FM Signal Amplifier

Lowrange2

Lowrange2

NAXJA Forum User
Location
Abbeville, SC
So, I have this certain station that I listen to every morning. Well, I listen to it anytime I'm riding in a vehicle and my wife isn't driving the radio. :)

The problem I have is that about once a week I can barely pick the station up and it drives me insane because we don't have another station that plays the same stuff.

I know it has a lot to do with the fact that I'm on the outskirts of their broadcast area but I don't plan on moving to pick up the station clearer.

My question to you is what is out there that works for amplifing the signal? I see cheapo ebay crap but it just doesn't look reliable. Anyone have any experience with something along these lines?
 
I lost my good stations a while back the first time I PCSed. Now I just use Sirus/XM. Got a handheld that fits in a dash cradle, and I have one for my desk in the squadron as well.
 
The problem is amplified noise is still noise. Try to find a longer, higher quality antenna, but I don't know what's available.

Where at in SC? I'm originally from northern Spartanburg County.
 
SC Rednek said:
Try to find a longer antenna
Click to expand...

It doesnt quite work like that !! Ever notice most cars use a standard @ 30" antenna,thats because its a 1/4 wavelength.

To the OP,I would check your antenna and coax first.Is your radio a quality unit,that can affect reception?Do you have a good ground at both the unit and at the antenna mount?
 
Its some Kenwood headunit. Seems decent.

Ill check all the grounds but it does it about the same in all the vehicles.

XM is out of the question. Never have been a fan.
 
SC Rednek said:
The problem is amplified noise is still noise. Try to find a longer, higher quality antenna, but I don't know what's available.

Where at in SC? I'm originally from northern Spartanburg County.
Click to expand...


Im from Abbeville. About 45 minutes south of Greenville. The station im refering to is 93.3 out of Greenville.
 
Yeah tell me about it. After listening to the morning show for so long all the other morning shows make me want to shoot myself in the foot. Im good with all kinds of music I just want the dang morning show! I end up having to listen to the live feed on my cell phone with my headphones...annoying!
 
The receiving sensitivity of the head unit has a lot to do with reception. I'm not sure if that's a common spec on head units though. Apart from that, a good antenna will help. You need a high gain 1/4 wave vhf antenna. A "no ground plane" antenna would be even better unless you're relocating your antenna to the center of your roof. I've had great luck with antennex (Laird). Top notch quality. Here's what you need:

http://lairdtech.thomasnet.com/item/radio-tv-data-other-antennas/mobile-load-coil-antennas-2/pn-4506?&bc=100|3001622|3001626|3001641|3001286

Buy this and trim it to just under 29.5 inches and you'll be impressed. I'm disappointed that it doesn't mention any gain however. Either way, it's a starting point.
 
lowrange2 said:
Yeah tell me about it. After listening to the morning show for so long all the other morning shows make me want to shoot myself in the foot. Im good with all kinds of music I just want the dang morning show! I end up having to listen to the live feed on my cell phone with my headphones...annoying!
Click to expand...


It hurt me deeply when the Bob and Tom show went away.
 
The best head unit receivers are pioneer with their super tuners. I very rarely listen to the radio anymore, all my music gets ripped and put on hard drives then copied to usb sticks or sometimes burned to cd.
My three JVC head units have a pretty sharp cutoff for FM though, it does not get weak it just vanishes.
Your local distance setting is set for distance yes ?
 
I just looked. It actually is a JVC. I don't know that it has a distance setting.

I noticed today that it seems like another station is walking over this one... but I can't pick that station up clearly in either direction on the tuner.
 
lowrange2 said:
I just want the dang morning show! I end up having to listen to the live feed on my cell phone with my headphones...annoying!
Click to expand...

Why not get a head unit with an Aux input and listen with your phone that way?
 
lowrange2 said:
I just looked. It actually is a JVC. I don't know that it has a distance setting.

I noticed today that it seems like another station is walking over this one... but I can't pick that station up clearly in either direction on the tuner.
Click to expand...

All of my JVC radios have had really solid tuners. Both DD's have JVC radios in them. I don't think a tuner swap is going to fix your issue.

Doc Holliday said:
Why not get a head unit with an Aux input and listen with your phone that way?
Click to expand...

this. and then you can do pandora and what not as well. Internet is going to kill FM radio.
 
Well for one, you are going to need a high quality antenna, now assuming your stock one isnt bent or otherwise broken, aftermarket ones arent going to give you that much of a gain. Unless you go the route milford explained.
Secondly you could build just a simple amplifier, but I sense the problem isnt how powerful the signal is, it is how clear it is. Pretty much you are just SOL on that part.

Getting a superior head unit with a more exact tuner could give you better results, but that is where my knowledge ends.

Good luck!
 
You can boost the signal all you want, which in some cases may help. But in order to increase your range, you need a better antenna/receiver combo.

I can't believe nobody seems to make a high gain FM radio antenna! I've googled to no avail. The Laird unit is the best I've found so far.

If anyone else wants to try, look for a 1/4 wave 3 meter VHF no ground plane whip antenna.
 
Cool. Thanks guys. Im trying to figure something out.

I actually do run the aux cable to my phone in the Liberty byt I haven't got around to doing the same in my Jeep.

That'll probably be my solution.
 
lowrange2 said:
Cool. Thanks guys. Im trying to figure something out.

I actually do run the aux cable to my phone in the Liberty byt I haven't got around to doing the same in my Jeep.

That'll probably be my solution.
Click to expand...
Sweet, I actually had a usable idea for someone. :clap:
 
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