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Good outdoor omni-directional fm antenna ?

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James
Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 8:12 pm
Guest
Who makes a good outdoor, omni-directional fm antenna ?

I prefer to use RG6 as the lead in, and I definitely need an
omni-directional antenna.

Radio Shack used to make a dual element, folded dipole outside fm antenna,
but I don't find it on their website.

Thanks for any tips !!

James
 
Brenda Ann
Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 8:38 pm
Guest
"James" <no one@bellsouth.com> wrote in message
news:VL%zj.739$r76.270@bignews8.bellsouth.net...
Quote:
Who makes a good outdoor, omni-directional fm antenna ?

I prefer to use RG6 as the lead in, and I definitely need an
omni-directional antenna.

Radio Shack used to make a dual element, folded dipole outside fm antenna,
but I don't find it on their website.

Thanks for any tips !!

James

I'll probably get flamed here... but there is really no such thing as a good
omnidirectional FM antenna. None of them have any multipath rejection
whatsoever, and since multipath is most likely what you're trying to
alleviate, you're just as likely as not to end up with just as bad a signal
(stronger, yes, but no less garbled and noisy) as you would have with your
indoor antenna. In fact, a cheap pair of rabbit ears will usually outperform
one of those turnstiles, unless you live in a perfectly flat area with no
surrounding tall structures.
 
Burr
Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 9:43 pm
Guest
"Brenda Ann" <
Quote:

I'll probably get flamed here... but there is really no such thing as a
good omnidirectional FM antenna. None of them have any multipath
rejection whatsoever, and since multipath is most likely what you're
trying to alleviate, you're just as likely as not to end up with just as
bad a signal (stronger, yes, but no less garbled and noisy) as you would
have with your indoor antenna. In fact, a cheap pair of rabbit ears will
usually outperform one of those turnstiles, unless you live in a perfectly
flat area with no surrounding tall structures.




Flame, Flame & Flamed

Burr
 
Telamon
Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 10:58 pm
Guest
In article <fbudneLCpu8QE03anZ2dnUVZ_tqtnZ2d@giganews.com>,
"Brenda Ann" <brendad@shinbiro.com> wrote:

Quote:
"James" <no one@bellsouth.com> wrote in message
news:VL%zj.739$r76.270@bignews8.bellsouth.net...
Who makes a good outdoor, omni-directional fm antenna ?

I prefer to use RG6 as the lead in, and I definitely need an
omni-directional antenna.

Radio Shack used to make a dual element, folded dipole outside fm antenna,
but I don't find it on their website.

Thanks for any tips !!

James

I'll probably get flamed here... but there is really no such thing as a good
omnidirectional FM antenna. None of them have any multipath rejection
whatsoever, and since multipath is most likely what you're trying to
alleviate, you're just as likely as not to end up with just as bad a signal
(stronger, yes, but no less garbled and noisy) as you would have with your
indoor antenna. In fact, a cheap pair of rabbit ears will usually outperform
one of those turnstiles, unless you live in a perfectly flat area with no
surrounding tall structures.

No flames. The radio shack antenna is a turnstile. Basically two folded
dipoles at 90 degrees to each other with cross feed.

--
Telamon
Ventura, California
 
JBorg, Jr.
Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 12:16 am
Guest
Quote:
Brenda Ann wrote:
James wrote


Who makes a good outdoor, omni-directional fm antenna ?

I prefer to use RG6 as the lead in, and I definitely need an
omni-directional antenna.

Radio Shack used to make a dual element, folded dipole outside fm
antenna, but I don't find it on their website.

Thanks for any tips !!

James

I'll probably get flamed here... but there is really no such thing as
a good omnidirectional FM antenna. None of them have any multipath
rejection whatsoever, and since multipath is most likely what you're
trying to alleviate, you're just as likely as not to end up with just
as bad a signal (stronger, yes, but no less garbled and noisy) as you
would have with your indoor antenna. In fact, a cheap pair of rabbit
ears will usually outperform one of those turnstiles, unless you live
in a perfectly flat area with no surrounding tall structures.


A few years ago, I bought a Cambridge Tuner that came with flexible
dipole (wire) antenna. I also bought a Magnum Dynalab - ST-2 FM
Omnidirectional Antenna shown here:

http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=MDST2

Guess what, indoor, the flexible dipole beats the ST-2 hands down in
everyway. No contest.

Two weeks later, the APS-13 antenna I have ordered arrived.

http://www.antennaperformance.com/


Then went to Fry's and bought a rotor with wire-dial control, a
pole (2) and RG6 cable (I'm sure) at high-end store. Then installed
them on the roof by fastening on the chimney and came down to listen.

If there is such thing as miracle on the roof, THIS is IT.

I caught so many stations that I begun to loose count after 105.
I first started listing them one at the time earnestly for the next 4 or 5
days, and then got tired. If I turn the antenna's rotor using the control
at, say, 180 degrees, I'd get an altogether different station -- in the
same dial! They're all clear except when it's overcast. The stations
that comes clear nearby, comes clearer. I get stations from as far as
75 to 100 miles and perhaps farther than I care to know. I dreaded it
each time I came accross and saw this (unfinished) list 'cause I feel
guilty. I really don't wanna do that anymore.
 
dave
Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 10:16 am
Guest
Brenda Ann wrote:
Quote:
"James" <no one@bellsouth.com> wrote in message
news:VL%zj.739$r76.270@bignews8.bellsouth.net...
Who makes a good outdoor, omni-directional fm antenna ?

I prefer to use RG6 as the lead in, and I definitely need an
omni-directional antenna.

Radio Shack used to make a dual element, folded dipole outside fm antenna,
but I don't find it on their website.

Thanks for any tips !!

James

I'll probably get flamed here... but there is really no such thing as a good
omnidirectional FM antenna. None of them have any multipath rejection
whatsoever, and since multipath is most likely what you're trying to
alleviate, you're just as likely as not to end up with just as bad a signal
(stronger, yes, but no less garbled and noisy) as you would have with your
indoor antenna. In fact, a cheap pair of rabbit ears will usually outperform
one of those turnstiles, unless you live in a perfectly flat area with no
surrounding tall structures.



CP FM has inherent multipath rejection. I have a 4 element slightly

directional Winegard FM only antenna pointing South. I stll get
stations from all around, but I can get virtually every FM station in
Los Angeles and San Diego quite nicely.
 
GregS
Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 10:57 am
Guest
In article <13t2ji1getopq77@corp.supernews.com>, dave <nothere@nowhere.com> wrote:
Quote:
Brenda Ann wrote:
"James" <no one@bellsouth.com> wrote in message
news:VL%zj.739$r76.270@bignews8.bellsouth.net...
Who makes a good outdoor, omni-directional fm antenna ?

I prefer to use RG6 as the lead in, and I definitely need an
omni-directional antenna.

Radio Shack used to make a dual element, folded dipole outside fm antenna,
but I don't find it on their website.

Thanks for any tips !!

James

I'll probably get flamed here... but there is really no such thing as a good
omnidirectional FM antenna. None of them have any multipath rejection
whatsoever, and since multipath is most likely what you're trying to
alleviate, you're just as likely as not to end up with just as bad a signal
(stronger, yes, but no less garbled and noisy) as you would have with your
indoor antenna. In fact, a cheap pair of rabbit ears will usually outperform
one of those turnstiles, unless you live in a perfectly flat area with no
surrounding tall structures.



CP FM has inherent multipath rejection. I have a 4 element slightly
directional Winegard FM only antenna pointing South. I stll get
stations from all around, but I can get virtually every FM station in
Los Angeles and San Diego quite nicely.

Without a doubt, a good Yagi on a rotator is best. I wonder
what the cheapest rotator is these days ?

Tandy quit making their rotatable outside RV antenna. It was not
sold at Radio Shack. Radio Shack does have a similar looking round unit
that does not have the motor.
The thing that might be nice is like the old antennas
that used a multiple transmission line going to a box that selected
element pairs for directional control. You can also do this using two
antennas. I bought an RCA unit that went bust. Its an amplified
little square box I lay on the roof. Works pretty well.

I remember my grandparents had different TV antennas and knife switches
for different channels.

greg
 
Mark Zenier
Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 1:09 pm
Guest
In article <uk3Aj.8063$Mh2.6743@nlpi069.nbdc.sbc.com>,
JBorg, Jr. <EddieM@yahooandhotmail.com> wrote:
....
Quote:
Then went to Fry's and bought a rotor with wire-dial control, a
pole (2) and RG6 cable (I'm sure) at high-end store. Then installed
them on the roof by fastening on the chimney and came down to listen.

If there is such thing as miracle on the roof, THIS is IT.

I caught so many stations that I begun to loose count after 105.
I first started listing them one at the time earnestly for the next 4 or 5
days, and then got tired. If I turn the antenna's rotor using the control
at, say, 180 degrees, I'd get an altogether different station -- in the
same dial! They're all clear except when it's overcast. The stations
that comes clear nearby, comes clearer. I get stations from as far as
75 to 100 miles and perhaps farther than I care to know. I dreaded it
each time I came accross and saw this (unfinished) list 'cause I feel
guilty. I really don't wanna do that anymore.

Let the FCC computer make the list for you. Get your latitude/longitude
in Degrees/Minutes/Seconds notation and go to the FCC web site
(www.fcc.gov), link to the Media Bureau section and find the license
database search page for FM. (They have ones for TV and AM, too).

Enter in your location and the maximum distance, and the search page
will give you a list of the stations (in a bunch of different formats).
The lists give the bearing and distance to each station from your
location.


Mark Zenier mzenier@eskimo.com
Googleproofaddress(account:mzenier provider:eskimo domain:com)
 
dizzy
Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:08 pm
Guest
JBorg, Jr. wrote:

Quote:
Guess what, indoor, the flexible dipole beats the ST-2 hands down in
everyway. No contest.

I've always had fine performance from the cheap wire dipoles. I tried
one of the RS omni-directionals once (looks like an X made of 3'
oblong loops), and was not impressed.
 
dave
Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 8:23 pm
Guest
Mark Zenier wrote:
Quote:
In article <uk3Aj.8063$Mh2.6743@nlpi069.nbdc.sbc.com>,
JBorg, Jr. <EddieM@yahooandhotmail.com> wrote:
...
Then went to Fry's and bought a rotor with wire-dial control, a
pole (2) and RG6 cable (I'm sure) at high-end store. Then installed
them on the roof by fastening on the chimney and came down to listen.

If there is such thing as miracle on the roof, THIS is IT.

I caught so many stations that I begun to loose count after 105.
I first started listing them one at the time earnestly for the next 4 or 5
days, and then got tired. If I turn the antenna's rotor using the control
at, say, 180 degrees, I'd get an altogether different station -- in the
same dial! They're all clear except when it's overcast. The stations
that comes clear nearby, comes clearer. I get stations from as far as
75 to 100 miles and perhaps farther than I care to know. I dreaded it
each time I came accross and saw this (unfinished) list 'cause I feel
guilty. I really don't wanna do that anymore.

Let the FCC computer make the list for you. Get your latitude/longitude
in Degrees/Minutes/Seconds notation and go to the FCC web site
(www.fcc.gov), link to the Media Bureau section and find the license
database search page for FM. (They have ones for TV and AM, too).

Enter in your location and the maximum distance, and the search page
will give you a list of the stations (in a bunch of different formats).
The lists give the bearing and distance to each station from your
location.


Mark Zenier mzenier@eskimo.com
Googleproofaddress(account:mzenier provider:eskimo domain:com)


www.fccinfo.com is easier
 
JBorg, Jr.
Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 3:38 am
Guest
Quote:
dave wrote:
Mark Zenier wrote:



Let the FCC computer make the list for you. Get your
latitude/longitude in Degrees/Minutes/Seconds notation and go to the
FCC web site (www.fcc.gov), link to the Media Bureau section and
find the license database search page for FM. (They have ones for
TV and AM, too). Enter in your location and the maximum distance, and the
search page
will give you a list of the stations (in a bunch of different
formats). The lists give the bearing and distance to each station
from your location.


www.fccinfo.com is easier


Thanks Mark & dave, that's interesting and I'll look into it.
 
JBorg, Jr.
Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 3:49 am
Guest
Quote:
dizzy wrote:
JBorg, Jr. wrote:

Guess what, indoor, the flexible dipole beats the ST-2 hands down in
everyway. No contest.

I've always had fine performance from the cheap wire dipoles. I tried
one of the RS omni-directionals once (looks like an X made of 3'
oblong loops), and was not impressed.

Making these toy-like, table-top and wall mounted antennas to work is as
rewarding as giving lessons to teach a baboon the fine art of French
cuisine. Compared to an outdoor, roof-top well-designed yagis with
rotor, these mini-omnidirectionals are like pinworms contending with
anacondas.


Go DXing !
 
JBorg, Jr.
Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 3:53 am
Guest
Quote:
GregS wrote:



Without a doubt, a good Yagi on a rotator is best. I wonder
what the cheapest rotator is these days ?

Not sure about cheapest, I paid about 45 bucks for mine at Fry's
Electronics. It's well-built and obviously weather resistant. Still
working to this day.


Go DXing !
 
dave
Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 8:56 am
Guest
JBorg, Jr. wrote:
Quote:
dizzy wrote:
JBorg, Jr. wrote:

Guess what, indoor, the flexible dipole beats the ST-2 hands down in
everyway. No contest.
I've always had fine performance from the cheap wire dipoles. I tried
one of the RS omni-directionals once (looks like an X made of 3'
oblong loops), and was not impressed.

Making these toy-like, table-top and wall mounted antennas to work is as
rewarding as giving lessons to teach a baboon the fine art of French
cuisine. Compared to an outdoor, roof-top well-designed yagis with
rotor, these mini-omnidirectionals are like pinworms contending with
anacondas.


Go DXing !


When Sporadic E happens almost anything will give you a catch. There's

nothing wrong with a folded dipole tacked to an outside wall, especially
in a higher-up room or apartment, if that's all you can do.
 
Earl Kiosterud...
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 5:01 pm
Guest
"James" <no one at (no spam) bellsouth.com> wrote in message
news:VL%zj.739$r76.270 at (no spam) bignews8.bellsouth.net...
Quote:
Who makes a good outdoor, omni-directional fm antenna ?

I prefer to use RG6 as the lead in, and I definitely need an omni-directional antenna.

Radio Shack used to make a dual element, folded dipole outside fm antenna, but I don't
find it on their website.

Thanks for any tips !!

James


If you want to save some money, you can make your own omni. Take two pieces of heavy copper
wire, about 30" each, and extend them in opposite directions. You could also use small
copper pipe or something like that if you don't want to use wire. Take two more and do the
same at 90°. Take about a 20" piece of RG6 or RG59 and connect the two dipoles together.
Your downlead will also be RG6 or RG59, attached across one dipole or the other. Put a
couple of loops, around 10" in diameter, in the downlead near the antenna. I have two of
them in my attic, one on a splitter driving two FM radios. Works great.
--
Earl
 
 
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