived and hooked up - inside. I found a place
next to a window and adjacent to the receiver where the antenna gave
very good results (with only about 3-4 feet of cheap coax attached.
Almost no noise at 88.3, and 89.5 and 98.1 are flawless. Only decision
left is whether or not to spring for about 50 feet of quad shield RG6U
and install this puppy on an outdoor vent pipe.

Considering its indoor performance, probably not. Definitely out
performs the standard dipoles I had laying around, and doesn't
require power (like the other indoor models.) A keeper.

[JeB]

On Sat, 02 Jul 2005 23:08:00 -0700, ric > wrote:

>JeB wrote:
>
>> >The FM-2G-C is looking like my most convenient option. I've got an
>> >email pending regarding their return policy.
>>
>> Post a reply if it turns it that it works much better than what you
>> have.
>
>Well, the FM-2G-C has arrived and hooked up - inside. I found a place
>next to a window and adjacent to the receiver where the antenna gave
>very good results (with only about 3-4 feet of cheap coax attached.
>Almost no noise at 88.3, and 89.5 and 98.1 are flawless. Only decision
>left is whether or not to spring for about 50 feet of quad shield RG6U
>and install this puppy on an outdoor vent pipe.
>
>Considering its indoor performance, probably not. Definitely out
>performs the standard dipoles I had laying around, and doesn't
>require power (like the other indoor models.) A keeper.

glad u found something that works.