Antenna help

[garagejunkie]

Shop is getting done,but need music lol..Looking for ideas & hopefully pictures of how you mounted you're radio antenna.Looking for a nice clean look.Its a stick built steel building with 14 foot side walls..Thanks!!

 

[torqueman2002]

TV rabbit ears will do fine for FM for urban areas.

OR

http://www.solidsignal.com/search.asp?q=fm%20antenna&f=&r=12&s=relevancy&p=1

 

[bob15]

For AM, I bought this back in the wintertime and it works real well.: http://www.ccrane.com/!1GYmUT2KD4ISIBaSKCz2vw!/Twin-Coil-Ferrite-AM-Antenna-Signal-Booster

For FM many people seem to like this: http://www.ccrane.com/FM-Reflect-Dipole-Antenna

I bought this to mount above my barn and its steel roof (hoping to get it mounted this weekend): http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?p=fm360&d=antennas-direct-fm-360-hd-radio-antenna-%28fm360%29

 

[patrickn]

Garagejunkie,
Nuttsgt has a thread about making a J-pole antenna and also talks about it in "what you did in the garage today thread." I've used J Poles before and they work great for regular radio and also 2 Meter radio.
Heres the link: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=294533

 

[930dreamer]

The key is having the antenna go outside the building.

 

[volleyball]

Go find an old roof mount tv antenna. There must be thousands doing nothing on peoples roofs.

 

[bob15]

Go find an old roof mount tv antenna. There must be thousands doing nothing on peoples roofs.

The TV antennas are marginal. A true AM or FM antenna is much better and not that expensive, under fifty bucks, and has much better reception/station pulling power.

 

[oldcpecdr]

Two antennas met and got married...wedding ceremony not that good...

But reception was great

 

[volleyball]

Antenna are not all that critical for reception. If you are on a fringe and it is worth it to you then maybe I'd agree.
The biggest thing is to get the antenna outside and away from the metal.

 

[garagejunkie]

I definitey want the antenna mounted outside of the building..Hoping to get some ideas/pictures of mounting it nice & neat,but not on the roof...Thanks for the posts so far everyone

 

[calimander]

If you have internet access from a ethernet cable or are within wireless distance from a router you can't get any better than a internet radio. Thousands of stations and many with no commercials. I have been using a Grace Digital receiver in my shop hooked up to some bookshelf speakers and couldn't be happier.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

The TV antennas are marginal. A true AM or FM antenna is much better and not that expensive, under fifty bucks, and has much better reception/station pulling power.

TV antennas ARE FM.

Tommy

 

[Maticuno]

Ever since Sirius and Pandora came out, I never listen to AM/FM anymore. Sirius makes a portable unit that docks with a boom box. I have one with the small satellite antenna run outside so it has clear view of the sky. Works great, and no commercials.

If you're a smart phone user and like Pandora, you can Bluetooth link your phone to a number of wireless speaker systems. If you have spotty coverage inside your shop, you can always try one of these: zBoost SOHO. They work great to bring cell coverage inside. I've got one on the main house with an upgraded antenna since we live on the fringe of the networks.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Garagejunkie,
Nuttsgt has a thread about making a J-pole antenna and also talks about it in "what you did in the garage today thread." I've used J Poles before and they work great for regular radio and also 2 Meter radio.
Heres the link: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=294533

Thanks for posting the link. I wish more members that are much more knowledgeable would chime in on the thread.

I have my J-pole mounted outside, did that yesterday but didn't get any pictures. I will get some Sunday as I try to get more progress done on that project.

I used a kit from Menard's along with a piece of black pipe for the mount.

http://www.menards.com/main/electri...s/antenna-wall-mount-kit/p-1865206-c-6295.htm

 

[930dreamer]

I plan on removing this one and reattaching it to my building.

 

[Jackfre]

I'm going to be installing antennas as well. I figure they will disappear from view once I put the Orange windsock on top of the mast.

 

[patrickn]

Thanks for posting the link. I wish more members that are much more knowledgeable would chime in on the thread.

I have my J-pole mounted outside, did that yesterday but didn't get any pictures. I will get some Sunday as I try to get more progress done on that project.

I used a kit from Menard's along with a piece of black pipe for the mount.

http://www.menards.com/main/electri...s/antenna-wall-mount-kit/p-1865206-c-6295.htm

Nuttsgt,

Its been ages since I have messed with antennas (I used to be a radio operator in the USMC and built a lot of field expedient antennas and took many courses in antenna theory; I also used to be a HAM and made many antennas. I do not remember all the theorys for 1/4, 1/2 wave etc... but have manuals somewhere). I will be going to the storage unit next month (its out of state) and can look for the manuals and books then but thats kind of late. But you can go to ARRL and look up J Pole designs (or any other sites that design antennas will have all the info).
Have a great day!

 

[OldracerJones]

I use Sirius XM and/or the TV tuned to music station. All are run through a AV 500 watt amp and subwoofer and speakers.

 

[homebuilt burner]

On my father's shop (metal building), I bought the am/fm antenna from Radio Shack for about $25. I installed on a piece of 1 1/4" galvinized pipe I bent at a 90* angle and lag bolted to the side of the building. Works great looks good. If I remember I'll try to get a picture tonight.

 

[ddawg16]

The 1/4...1/2 wavelength design is not much of a factor for reception. Proper length is important for transmitting and keeping you reflected energy low.

One of the key points of using an antenna on a metal building is the building becomes part of the ground plane for the antenna. When mounted right, it's a good thing.

For the OP, I would mount it to the side of the building. That way any bolts going into the building are less likely to leak. If it was me, I'd make a bracket that mounts up under the lip of the roof and sticks out away from the building a few inches. Too close to the building and you might attenuate the signal.

Don't forget to run a dedicated earth ground from the antenna to the ground with it's own ground rod.

 

[maxpower_hd]

I guess it depends on your location. I just have a wire one attached to the wall from the back of the stereo like the one it came with in 1970 something. It works fine. In the three houses I've been in in the northeast I've never needed anything outside to get all the local stations in just fine. They are like $5.00 at Radio Shack. If you live a long way away from the radio towers maybe you need something better but I never have.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I got a few pictures taken in the last day or so.This the mounting bracket and bottom of the J-pole antenna I made with the help of GJ members.

 

[LEVE]

How about a simple long wire attached under the eves, through the wall and into the garage to the radio?

 

[homebuilt burner]

Here is a picture of the mount on my father's shop. 1 1/4" galvinized pipe bent 90* , Radio Shack fm antenna. Lag bolted into the 2x4s under the steel. If you go this route make sure you put a drip loop on the wire.

 

[garagejunkie]

Wow thanks for the ideas..I knew I came to the right placeHomebuilt Burner...Really like you're set up

 

[homebuilt burner]

When i put it on dad's shop, I installed a cell phone booster at the same time. Dad still can't decide which one he likes better prefect fm radio or not dropping calls.

 

[patrickn]

The 1/4...1/2 wavelength design is not much of a factor for reception. Proper length is important for transmitting and keeping you reflected energy low.

I understand that 100%, I was just saying (or meant to say) I have forgot all the theory (was using 1/4 wave etc.. as an example of what I have forgotten) and needed to refresh my memory by getting my manuals (havent used this stuff since the 80's). You are correct though, wave length is more for transmission etc...

I was messing around last night in the garage and just put up across the rafters, a long wire setup that I had from when I was in the USMC that was in a reel, and picked up an FM radio station from Indianapolis that I usually can not pickup lol.

Have a great day!

 

[NUTTSGT]

Nuttsgt,

Its been ages since I have messed with antennas (I used to be a radio operator in the USMC and built a lot of field expedient antennas and took many courses in antenna theory; I also used to be a HAM and made many antennas. I do not remember all the theorys for 1/4, 1/2 wave etc... but have manuals somewhere). I will be going to the storage unit next month (its out of state) and can look for the manuals and books then but thats kind of late. But you can go to ARRL and look up J Pole designs (or any other sites that design antennas will have all the info).
Have a great day!

LOL, I just thought of something. You probably needed to experiment with antennas while in C & E school as there is (was) one radio station that you could pick up in 29 Palms. I think that station was either in Joshua Tree or Yucca valley.

 

[patrickn]

LOL, I just thought of something. You probably needed to experiment with antennas while in C & E school as there is (was) one radio station that you could pick up in 29 Palms. I think that station was either in Joshua Tree or Yucca valley.

I had forgotten about that LOL. I was an odd one, I loved 29 Stumps. When I went back there for Radio Chief and Comm Chief school things had changed a lot but still liked it there. Spent a lot of time coming back also for CAX and other training. I haven't been there since 86 or so......