What is a good low cost FM antenna that you guys suggest?

Some good posts here:
http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=35394&highlight=antenna

More here:
http://audiokarma.org/forums/search.php?searchid=330677

Carl

I use a 5' single wire with a thumb tack to the wall for my MR78, if I had a better antenna there would be too many stations to choose from. The MX113 should have at least 3uV sensitivity (closer to 2uV), if not, it has a problem, time for the work bench.

Murray..I am using a 300ohm T antenna...I know not the best..uugh. However my mr 78 and Philips 673 does much better given the same conditions which leads me to think that the mx113 is not performing well.It seems in the near future a trip to Terry is inevitable and while you are here on the site, Murray I did a post with regards to the selectivity operation of my mr78 ..briefly if you can explain why at "normal sensitivity" position I will receive a good station very strongly but ay the -55db the same station sounds horrible as if not tuned properly!

$40 R Shack tv/fm antenna here. I've got dish network satellite and no local channels so old school tv antenna.

TV reception is barely adequate and fm is great. Once you set up an outside antenna for fm you'll never go back. I read on fmtunergroup that some of the guys put a yagi up in the attic and have good results that way. No one seems to have anything good to say about the various indoor antennas such as Goddard (sp) or whatever. Seems that they do no better than a dipole or rabbit ears although I can imagine the look on the wife/gf's face when she sees the rabbit ears perched on top of the cabinet or tuner.

Murray

<<snip>>.briefly if you can explain why at "normal sensitivity" position I will receive a good station very strongly but ay the -55db the same station sounds horrible as if not tuned properly!
Uhh, somethings broke? Seriously, the mysteries of a FM tuner are way outside my capabilities. And, no MR-78 here for me to compare to.

Hopefully, Terry will answer back. If not, a polite pm to Terry asking him to reply would be indicated.

Murray

Terry is not kidding about there being "Too many stations" at his location. Where he's at in west-end Knoxville, he gets all the metropolitan Knoxville area stations, possibly some of the stronger Chattanooga ones, maybe a couple from the Tri-Cities. When the "tropo' is right, he might get Nashville, Atlanta, & some stuff out of the Carolinas. -Sandy G.

What is a good low cost FM antenna that you guys suggest?

The Winegard HD-6065 for about $80 is probably the absolute best value in outdoor FM antennas you can find.

The APS FM-13 is considered by many to be the ultimate FM antenna and it's about $220. Their next model down is the APS FM-9 at about $120. The APS is slightly better built, IMHO, but the Winegard HD-6065 has equivalent, if not a teensy bit better performance than the APS FM-9.

For indoor use, nothing beats two yardsticks put together like a "T" with a $2 folded dipole attached to the "T.". You stick it in a flower vase, etc., and turn it for best reception. This will out-perform any of the much more expensive indoor equivalents, like the Magnum whip, the Godar, etc. It's really ugly :worried: , but it's really inexpensive :banana: .

You pays your money and makes your choices :D

I would be interested in your thoughts on a yardstick/dipole fabricated from mpingo.

Murray

I would be interested in your thoughts on a yardstick/dipole fabricated from mpingo.

Murray


Grasshopper, most blessed enlightenment can be found at http://tinyurl.com/66qqv :ntwrthy: :ntwrthy: :ntwrthy: :ntwrthy: :ntwrthy:

But, can you afford the cost of enlightenment? :jawdrop: :jawdrop: :jawdrop: :jawdrop: :jawdrop:

I put a Winegard in my attic. It is square and hangs vertically from the center joist on monofillament from 2 screw in hooks. I ran a 75 ohm cable down the outside of the HVAC return to the basement, and into my MR 74. I get stuff from middle Jersey some nights , Virginia and basically anywhere in the tri state area (Troposphere dependent). As far as AM reception, a straight wire up the same a/c return shaft nets me some amazing results. Total outlay was around 80 bucks for everything. The Winegard is Omni Directional so placement isn't critical. And I live in a townhouse on top of the highest hill in my area so I have elevation too. The higher the better in this game.

Artie

Grasshopper, most blessed enlightenment can be found at http://tinyurl.com/66qqv :ntwrthy: :ntwrthy: :ntwrthy: :ntwrthy: :ntwrthy:

But, can you afford the cost of enlightenment?
I am not worthy.

Murray

I did away with the 300 ohms T antenna and got a dedicated FM antenna from radio shack..rooftop type..WOW what a difference..now the signal strength meter responds very fast with signals nearing full scale ..also the stereo light is much brighter with constant intensity..a good antenna is definitely a must to enjoy any tuner!!!!

I think that I am going to do the Winegard in the attic application. My wife would kill me if I put anything on the roof!

Try this, it works well, and you don't have to let all the techical stuff get in the way of fashioning it in a manner that either DX's or gives a nice silent signal.

http://users.tns.net/~bb/rabbit.htm

Thanks to Brian's antenna page and FMTuners group.

L'wood

IMHO, feeding a good tuner a good signal is like putting premium gas into a Ferrari. A rooftop antenna is mandatory if you have even the tiniest chance of swinging it. I justified mine by using it for television as well.
Tom