Q I am getting a new home-theater receiver. My wife said, "Please tell me this one will have better radio reception." I didn't think I could control this. I did a search and came upon your column about using basic rabbit ears for FM reception and how amazed people were by the results. How, exactly, do I attach the rabbit ears? My receiver will have just the two springs to insert the two lead bar wires, which are attached to some plastic circle with a stand. Also, with this solution, can I still get AM stations?
DOUG REILLY, Chicago
A I am not surprised your wife was disappointed by your previous receiver's FM performance. Poor FM reception is typical for new receivers, and it has been that way for the past 15 years. When manufacturers started adding home-theater features such as more channels and surround modes, they started paying less attention to the tuners and other hi-fi features to cut costs and keep prices about the same.
Fortunately, a good antenna makes a world of difference no matter what kind of radio transmission you are attempting to receive.
An ordinary $10 set of unamplified VHF rabbit ears makes one of the best FM antennas. Most rabbit ears have an adapter that provides two flat spades that attach to screw terminals on the back of older TVs. To connect the antenna to the receiver use the adapter and put the spade ends into the spring connectors. You can also clip off the spaces and strip the wires if you want a cleaner-looking connection.
AM tuning requires a separate antenna from the rabbit ears. Please note that the "plastic circle with a stand" you describe is the AM antenna that is typically shipped with receivers. If you were using it with the FM terminals, it is another reason your receiver performed poorly, because it is not optimized to receive FM signals.
The FM antenna included with receivers is usually a long wire that terminates in split leads that make a T shape. It is called a dipole antenna, and the rabbit ears will dramatically outperform it.
Why so many boxes?
Q If cable customers have an up-to-date TV with a digital tuner, why do they need one box for every TV in the house? Why can't the cable company provide one box as the cable enters the house that serves all of its TVs?
JOE CAMPBELL
A In a sense, the functionality you describe is already available with the Cablecard system. Compatible TVs are labeled "Digital Cable Ready." The customer contacts the cable company to obtain a Cablecard, which is inserted into the TV to access subscription channels. There is a monthly fee for the Cablecard, but it is less than a cable box. But Cablecard has seen poor market acceptance and is widely considered a flop.
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FAQs
The FM antenna included with receivers is usually a long wire that terminates in split leads that make a T shape. It is called a dipole antenna, and the rabbit ears will dramatically outperform it.
What type of antenna is best for FM radio? ›
You can buy a pair of "rabbit ears" from Radio Shack for around $10. Radio Bob Tip: Don't bother with other indoor antennas that do NOT have a pair of unsightly long rods with them. Circular, ash-tray sized and other types of indoor antennas are meant for UHF television and won't work very will with an FM radio.
How to improve FM radio reception in car? ›
Try relocating the antenna to the center of the roof or on the hood of the car, away from any metal objects that may cause interference. Use a signal amplifier: An FM signal amplifier can help boost weak signals and improve the overall sound quality of your radio.
Which is better rabbit ears or flat antenna? ›
While these two types of indoor OTA antennas look very different, the truth is that they are essentially identical in terms of usefulness in the modern broadcasting world.
What type of antenna is required for FM reception? ›
Even though a common outdoor television antenna may, in a few instances, provide acceptable results, antennas specifically designed to receive the FM broadcast band, generally 88 MHz to 108 MHz, are the most effective for FM reception.
What is the ideal antenna length for FM? ›
For example, the common quarter-wave whip antennas used on FM radios in the USA are approximately 75 cm (2.5 feet) long, which is roughly one-quarter the length of radio waves in the FM radio band, which are 2.78 to 3.41 m (9 to 11 feet) long.
Does length of FM antenna matter? ›
Antennas rely on size to be effective. This includes their height and length. However, bigger isn't necessarily better. For example, taller antennas don't always have greater range than shorter ones.
Can TV antenna be used for FM receiver? ›
It depends on the TV antenna. If it has elements (rods) that are around 30 inches long and longer, it is built for "low-band" VHF TV Channels 2-6, as well as channels above that. Since the FM band is just above the old Channel 6, the antenna should work for FM too.
What is the best frequency for an FM station? ›
Usually 87.5 to 108.0 MHz is used, or some portion of it, with few exceptions: In the former Soviet republics, and some former Eastern Bloc countries, the older 65.8–74 MHz band is also used. Assigned frequencies are at intervals of 30 kHz.
What is the best FM signal for a FM transmitter? ›
What are the best frequencies for an FM transmitter? If you want everyone to hear your boradcasts, or at least as many people as possible, use the 88–108 MHz band, that's where all the commercially made, personal radio receivers work and all the commercial broadcast radios work.
A station having a low-powered transmitter can cause reception problems, as well as a station that is a distance from where you are and the signal loses stamina by the time it reaches you. Verify the antenna lead is connected to the antenna jack on the rear of the car stereo receiver and that the connection is secure.
Does aluminum foil improve radio reception? ›
Yes, wrapping an antenna in aluminum foil can sometimes improve signal strength by reducing interference. The foil can act as a reflector, focusing the signal and blocking out other interfering signals.
Do FM antenna boosters work? ›
An antenna booster is a powered unit that boosts the signal by a specific amount before it reaches the head unit. For instance, an FM booster may increase the gain on signals it receives by 15 dB, which may mean the difference between spotty, in-and-out reception, and an unwavering signal input at the head unit.
What can be used as FM antenna? ›
It is possible to use a CB antenna for FM radio. Some people like doing this to avoid having too many antennas or to keep things tidy in a vehicle or other place.
Will a digital TV antenna work for FM radio? ›
Yes. You can quite happily. Although a TV antenna is optimised for high VHF and low UHF frequencies, they are capable of picking up broadcast FM frequencies well enough. It is common to find many TV aerial installations wired to a dual FM/TV faceplate allowing you to plug a flylead into your FM receiver/tuner.
