Fm Radio Reception

[Bob_Roller]

I have a question for anyone out there that may have some radio experience.

The FM radio station that I listen to is a low power station about 35 miles away, I get great recption in the cage, but the home tuner isn't quite so happy.

I have used two 30 foot lenghts of small gauge wire as an antenna, and up to a week ago it worked great.

But now I am having recption problems , the indication on the tuner shows the same signal strength, but the quality of the signal is at best poor.

My thought was to install a TV antenna in the attic, run coax to the tuner, then run the coax into a splitter, then to the antenna terminals on the back of the tuner.

I would prefer to mount the antenna outside with a rotator, but the home owners association doesn't allow any antennas to be mounted on the roof of the building.

I have a single level home, and at best the antenna would be 20 feet off of the ground.

Ant thoughts , on whether this may help my reception problem ?

[Justin B.]

You say that your signal strength is the same but it doesn't sound as good, all of a sudden?  Sounds like you need to move somewhere that doesn't have a neighborhood association!    Most NAs are run by a bunch of dick-weeds that have Hitler complexes, but don't get me started...  [smiley=furious3.gif]

You should have fair luck sticking an antenna up in the attic.  Depending on how "open" your attic is you could probably even install a rotor on it - that would be kinda cool.  I need to run new cable up to our rotor (on the roof), some day I'll get motivated enough!    Suraklyn has an electronic High Def antenna that's about the size of a large pizza box that can be mounted up in the attic, don't know if it would work on FM or not, I'll try to remember to ask him.

You may also want to check out some of the AV forums, such as http://www.hometheaterspot.com - they have an antenna section that may help your situation.

[Bob_Roller]

I have ample room in the attic , I can stand up, and not even come close to touching any rafters in the accessible areas, a rotator was in my plans as well.

Looks like about $70 for the antenna, and about the same cost for a rotator.

Just what I need to get into, another project !!

When I lived in the Chicago area, my antenna was mounted to the chimney, with a rotator, you could pick up television and FM radio stations from as far away as 100 miles .

I agree with you on the home owners associations, but it's next to impossible to get into an area that doesn't have an association here in the Phoenix metro area.

The areas that don't have one, are the one's with the most gunfire at night !!  

[Justin B.]

That sux...  

I got my rotor from Radio Shack about 15 or so years ago and I think it was under $50.  Don't know if they still carry them or how much they would be if still available.

Ya know, you always could cut a hole in the ceiling, let the mast stick down through, and rotate it with a big pair of Vice-Grips!  

[Bob_Roller]

I checked out eBay, and found an antenna here locally, it's from the same company that Justin got his generic AGM battery, Gruber Power Services.

$38 for the antenna, and $9 shipping, can't hardly go wrong with that price.

[Justin B.]

Well, that's interesting!  Didn't realize they were into stuff like that...

[MrRiden]

Bob,
Can't help but wonder if your listening to that no DJ, no commercial. no weather, no nothin' but rock-n-roll station owned by the secetrive millionaire. I'm referring to a media oddity we have in AZ called KCDX at 103.3. they do stream on the internets here http://www.kcdx.com/about.php no reception problem. As for the antenna in the attic, I've seen hundreds of 'em hung in the rafters here. Just be sure to plan your day in the attic before we head into warmer temperatures.
rich

[Bob_Roller]

Yeah Rich, that is the radio station KCDX.

I've been listening to it for about a little over 5 years now, and I truly enjoy no dj's, commercials , weather, traffic, news or other useless/mindless banter that is so rampant on the airwaves today !!!

It's frequency is 103.1 .

I plan on installing the antenna in the attic, then run  coax to the tuner through the attic acess opening, then through the house, about 30 feet to the tuner, before I go through the effort of permanently installing the coax, just in case my idea doesn't improve the reception.

[Bob_Roller]

I did a search for Desert West Air Ranchers ( listed owner of the station), and from what information I can get, it comprises of two employees, located in Tucson, AZ.

I found a GPS location for the transmitter, and it's no wonder I'm having difficulty with reception, the transmitter is located about 25 miles south of the Globe/Miami ,AZ. area.

That's a good 50 miles as the crow flies.

Power output of the station is 2700 watts .

[Justin B.]

Antenna AND a pre-amp...

[Bob_Roller]

I recieved the antenna today, and I have it propped up in the living room, with a small length of coax , and the reception is the best I've ever gotten.

So I guess next weekend or so, I get to put it up in the attic, and then run the coax.

Doesn't look like an antenna rotor will be necessary.

[Justin B.]

Will you use it for any TV reception?  That's when a rotor is almost a necessity...

[Bob_Roller]

No, I have Cox Communications for cable television,  telephone, and high speed internet service.

[Justin B.]

Do you get your local HD channels over cable?

[Bob_Roller]

Yes, what few HD channels that are available in the cable television package that I have.