2. tech-talk
  3. 1239531781

Outdoor FM Antenna question

I realized that perhaps a lot of you no longer listen to FM, but I do. I have to install an FM antenna in the attic, but space is limited and unfortunately there is no possibility of installing a high gain one that is directional. Unfortunately, I need more than just a cheap T-wire or a T-wire with an FM RF amplifier as FM reception is pretty poor out here.

What I need is a good omni directional and I may need to add an amplifier to that as well. Does anyone have any experience with any particular brand they like? or perhaps brands they dislike?

Thanks!
128x128spatialking

Showing 2 responses by eldartford

eldartford
4,262 posts
 
I assume that a roof antenna is out for cosmetic reasons.
I had such a situation recently, and the solution was a MAGNUM DYNALAB ST-2 antenna. This is a vertical whip about 5 feet long, 1/8" in diameter, and almost invisible, so I could put it on the roof. Being a vertical whip it is truly omnidirectional, which the common turnstile antenna is not.

It is nowhere near as good as the large multielement FM antenna on a rotator which I use for my main system, but it surely beats anything indoors.
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
Get yourself a remote(at the antenna) RF amplifier (I have a Winegard with my Yagi) and split the signal after amplification. At one time these remote amps were not a good idea because their S/N ratio was worse than most FM tuner front ends, but that isn't so any more.
More to discover