FM antenna?

[ilovesocks]

I saw these Terk antennas at Best Buy and was wondering if they were any good. I need a good indoor FM antenna (AM doesn't matter) so I was considering the FM+. If these are washes, could someone recommend a good compact FM antenna? And maybe a tuner if you really want to go wild. I'd like to plug it into my Firewire Audiophile and listen while I'm at the computer, so the tuner will need a mini or RCA line-out.

Thanks!

 

[Welly Wu]

I got the TERK FM 4000 Edge Dual Drive Amplifier Circuitry antenna which uses a 120 volt USA wallwart and a 75 Ohm coaxial connection to the back of my Tivoli Audio Model One AM/FM radio. It works great and I can pull in my favorite FM stations that usually don't come in very strong at all with this TERK antenna. TERK has a good reputation for building affordable, stylish, and effective antennas along with having robust distribution channels such as BestBuy. I recommend that one for an indoor FM antenna.

I'm all getting into radio big time. Still looking for a multi-band AM/FM/LW/SW/DRM/DAB/iBiquity HD/Sirius/XM radio at a reasonable price!

You should check out these magazines: Monitoring Times, CQ Amateur Radio, Popular Communications. You might also want to check out this book called Passport to World Band Radio 2005 edition.

 

[wrhawk]

I second what Welly said; you want to be looking for a powered antenna. I worked at Circuit City for a year and founf that some of the powered terks were the only antennas capable of getting a worthwhile signal amongst the abounding electrical interference and thick concrete back in my audio dept. And assuming things haven't changed much, it shouldn't break the bank. I know there's a decent price spread between the different available models, so if you've got the resources, i'd recommend getting one of each and figuring out which performs best for the money. Let us know what you land on and why. Happy hunting.

-Will

 

[ilovesocks]

Well, I got a Terk "Edge" powered FM antenna, and it works much better than the "T" thing that came with my stereo. Now I just need a tuner. I'm hoping to spend less than $50, and I'd prefer digital. Is it possible to get a good one with that budget? I've found several cheap ones on ebay.

 

[sgrossklass]

I'm a bit partial to Onkyos - try a T-4017, T-4150, or the successor T-4500 if it's still within the budget. Stay away from the T-4057 and T-4015 models though, too little tuna for the money.

 

[Welly Wu]

If you are looking for a less expensive and simpler FM Antenna, then I would also recommend you look at this one: http://www.ccrane.com/fm-reflect-antenna.aspx . It is called the FM Reflect FM Antenna and this thing pulls in very distant and weaker FM stations like nothing else in its price category. I might just poney up the money to give it a try sometime soon.

 

[sgrossklass]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Welly Wu [...] and this thing pulls in very distant and weaker FM stations like nothing else in its price category.

Err... what about the IIRC equally (in)expensive Radio Shack yagi? Provided you have the space for one, of course, but then it'll certainly beat the CCrane thing hands down (a dipole can only do so much in terms of directionality). Simulation results and improvements of the RS yagi.

 

[Welly Wu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilovesocks I saw these Terk antennas at Best Buy and was wondering if they were any good. I need a good indoor FM antenna (AM doesn't matter) so I was considering the FM+. If these are washes, could someone recommend a good compact FM antenna? And maybe a tuner if you really want to go wild. I'd like to plug it into my Firewire Audiophile and listen while I'm at the computer, so the tuner will need a mini or RCA line-out. Thanks!

Quote:

Originally posted by sgrosskloss Err... what about the IIRC equally (in)expensive Radio Shack yagi? Provided you have the space for one, of course, but then it'll certainly beat the CCrane thing hands down (a dipole can only do so much in terms of directionality). Simulation results and improvements of the RS yagi.

sgrossklass:

Read ilovesocks' original post thoroughly. The Radio Shack http://www.radioshack.com/product.as...5Fid=15%2D2163
is a large external FM antenna. It is not what ilovesocks is looking for.