Hey guys! Been a while since I posted. But.... I am having problems getting good reception from my garage stereo. It's an older 70s radio 8 track receiver with a coax cable running to an old TV antenna on the roof. My garage has steel siding, insulated walls with sheetrock. I have 8, 8ft florescent lights on the ceiling. If I turn the lights off that ol stereo can pick up about anything on the ol dial for miles, and maybe even space shuttle conversations!!! Probably the best radio I've ever had. BUT, with a flick of the light switch, it's all gone accept for one local channel, that *****. Soooo... Is there any ideas I can try to get rid of the static? Maybe something that plugs into the wall that the stereo plugs in to? I don't know. Could really use some help! I'm gonna go insane! Thanks guys!
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Radio antenna problem
- Thread starter Gus68
- Start date
chaosracing
Well-known member
Your getting interference from the lights. Sounds like a bulb or ballast is starting to go. Not sure how easy it is, but maybe start by pulling the bulbs from one fixture at a time and seeing if anything changes. If it does, then you know which fixture is causing the problem and can better diagnose it from that point. If you narrow it down to one fixture, I would swap those bulbs into another fixture and see if it still does it. If it still interferes then you know its the bulbs. If it doesnt do it when the bulbs are in another fixture, more than likely the ballast is going bad.
Richard Cranium
Well-known member
I agree I feel your problem is in your lighting. Unhook one at a time.
electronic ballasts are terrible generators of interference. This is a bit pricey, but it should help with the problem.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000OF4R8C/?tag=atomicindus08-20
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000OF4R8C/?tag=atomicindus08-20
BillK
Well-known member
Gus,
If the antenna is on the roof it really should be shielded from the lights pretty well by the metal siding. The first thing I would do is take a good look at your coax going to the antenna and make sure all of the connections are clean and secure.
Are you getting the noise on both AM and FM ? How about when listening to a tape ?
Is this a new problem or something that has always happened ?
If the antenna is on the roof it really should be shielded from the lights pretty well by the metal siding. The first thing I would do is take a good look at your coax going to the antenna and make sure all of the connections are clean and secure.
Are you getting the noise on both AM and FM ? How about when listening to a tape ?
Is this a new problem or something that has always happened ?
Well it doesn't cause problems when I listen to a tape or CD, just the radio. And I can flick the switch for the lights on and off and have static, no static. It's so bad that you can't even make out a channel, lights out, perfect. BUT in the evening when the sun goes down it gets better, almost instantly, like a switch has been turned on. But definitely better with lights out. But my coax was new when I put it in
chaosracing
Well-known member
The connection on the back of your radio is not shielded. That is more likely where your interference issue is coming into play. The interference will not affect the other functions of your receiver, just radio. And just because your cable is new does not mean that it has the proper shielding or have a break in the shielding.
bad_idea
Well-known member
Would LED fixtures solve the problem?
I replaced all the fluorescent lights in garage with LED. Love them, but they caused terrible interference on both AM and FM radio if radio was plugged in on same circuit as lights. Still some AM interference on different circuit,but tolerable.
Vegaman_Dan
Well-known member
I gave up on a radio and now just use an Amazon Echo Dot and a TV soundbar via bluetooth. Can have Alexa tune in to most local stations, and listen to podcasts without ever touching a button.
BillK
Well-known member
Gus,
Is this something that just started happening or has it come on gradually ? How long have you had the radio hooked up and was it ever ok ?
Is this something that just started happening or has it come on gradually ? How long have you had the radio hooked up and was it ever ok ?
Parrothead
Well-known member
I gave up on a radio and now just use an Amazon Echo Dot and a TV soundbar via bluetooth. Can have Alexa tune in to most local stations, and listen to podcasts without ever touching a button.
Yup! Much easier and no wires
killahog
Well-known member
I gave up on a radio and now just use an Amazon Echo Dot and a TV soundbar via bluetooth. Can have Alexa tune in to most local stations, and listen to podcasts without ever touching a button.
Does the Alexa connect via Wi Fi or use a cellular signal?
chaosracing
Well-known member
Alexa is WI FI
Hey guys! Been a while since I posted. But.... I am having problems getting good reception from my garage stereo. It's an older 70s radio 8 track receiver with a coax cable running to an old TV antenna on the roof. My garage has steel siding, insulated walls with sheetrock. I have 8, 8ft florescent lights on the ceiling. If I turn the lights off that ol stereo can pick up about anything on the ol dial for miles, and maybe even space shuttle conversations!!! Probably the best radio I've ever had. BUT, with a flick of the light switch, it's all gone accept for one local channel, that *****. Soooo... Is there any ideas I can try to get rid of the static? Maybe something that plugs into the wall that the stereo plugs in to? I don't know. Could really use some help! I'm gonna go insane! Thanks guys!
Hmmm... 8 track... Just light some candles and call it a day.
FWIW, I'm with the ballasts/bulb camp.
I am in the bad bulb/bad ballast camp
Bulbs are easiest to swap out test.
With some work you can do the test with one new bulb.
Start with the old one with the blackest end.
Most 8 foot fixtures are old enough to have the old style, tar, ballasts.
Home depot will have replacements.
Just match the wire colors.
Bulbs are easiest to swap out test.
With some work you can do the test with one new bulb.
Start with the old one with the blackest end.
Most 8 foot fixtures are old enough to have the old style, tar, ballasts.
Home depot will have replacements.
Just match the wire colors.
Last edited:
Well I have had this problem since I built the garage about 6 years ago. Lights were all new when I built it. The reason I have LIVED with it is because one of the two channels that came in was my favorite, the other was country. Well recently my station changed platforms, and now I can't stand it! So basically I have NOTHING! So yes, it has been a problem since new. Is there a way I could she'll the cable better?
BillK
Well-known member
Gus,
I am assuming these are FM stations ? If so they really should not be affected by the lights. AM is a different story for sure and the fact that it gets better at night makes me think that is what you are listening to ?
I am assuming these are FM stations ? If so they really should not be affected by the lights. AM is a different story for sure and the fact that it gets better at night makes me think that is what you are listening to ?
71goldss
Well-known member
I had the same static problem and was able to eliminate it by running Romex as antenna wire from the back of my receiver to outdoors under the roof eave. I don’t have it attached to an actual antenna, but rather spread the two wires at the roof end and attached to under the roof eave like you would a cheap indoor wire T-type FM antenna. Sounds Mickey Mouse, but it eliminated the static with the fluorescents on and it still gets great reception! Can’t imagine Romex would be better insulated than the your coax cable, but might be worth some experimentation on your part?
BillK
Well-known member
Do you have another radio you can try just for checking purposes ? Even a portable one ?
bad_idea
Well-known member
I'm ignorant and fumbling in the dark, but every now and then I find the light switch. So, here are your variables as I see them.
Radio - try a new fangle dangle radio plugged into the same outlet.
Circuit - plug the radio into a different outlet. If you have the same issue on all of the outlets run an extension cord to the house and see what that does.
Antennae - drag the radio into the driveway and see what signal you get.
Heres a dumb idea - have you tried listening to the radio in your car in the garage? Separate power source, separate antenna, well shielded radio.
Radio - try a new fangle dangle radio plugged into the same outlet.
Circuit - plug the radio into a different outlet. If you have the same issue on all of the outlets run an extension cord to the house and see what that does.
Antennae - drag the radio into the driveway and see what signal you get.
Heres a dumb idea - have you tried listening to the radio in your car in the garage? Separate power source, separate antenna, well shielded radio.