FM Antenna Help Needed!
April 14, 2008 3:18 PM Subscribe
Is there an alternative to the single wire FM antenna supplied with my wife's new stereo?
I bought my wife a Sony microcomponent stereo for her birthday, which she loves.
For optimal FM radio reception is there a better alternative to the single wire antenna which we have to run down behind a tallish stand alone kitchen cabinet?
Due to placement issues in our kitchen, the wire FM antenna has to run vertically down the back of a cabinet, near the AC cord from the receiver as well as in close proximity to the AC cord for our wall mounted cordless phone. The instructions for the tuner indicate that the wire antenna should run horizontally and this isn't an option.
FM broadcast reception isn't horrible now but I know it could be better.
I bought my wife a Sony microcomponent stereo for her birthday, which she loves.
For optimal FM radio reception is there a better alternative to the single wire antenna which we have to run down behind a tallish stand alone kitchen cabinet?
Due to placement issues in our kitchen, the wire FM antenna has to run vertically down the back of a cabinet, near the AC cord from the receiver as well as in close proximity to the AC cord for our wall mounted cordless phone. The instructions for the tuner indicate that the wire antenna should run horizontally and this isn't an option.
FM broadcast reception isn't horrible now but I know it could be better.
It doesn't do you any good if the antenna is aligned vertically because FM broadcast is mostly polarized horizontally. It's like polaroid lenses which are a quarter turn out of phase: very little gets through.
A lot of TV cable companies also carry FM radio broadcasts. Try calling yours. (If you have cable.)
posted by Class Goat at 4:28 PM on April 14, 2008
A lot of TV cable companies also carry FM radio broadcasts. Try calling yours. (If you have cable.)
posted by Class Goat at 4:28 PM on April 14, 2008
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It will probably not make a perceptible difference on local, strong signals, but for distant, weak signals, it may.
If it doesn't make any difference, run it any way you want.
Alternatives include active FM amplified antennas, though you'll have to deal with connection issues and since you don't mention the model number of provide any additional info, I'd just be guessing.
If you'd post model number and/or pix of where the antenna wire connects, that will provide enough info for a better recommendation.
posted by FauxScot at 4:01 PM on April 14, 2008