Antennae

[@[email protected]]

I currently have a Terk amplified antenna for both AM and FM reception.
The improvement is good but not dramatic. I tried another model with
similar results.

We will be building a new home soon. My inclination is to purchase an
aerial antenna and assemble it in the attic. This should provide more
dramatic results on the FM band (or so I have read). My question here is
"What should I do to provide an AM signal boost?" Can i lace a loop
style antenna in a wall prior to the drywall being hung? Do i need to
provide a loop antenna in the attic? Is it irrelevant since neither
would be on an exterior wall?

Your help is gratefully appreciated.

Scott

[Arny Krueger]

" "> wrote in message


> I currently have a Terk amplified antenna for both AM and FM
> reception. The improvement is good but not dramatic. I tried another
> model with similar results.

The improvement is actually poor to non-existent, all other things being
equal.

> We will be building a new home soon. My inclination is to purchase an
> aerial antenna and assemble it in the attic. This should provide more
> dramatic results on the FM band (or so I have read).


Hold that thought unless your new house has a metal roof.

>My question here is "What should I do to provide an AM signal boost?" Can i
lace a loop
> style antenna in a wall prior to the drywall being hung?

Yup.

> Do i need to provide a loop antenna in the attic? Is it irrelevant since
neither
> would be on an exterior wall?

Height probably won't hurt AM, and may help.

> Your help is gratefully appreciated.

Try google. I searched on

am loop antenna attic

and came up with lots of interesting stuff.

[@[email protected]]

So, I should not mount an FM antenna in the attic? You are saying it
belongs mounted to the exterior of the house?

Arny Krueger wrote:
> " "> wrote in message
>
>
>
>>I currently have a Terk amplified antenna for both AM and FM
>>reception. The improvement is good but not dramatic. I tried another
>>model with similar results.
>
>
> The improvement is actually poor to non-existent, all other things being
> equal.
>
>
>>We will be building a new home soon. My inclination is to purchase an
>>aerial antenna and assemble it in the attic. This should provide more
>>dramatic results on the FM band (or so I have read).
>
>
>
> Hold that thought unless your new house has a metal roof.
>
>
>>My question here is "What should I do to provide an AM signal boost?" Can i
>
> lace a loop
>
>>style antenna in a wall prior to the drywall being hung?
>
>
> Yup.
>
>
>>Do i need to provide a loop antenna in the attic? Is it irrelevant since
>
> neither
>
>>would be on an exterior wall?
>
>
> Height probably won't hurt AM, and may help.
>
>
>>Your help is gratefully appreciated.
>
>
> Try google. I searched on
>
> am loop antenna attic
>
> and came up with lots of interesting stuff.
>
>
>

[Arny Krueger]

" "> wrote in message


> So, I should not mount an FM antenna in the attic? You are saying it
> belongs mounted to the exterior of the house?

No, I'm saying that mounting FM antennas in the attic is a good idea if you
have the space in the attic to orient the antenna properly, and if you don't
have a metal roof.

[Tim Britt]

For the best information on the 'Net, go to http://www.fmtunerinfo.com/
and read away to your heart's content.

No hidden agendas here, just the best tuner and antenna experts on the web.

I live in a difficult reception area and the absolute best thing you can
do to ensure quality FM reception is to mount a good external FM-only
antenna on a rotor above your roof. As one of the regular contributors
to the FM group is fond of saying, no home is complete without an FM
antenna over the roof :-)

The Terk is a piece of ****, like Bose speakers.

A "T" shaped folded dipole antenna mounted on two yardsticks shaped like
a "T" will give you better reception and you can turn the yardstick for
a bit of directionality. It just doesn't look very elegant.

If you cannot put an antenna above your roof, you can put one in your
attic on a rotor if you are not going to use a metal roof or use metal
trusses in your attic or if you are not building a steel home.

Forget putting anything in your wall as an antenna. You never know when
you might want to put a metal piece of furniture in front of it, like a
wine rack, etc., and that will kill the reception of the antenna.


wrote:
> I currently have a Terk amplified antenna for both AM and FM reception.
> The improvement is good but not dramatic. I tried another model with
> similar results.
>
> We will be building a new home soon. My inclination is to purchase an
> aerial antenna and assemble it in the attic. This should provide more
> dramatic results on the FM band (or so I have read). My question here is
> "What should I do to provide an AM signal boost?" Can i lace a loop
> style antenna in a wall prior to the drywall being hung? Do i need to
> provide a loop antenna in the attic? Is it irrelevant since neither
> would be on an exterior wall?
>
> Your help is gratefully appreciated.
>
> Scott
>

[Tim Britt]

If AM reception is also important to you, check out eBay auction
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3056738248&category=14980&rd=1
that just ended.

This AM antenna is the best one ever manufactured and several come up on
eBay every year. And this is about what they sell for - They were $300
new, and worth every penny if AM signal reception is important to you.

Now, if you want to get good quality AM reception for a whole lot less
money, buy a GE SuperRadio III for about $65. It has the best AM tuner
of anything short of a shortwave receiver.

Many people think the GE SuperRadio II was better and they sometimes pop
up on eBay or in pawn shops.

Good luck

wrote:
> I currently have a Terk amplified antenna for both AM and FM reception.
> The improvement is good but not dramatic. I tried another model with
> similar results.
>
> We will be building a new home soon. My inclination is to purchase an
> aerial antenna and assemble it in the attic. This should provide more
> dramatic results on the FM band (or so I have read). My question here is
> "What should I do to provide an AM signal boost?" Can i lace a loop
> style antenna in a wall prior to the drywall being hung? Do i need to
> provide a loop antenna in the attic? Is it irrelevant since neither
> would be on an exterior wall?
>
> Your help is gratefully appreciated.
>
> Scott
>

[Powell]

" wrote

> I currently have a Terk amplified antenna for
> both AM and FM reception. The improvement is
> good but not dramatic. I tried another model with
> similar results.
>
Most consumer FM signal amps work best
with closer range stations where small antenna
are used in moderate FM environments.

Check out:
Magnum Dynalab and AES for high quality
signal amplifier and/or better antenna.
http://www.magnumdynalab.com/home.html
Amateur Electronic Supply (www.aesham.com).

> We will be building a new home soon. My inclination
> is to purchase an aerial antenna and assemble it in
> the attic. This should provide more dramatic results
> on the FM band (or so I have read).
>
The best FM antennas are multi-element directional
types. In most cases these also require a rotor and
6 to 10 feet of swing area to turn. This makes them
unsuitable for most attic installations. The much
smaller unidirectional and whip types are quite limited
in range. There are also outside antennas that are
designed for stealth making them less of an eyesore.

Unobstructed line of slight is the ideal condition for
long distance FM reception. In populated cities
antenna orientation usually involves compromises.
Multipath distortion results from two or more paths
(desired frequency) reaching the antenna at a
slightly different times (different path lengths)... often
because the FM signal bounces (reflects) on its
journey to your antenna. As a result you will need to
conduct some trial and error tests prior to any final
installation.

All things being equal you will get better performance
from a well placed antenna over a signal amplifier.

> My question here is "What should I do to provide an
> AM signal boost?"
>
Yes, an amplifier is a possibility depending on range
to desired radio stations. Amateur Electronic Supply
(www.aesham.com).


> Can i lace a loop style antenna in a wall prior to the
> drywall being hung? Do i need to provide a loop
> antenna in the attic? Is it irrelevant since neither
> would be on an exterior wall?
>
Check with the building code department for restrictions
on the type of wiring allowed in sealed walls.