Antenna for the garage stereo

KMinAF · Mar 25, 2012

I picked up an older stereo from the local thrift store, the kind with knobs and analog meters, but I can't get very good reception on the higher stations. To remedy this I made a wire antenna from some old single wire phone wire that I had. I ran the two wires up the wall and across the ceiling in a "T" shape. The span is about 8' from end of wire to end of wire. Although reception is a bit better, it isn't as good as I had hoped for. Any suggestions to improve the reception?

nehog · Mar 25, 2012

Radio Shack used to carry omnidirectional roof top FM antennas. It is possible the radio will never work well, however...

OldracerJones · Mar 25, 2012

I know that FM antennas require a certain length; if memory serves it's around 32".

malibu101 · Mar 25, 2012

Check out the link in this thread for details on homebuilding an FM antenna with just some twinlead wire.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=142971&highlight=antenna

Direct to the link I'm talking about- http://www.wryr.org/Antenna_instructions.pdf

jack stand · Mar 25, 2012

How about an AM antenna? can you build one? I've given up on any music on the radio anymore. And since the evening "news" is no more than left wing opinion disguised as news for the ignorant, I've been on AM talk lately.

nehog · Mar 26, 2012

A full wave length is 9.8851 ft (3 M) long. Generally you want either a half wave or quarter wave (5 ft, about for half, 2.5 ft, about, for quarterwave). If you are going to use a bit of 'scrap' wire, (not recommended) cut it in multiples of 9.8851 ft to start with (so twice or three times that length). Then trim as needed.

Another 'trick' is to get an automotive FM antenna (rod type) with a long cable (one designed for mounting in the trunk). That gives omnidirectional performance, though it does have limited gain. It is also either going to be easy or difficult to mount depending on your building. I almost went with an auto antenna until I realized I had a big full sized one in the basement that I wasn't using. With a metal building I needed an outdoor antenna, especially as I'm way out in the middle of nowhere.

KMinAF · Mar 26, 2012

On the back of the radio are multiple antenna connections and I am using two of those. I assume one is a ground wire? So if I am understanding correctly, running a piece of wire from the antenna screw on the radio does not constitue an antenna and the "antenna" wire I am using is too long. So, long story short, I need to go find a pair of rabbit ears or equivelant.

SGKent · Mar 26, 2012

cheap rabbit ears set to 30" - 31" for a 300 ohm flat ribbon FM connection (two connectors) or a single long wire for AM (one connector). Or drop by radio shack and ask for a cheap FM dipole antenna.

98TJ · Mar 26, 2012

This worked well for me.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00009ZY5C/?tag=atomicindus08-20

nehog · Mar 26, 2012

KMinAF said:
On the back of the radio are multiple antenna connections and I am using two of those. I assume one is a ground wire? ...

No, if the two screw terminals are marked FM (not AM!) then they are balanced 300 Ω input. There will be another screw for ground.

That connection would be connected to '300 Ω twinlead' or to a balun transformer to match unbalanced to balanced transmission lines.

Take a 10 to 12 ft long piece of 300 Ω twinlead. Split one end about 2.5 ft so you have two, 2.5 ft ends. Spread those two leads out somewhat like a T, where the tail of the T is the unsplit part, and the top of the T is made of the two split wires. Orient that so the line through the two wires points 90 degrees from the station. You have just made a 1/4 wave dipole.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dipole_antenna for more information and some drawings.

If you want to get really confused, I would be willing to bring polarization into the picture!

Outlawmws · Mar 26, 2012

Google "J" pole antenna; you won't regret it...

KMinAF · Mar 26, 2012

My gosh, what ever happened to a little tinfoil on the rabit ears and having one of the kids standing there touching the antenna so that the signal would come in clearly? LOL

Outlawmws · Mar 26, 2012

KMinAF said:
My gosh, what ever happened to a little tinfoil on the rabit ears and having one of the kids standing there touching the antenna so that the signal would come in clearly? LOL

the kids grew up...

DCarr · Mar 26, 2012

I bought a remote controlled rotatable digital antennea off of ebay for about 38$ shipped for my TV & Stereo in the shop. works great !

aandpdan · Mar 26, 2012

Outlawmws said:
Google "J" pole antenna; you won't regret it...

I just built one after reading this post, this is the best antenna I've ever tried! I'm surrounded by hills and tall trees and until now got nothing, and it's only stuck in the ground!

I used this site as a reference: http://www.hamuniverse.com/jpole.html

Thanks Outlawmws!

nehog · Mar 26, 2012

aandpdan said:
I just built one after reading this post, this is the best antenna I've ever tried! I'm surrounded by hills and tall trees and until now got nothing, and it's only stuck in the ground!

I used this site as a reference: http://www.hamuniverse.com/jpole.html

Thanks Outlawmws!

I might have to give that one a try... That's one antenna that I've never made. (Once did have a full sized, 4 element 20M beam.)

Rich1028 · Mar 26, 2012

I've been using speaker wire going up the wall and out about 10 feet per side.
only one of my stations does not come in so well with this method,I may try other methods now.

Outlawmws · Mar 26, 2012

aandpdan said:
I just built one after reading this post, this is the best antenna I've ever tried! I'm surrounded by hills and tall trees and until now got nothing, and it's only stuck in the ground!

I used this site as a reference: http://www.hamuniverse.com/jpole.html

Thanks Outlawmws!

You're welcome! :thumbup:

aandpdan · Mar 26, 2012

Here's an update:

I finished construction at about 7:00 pm. Right now I'm picking up WHOM which broadcasts from Mt. Washington in NH, over 125 miles from my house/garage.

And it's still just stuck in the ground. I'll try mounting it tomorrow afternoon if I get a chance.

Outlawmws · Mar 27, 2012

Be sure to shoot some pics, and what material did you make it from?

KMinAF · Mar 27, 2012

I looked up the reference to the wikipedia site as mentioned above and it just made my head hurt. I then checked out http://www.hamuniverse.com/jpole.html
and I think I will give it a try. I assume that when they refer to FREQ MHZ they are talking about the stations dial locations?

Outlawmws · Mar 27, 2012

Basically yes.

If you spend all your time at one end or the other, or that is where the weaker stations are, you can sort of target near that particular end, but if you simply want best from end to end, pick the middle of the spectrum for the total frequency range.

cruzn57 · Mar 27, 2012

is that "J" pole directional? I'm between two cities, and there in opposite directions.
my garage roof is metal, so anything will be better than the twin lead I'm using now, ( its inside)
also I found this;
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001NG24GI/?tag=atomicindus08-20

directional?
thanks!

NUTTSGT · Mar 27, 2012

What about an antenna for a simple book shelf radio that just has a single black wire antenna ? I did loop it around and stuck one end in the jacks for the am antenna, which did make a difference.

Outlawmws · Mar 27, 2012

cruzn57 said:
is that "J" pole directional? I'm between two cities, and there in opposite directions.
my garage roof is metal, so anything will be better than the twin lead I'm using now, ( its inside)
also I found this;
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001NG24GI/?tag=atomicindus08-20

directional?
thanks!

Omnidirectional

Outlawmws · Mar 27, 2012

NUTTSGT said:
What aboutan antenna for a simple book shelf radio that just hasa single black wire antenna ? I did loop it around and stuck one end in the jacksfor the am antenna, which did make a difference.

Unless you are able/willing to go inside the radio so you can tap into both the antenna connection point, and catch a ground (Probably not worth it) , about all you can do is make that wire some even fraction of the wavelength. (1/2 is usually good)

aandpdan · Mar 27, 2012

Here's a picture. I just stuck it up to test.

It works pretty good for a bunch of scrap 1/2" copper.

RonRock · Mar 27, 2012

Thanks for the link to the J pole. I'm going to make one. How do I connect the coax? I see the connecting points, but is it as easy as stripping the cable and drilling into the copper? Or is there a preferred way? Would one of those attenuators that used to come with TV's and radios work?

NUTTSGT · Mar 27, 2012

Outlawmws said:
Unless you are able/willing to go inside the radio so you can tap into both the antenna connection point, and catch a ground (Probably not worth it) , about all you can do is make that wire some even fraction of the wavelength. (1/2 is usually good)

ahhh, I probably won't as I have considered looking for an older (used) receiver at a thrift/pawn store.

aandpdan · Mar 27, 2012

RonRock said:
Thanks for the link to the J pole. I'm going to make one. How do I connect the coax? I see the connecting points, but is it as easy as stripping the cable and drilling into the copper? Or is there a preferred way? Would one of those attenuators that used to come with TV's and radios work?

I'm still experimenting.

To attach the coax all I did was strip it and then used two stainless steel clamps to hold it in place. I do have a 75 ohm matching transformer and might give that a shot. I also need to figure out how to mount this better.

It looks like a keeper once I tweak it a bit.

gonefirefighting · Mar 27, 2012

sat radio was my best purchase ever

RonRock · Mar 27, 2012

Looking at the linked thread I realized that I should have called the "attenuator"

"twin-lead transformer (75 ohm to 300ohm)"

aandpdan · Mar 27, 2012

RonRock said:
Looking at the linked thread I realized that I should have called the "attenuator"

"twin-lead transformer (75 ohm to 300ohm)"

I knew what you meant.

I have it on now, just put it in the same location. If anything the antenna is more "stable" and the signal strength isn't fluctuating as much.

gonefirefighting said:
sat radio was my best purchase ever

I could build a new antenna every month for what you're paying :rocker:

RonRock · Mar 27, 2012

Satellite would be good, but I like to listen to the locals. Weather and local news for a couple reasons.

RonRock · Mar 27, 2012

So do you have a "Twin-Lead Transformer" at the antenna and also on the radio?

For some reason I have never been able to fully understand the correct way to connect an antenna to a stereo. I've always just jacked around until it seems to work best. Would be nice to really understand WTF I am doing.

Outlawmws · Mar 27, 2012

At the receiver, if it has connections for both Coax and twin lead, there is a balum inside behind the coax connections. If not, you need a balun

If you use the several coils of coax as a choke at the antenna (See aandpdan's pic), you don't need a balun. If you don't use a choke, then you do.

gonefirefighting · Mar 27, 2012

aandpdan said:
I could build a new antenna every month for what you're paying

I hear ya, but I refuse to read, watch or listen to any news of any sort and don't care for commercials plus I don't watch TV. well worth the price for me to have it in the trucks, house and shop.

57plymouth · Mar 28, 2012

I have an old bookshelf radio in my shop that has one connection for an antenna. Since my shop walls are metal it doesn't work so great. Right now I have a length of scrap wire run through a hole in the wall that helps, but I can't get the one local station that I want to get.

I'm not a radio enthusiast and I'm not going to pretend to understand the nuances. I'd just like to pick up 89.3fm in my shop.

Any advice for dummies like me?

Outlawmws · Mar 28, 2012

If you are not willing to do what was suggested in post 26, then find a better radio (with real antenna connections) and build the J-pole. if you can't be bothered with building a J-pole, get an old analog TV antenna and try that, (but it won't compare to a J-pole)

And as with any antenna, the higher the better... (Usually restricted to 30 ft above your roof max, by code...)

KMinAF · Apr 4, 2012

Today I made the "J" pole antenna that was suggested by Outlawmws in an earlier post and all I can say is wow! The signal meter is pegged on every station that I select and I am hearing stations that I didn't even know existed and all for under $15.00!

Antenna for the garage stereo

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