FM antennas

[Jerome]

In the old days the cheapo FM antenna was a T-shaped pair of wires with 2
connectors. The last 2 stereo units I've bought both had a single wire,
maybe 4 feet long, with only 1 connector. Is this comparable to the old
2-wire antennae I remember? Worth replacing? Can I take an old T-type
antenna and join its two wires into the single connector I have on my
receiver for better reception?

[Jerome]

Todd H. wrote:

> Jerome > writes:
>
>> In the old days the cheapo FM antenna was a T-shaped pair of wires with 2
>> connectors. The last 2 stereo units I've bought both had a single wire,
>> maybe 4 feet long, with only 1 connector. Is this comparable to the old
>> 2-wire antennae I remember? Worth replacing? Can I take an old T-type
>> antenna and join its two wires into the single connector I have on my
>> receiver for better reception?
>
> Not if you'd like it to work. :-) You'd be shorting out the radio
> signal. The old style 2-spade lead 300ohm antennae will work just
> fine however with a 300ohm to 75ohm balun. $5 at radio shack.
>
>
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062054&cp=&sr=1&origkw=adapter+75+300&kw=adapter+75+300&parentPage=search
>
>
> If it's not a co-ax (typically silver, smaller diameter than a dime)
> style input on your receiver, you'll have to divulge make/model of
> receiver and look up what your antenna input looks like.
>
> Best Regards,

Thanks. My receiver is a SONY STR-DE197. Oddly, it uses a balun-like
connector, but only the center wire - the shield is plastic. My little
Panasonic counter-top also uses only the center wire. Is this a
cost-cutting measure?

[Todd H.]

Jerome > writes:

> In the old days the cheapo FM antenna was a T-shaped pair of wires with 2
> connectors. The last 2 stereo units I've bought both had a single wire,
> maybe 4 feet long, with only 1 connector. Is this comparable to the old
> 2-wire antennae I remember? Worth replacing? Can I take an old T-type
> antenna and join its two wires into the single connector I have on my
> receiver for better reception?

Not if you'd like it to work. :-) You'd be shorting out the radio
signal. The old style 2-spade lead 300ohm antennae will work just
fine however with a 300ohm to 75ohm balun. $5 at radio shack.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062054&cp=&sr=1&origkw=adapter+75+300&kw=adapter+75+300&parentPage=search


If it's not a co-ax (typically silver, smaller diameter than a dime)
style input on your receiver, you'll have to divulge make/model of
receiver and look up what your antenna input looks like.

Best Regards,
--
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[Mark D. Zacharias[_2_]]

"Jerome" > wrote in message
news:PO4vi.49102$rX4.34624@pd7urf2no...
> Todd H. wrote:
>
>> Jerome > writes:
>>
>>> In the old days the cheapo FM antenna was a T-shaped pair of wires with
>>> 2
>>> connectors. The last 2 stereo units I've bought both had a single wire,
>>> maybe 4 feet long, with only 1 connector. Is this comparable to the old
>>> 2-wire antennae I remember? Worth replacing? Can I take an old T-type
>>> antenna and join its two wires into the single connector I have on my
>>> receiver for better reception?
>>
>> Not if you'd like it to work. :-) You'd be shorting out the radio
>> signal. The old style 2-spade lead 300ohm antennae will work just
>> fine however with a 300ohm to 75ohm balun. $5 at radio shack.
>>
>>
> http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062054&cp=&sr=1&origkw=adapter+75+300&kw=adapter+75+300&parentPage=search
>>
>>
>> If it's not a co-ax (typically silver, smaller diameter than a dime)
>> style input on your receiver, you'll have to divulge make/model of
>> receiver and look up what your antenna input looks like.
>>
>> Best Regards,
>
> Thanks. My receiver is a SONY STR-DE197. Oddly, it uses a balun-like
> connector, but only the center wire - the shield is plastic. My little
> Panasonic counter-top also uses only the center wire. Is this a
> cost-cutting measure?
>

Cost cutting?

Yes.

mz