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antenae

dw1

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 26, 2015
Messages
1,335
Location
Ky
I have read several threads on here about am/fm antenaes inside pole barns, some were old, some were station specific. Has technology changed any, anything better to pick up am/fm stations inside my pole barn? I picked up a new to me 42" Vizio TV and a Pioneer Surround Sound Receiver, sound doesnt work on TV, hence the surround sound, but I also want to use the receiver for the radio, right now, I have to put my Dewalt Job Radio right outside the door to pick up any stations. Anyone had any success with a newer one size fits all stations or will it be trial and error to see what I can dial in? I can get some reception on a few FM stations but there is static. The boss wants the Dewalt radio back now that the pool is open!!
 
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TMcCay

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 5, 2011
Messages
1,057
Location
SW. Oklahoma
I mounted a small circular radio antennae on the roof of my metal shop and get all the radio stations that I wanted and more. I do not have a TV in there (wife offered and I flat out told her no!) so I only looked for the FM type. I ran coaxial from the antennae to the radio and get great reception. I hope the link works below as that is the antennae I bought.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006SLV25C/?tag=atomicindus08-20
 

gungatim

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 8, 2013
Messages
8,101
Location
west mich
not really, radio waves are radio waves. same propagation theory today as in 1930 pretty much. there is a lot more RFI around today than there used to be so get rid of any interference from machines/lights etc., use good coax, don't run it parallel to power lines, get the antenna outside up in the air and away from metal buildings...
 

raddksn

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 3, 2011
Messages
1,304
Location
south central upper peninsula michigan
I mounted a small circular radio antennae on the roof of my metal shop and get all the radio stations that I wanted and more. I do not have a TV in there (wife offered and I flat out told her no!) so I only looked for the FM type. I ran coaxial from the antennae to the radio and get great reception. I hope the link works below as that is the antennae I bought.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006SLV25C/?tag=atomicindus08-20
i used this one at work, metal building electronic ballasts. mounted it on a pole 5 or so feet above roof works great!!!
 

theoldwizard1

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 22, 2011
Messages
43,174
Location
SE MI
Antenna design has NOT changed in many years !

Use an antenna designed for the "band" (frequency) you are trying to tune. AM and FM radio are different bands. Digital TV (for the most part with a couple of exceptions) is a third band. One antenna to cover all 3 would be a big compromise.

Second, the "best" antennas are directional ! Most of the digital TV antennas will have a hard time picking up station that are in different directions without a rotor.
 
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D

dw1

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 26, 2015
Messages
1,335
Location
Ky
I have an internet connection in my barn, the tv is a smart tv, before I was using a Dewalt am/fm radio and I would put it right outside my O/H door, now I have the surround sound reveiver and I want to be able to use that for am/fm, I think on TV signal, I am ok. I didnt know if there was an all purpose am/fm antenae that would work on the metal pole barn.
 

My Old Tools

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 4, 2014
Messages
5,438
Location
Hamrick Lake, TX
Antenna design changes continually. Printed antennas and sparse array antennas, conformal antennas. Our company designs RF systems for aircraft. There is continual research into antenna design. That said, most of those antennas will never be used for a consumer application. I tried one of the new HD TV antennas that looked like a notebook sized sheet of plastic, taped it to a glass door. It picked up every station in Dallas from 50 miles out. Almost any antenna will beat no antenna.
 

Movover

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 14, 2015
Messages
585
Location
Central Maine
Go here for information on where the channels are from in your area:

http://www.antennaweb.org/Address

you might not even need anything other than one of the new plastic antenna arrays with no rotor as most stations are grouped in a similar city/mountain top unless you live between 2 areas.

FM/AM most likely anything will work for an antenna even if its not for that band.
 
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