Terrible Radio Signal

[bad_idea]

I have a tv antenna approximately 1' wide x 2.5' long in the rafters of my 30x40x12 detached garage. Garage is 2x6 studded with trusses and osb roof decking with architectural shingles. Coax runs from the antenna to the radio. The signal is ok in good weather and **** on a cloudy day. Should I ground the antenna? Point the antenna a specific way? Some other witch craft? Thanks all.

 

[jbilow]

Is it an amplified antenna? If won't needs to be pointed at a tower. If it's not amplified it doesn't so there could be something obstructing the signal. Depends on a lot of variables. If your antenna has a power supply it's amplified. If you still have issues PM me and I might be able to help.

 

[SGKent]

how far are you from the transmitter?

 

[gungatim]

need to know more, what kind of antenna is it?

a directional antenna can be pointed toward the transmitter, omnidirectinals won't make any difference.

how old/long has it been there? was it always like that? coax could have a bad connection somewhere, feed point, or chewed through by a rodent, that is the first thing to check is the coax...

if it is amplified, try unplugging the amp. I've had more than a few amplified tv antenna's that the amp went bad and actually ruined the signal with interference when plugged in.

also you may have already noticed, but within the last month or so, many channels in many areas changed transmit frequencies, and everyone should have done a re-scan on their tv tuners. the new frequencies may not be picked up as well with your current antenna location. the FCC and TV stations did a HORRIBLE job communicating this, I hear people every week complaining they "lost" channel so and so...a rescan fixes it and possibly rotating the antenna as well.

 

[BigGarage]

I have a tv antenna approximately 1' wide x 2.5' long in the rafters of my 30x40x12 detached garage. Garage is 2x6 studded with trusses and osb roof decking with architectural shingles. Coax runs from the antenna to the radio. The signal is ok in good weather and **** on a cloudy day. Should I ground the antenna? Point the antenna a specific way? Some other witch craft? Thanks all.

Are you trying to get a tv picture or reception on a radio?

Dennis

 

[930dreamer]

I ran my antenna outside for my shop stereo for the best reception.

 

[bad_idea]

how far are you from the transmitter?

Not really sure. The station comes in clear in my car. They are on the Outer Banks and I am about 50 miles away in Elizabeth City.

need to know more, what kind of antenna is it?

A tv antenna I got off of Amazon that I planned to put in the attic of the house for tv reception but never got around to.

how old/long has it been there?

About a year, just built the garage. Signal has been worse since I hooked electrical up in the garage - was running the radio off of an extension cord before.

Are you trying to get a tv picture or reception on a radio?

Dennis

reception on a radio.

At my last house I had a bigger, nicer antenna in the attic for tv. It had a hookup labeled for radio reception. This one doesn't have a specific port for radio, I just hooked it to the coax connection on the antenna.

My radio setup is a bit unique. I have made a drawer on my workbench that the drawer face is the lower right dash panel out a 79 Camaro. The radio is controlled by an ignition switch from a 70 CJ mounted on a panel attached to the side of the drawer. There is a 12VDC power supply in the drawer that supplies power to the radio. The output of the radio goes to an amplifier that drives the speakers. I cut the antenna cable from a car and put a standard coax connector on the end of it. Then ran coax from there to the antenna.

The radio picked up plenty of signals in the last house. The only change has been I moved 60 miles and am using a different antenna.

Edited to add pictures of radio setup. These are older pictures before I added the key switch and the amp, but you get the idea.

 

[Innovate1]

I'm guessing this is FM radio? Shingles are pretty lossy for radio signals and probably more so when wet.

It would help to post a link to the antenna and a sketch of the building, where the antenna is, look up where the transmitting antenna is for the station of most interest,etc.

If the signal is worse since you wired the garage try turning off circuits one at a time until the reception improves. Sounds like something in the garage is causing electrical noise - maybe the lights.

 

[In The Doghouse]

I would first try rotating the antenna. If it is directional it needs to be pointed in the direction of the transmitter.

 

[bad_idea]

FM signal. I installed 20 T8 4' LED fixtures.

Link to the antenna I installed: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ZI9LWS2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'm out of town for work right now, so I don't have access to the garage to actively troubleshoot.

 

[bad_idea]

I just looked at google maps and I have the antenna pointed northwest and the radio station is east of me! I do believe my antenna is directional (I really am not very sharp with electronics), so that might be my issue.

 

[yatg]

Get an FM antenna.

 

[SGKent]

I remember as a kid building an antenna with my dad in the attic of our house in EC. We were about 10 miles from the air station where he was the aviation electronics officer and SAR. 50 miles will require the antenna pointing right at the station within a few degrees. Use a map and compass to figure the appx direction then have someone listen to the radio while you turn the antenna. Check all the wire to be sure it isn't damaged.

 

[BukitCase]

That antenna is DEFINITELY directional, and a poor choice for FM - from the very first answered question -
"Will this antenna pick up the lower channels too like 2 4 and 5? Some say certain antennas aren't designed for the lower channels
Answer:
This is a UHF antenna so it will pick up UHF channels 14 and above very well. It will pick up channels 7 - 13 (VHF-high) fairly well but not nearly as well as UHF. It can pick up channels 2 - 6 (VHF-low) but only if they are pretty strong signals. As others have said, you need to find out the real channel behind the v"

Translation - the FM band lies between VHF low and VHF high, and that antenna is mainly UHF (MUCH higher frequency waves) - plus, unless you have the room in your attic to point it directly at the station (as previously mentioned) it will be even LESS effective.

If, by some stroke of luck, your house is either perpendicular to the station's direction or parallel to it, it'd be easier and probably better to mount one of the simple 300 ohm twinlead "antennas" that used to come with just about every TV or stereo, tied to roof trusses so it's perpendicular to the direction of the station you want - or you could MAKE one pretty simple if you can find twinlead any more -

But, if FM is ALL you're interested in, you'd be better off with something like this
https://www.amazon.com/gp/slredirec...2289777&id=5406691449236738&widgetName=sp_mtf

Basically, ANYTHING you get should mention VHF because the two bands of VHF are the "bread", the "meat" in that "sandwich" is the FM band -

Before I'd spend any more on an antenna tho, I would re-orient yours so it's actually POINTING at your favorite station and see how well it works ... Steve

 

[SGKent]

I might add, FM in the USA is between the old TV stations 6 and 7. Those are the middle length elements on an old TV antenna. That said the optimal length (width) for a quarterband FM radio antenna element is about 5' combined, with each side being 29" to 30". A 12" element is way too short.

Also Elizabeth City is flat, so are the Outerbanks. A 50 mile distance is going to be harder to get on an antenna that is designed for too high a frequency. The length of the elements resonates with the frequency. A simple dipole antenna made from 300 ohm wire may indeed work better than that antenna. Try using a pair of rabbit ears and see if that works better. It will answer your question.

We live in a suburb of Sacramento now. In my attic I have a omni-directional dedicated FM antenna with a 300 ohm downlead. It struggles to pick up stations that are more than about 40 miles. There is no metal in the roof.

 

[Copymutt]

Since you mentioned LEDs, they are first in line of culprits. Kill the circuit to them and see what happens. Unfortunately I don’t know of a fix for this.

 

[23ford]

Nowdays Radio and Tv require different antennas.........Especially if this is an HD unit.
In the old days we could use a coat hanger and get excellent reception. You can get a cheap radio antenna from several sources and they work great.

 

[Chukster]

Two good websites:

tvfool.com

fmfool.com

Try them.

 

[bad_idea]

Two good websites:

tvfool.com

fmfool.com

Try them.

According to fmfool.com, I am 26.6 miles from the station. Thank you for the link.

I will research 300 ohm dipole wire and twinlead wire. I am very ignorant to antennas. Thank you for the help you all.

 

[BukitCase]

Before you buy ANYTHING else, I'd STRONGLY recommend pointing the antenna you already HAVE in the right DIRECTION - at that distance, it might be as much improvement as necessary... Steve

 

[bad_idea]

Before you buy ANYTHING else, I'd STRONGLY recommend pointing the antenna you already HAVE in the right DIRECTION - at that distance, it might be as much improvement as necessary... Steve

You are talking to a cheap SOB here, there is NO need to suggest that.

I'll be home from this job in a few weeks and that will be one of my first projects. I am too cheap to get a radio with bluetooth to play music from my phone, so the radio is my only source of music. GOT to have music in the shop while I'm out there.

 

[CJ7VFR]

Does the reception on your current radio that you are using in your shop get better when you touch the antenna? Some radios do this when you touch or grab onto them.

Jim

 

[NUTTSGT]

Since you mentioned LEDs, they are first in line of culprits. Kill the circuit to them and see what happens. Unfortunately I don’t know of a fix for this.

Yep, first thing to try.

 

[bad_idea]

Does the reception on your current radio that you are using in your shop get better when you touch the antenna? Some radios do this when you touch or grab onto them.

Jim

It does. Does that indicate an issue that can be easily fixed? Or do I need to get my wife out there to hold the antenna while I work out in the shop?

 

[Darryl2]

Some led bulbs emit so much electromagnetic interference that they can kill radio reception. Turn off all led fixtures, aim your antenna toward the source and see if your situation improves.

Installed led’s on my boat that killed my radio reception completely when turned on. Manufacturer redesigned the bulbs and sent replacements.

Installed led’s in our kitchen and started noticing that garage door remotes would sometimes only work at extreme close range. Discovered that it only happened when the led lights were on. Went to a newer opener technology to fix that one.

 

[bad_idea]

UPDATE - I aimed the antenna at the station with minimal effect. I shut the lights off and no effect on signal. I am now looking into a dedicated FM antenna.

 

[Jazz1]

I moved my antennae outside on last radio for reception. Current radio just has a wire that is tacked high on the wall, running it out the wall and fastening to leaves trough would make a huge improvement

 

[Docbentley]

Sirius XM

 

[Bert_]

Some TV antennas even have an fm trap. Meaning it will kill off any fm signal.

Lots of people recommend a dipole antenna made from twin lead. I've never been overly impressed with those. I have made an FM loop antenna and have been pretty happy with it. It's just like the old UHF loop antennas found on the back of a TV but bigger since fm is lower frequency.

Just because it's called a loop doesn't mean it has to be round. I made one from scrap PVC and some 14 gauge wire. This antenna has 75 ohm impedance. Technically the antenna is balanced and 75 ohm coax is unbalanced but since 75 - 75 ohm baluns aren't real common I just tied to coax directly to the antenna and it works pretty well.

 

[Git]

I don't mean to change the subject - but if you have internet to your garage, I just use iHeart radio streamed to a Bluetooth speaker from my computer or other internet device

https://www.iheart.com/for-you/

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Sirius XM

That reminds me. I have to call them Monday. Mrs. LS6 just told me she got a bill for $300 a year. That's BS. Give us the 6 months for $4.99 on both cars, like on the ads you keep sending me in the mail and I might keep it.

Tommy

 

[SundayFunday]

Not really sure. The station comes in clear in my car. They are on the Outer Banks and I am about 50 miles away in Elizabeth City.


The radio picked up plenty of signals in the last house. The only change has been I moved 60 miles and am using a different antenna.

If this is a car radio and the stations come in in your car, is this as easy as getting a car antenna?
What kind of antenna did you use at the last house?

 

[SGKent]

we got rid of XM - sirius years ago when Sirius bought them. Totally unhappy with quality vs price. They now own Pandora too but that is what we listen to mostly when we listen to radio. I believe that Spotify is the most listened to now. I used to keep an AM/FM radio in the garage but it was 99% commercials, and the audio bandwidth went to heck when the FCC narrowed the bandwidth between stations. Someone put it very well when they said - "the radio industry has killed AM, FM, FM stereo, TV, and even cable with so many commercials. They are working on killing satellite & Internet radio now. You can't even see windows in buses anymore because of the ad wrap they have on them."

 

[MikeinNorthWales]

That reminds me. I have to call them Monday. Mrs. LS6 just told me she got a bill for $300 a year. That's BS. Give us the 6 months for $4.99 on both cars, like on the ads you keep sending me in the mail and I might keep it.

Tommy

Yep. I call them every year. They cut the bill in half when you tell them to turn it off. This year I even got a free Amazon Dot spy device!

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Yep. I call them every year. They cut the bill in half when you tell them to turn it off. This year I even got a free Amazon Dot spy device!

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

I actually let mine expire in my car, but I wasn't in a rush to call until Mrs. LS6 showed me the invoice she got for the auto renew for hers.

Tommy

 

[bad_idea]

If this is a car radio and the stations come in in your car, is this as easy as getting a car antenna?
What kind of antenna did you use at the last house?

The thought hadn't occurred to me. Really hadn't. I bet I even have one in a bin somewhere out in the garage.

In the last house I had an antenna like the one pictured below in the attic:

 

[Bert_]

The thought hadn't occurred to me. Really hadn't. I bet I even have one in a bin somewhere out in the garage.

In the last house I had an antenna like the one pictured below in the attic:

The whip of a car antenna is only half the antenna. The sheet metal is the ground plane that makes the other half.

 

[dcg9381]

I ran my antenna outside for my shop stereo for the best reception.

TV here, but same thing. Getting outside the building made a huge difference. OP - if you have any sort of metallic reflective shield on your roof, this might be your huckleberry.