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#1
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Radio reception, fm,am
Awl--
I posted some time ago regarding the tuning circuitry of car radios vs. home radios/stereos. I had long noticed much superior tuning in car radios over my home radios. Several apparently knowledgeable people on a few radio ngs confirmed this, even explained it, altho this went over my head. So based on this assumption of tuning superiority, I went to *great lengths* to remove a very nice 6-speaker stereo from a car I'm junking (1990 Mazda 929S--nice car, too, seen better days), to hook up in my shop, so I can listen to some decent radio, instead of brain-killing Reality TV. *Finally* accomplished said task, and, big big bummer, the reception of the car radio in my shop/garage is even worse than my home radios/stereos! Yet, this *same radio*, when I used to park the car this very same garage, had great reception. Whazzup???? And, in general, what can I do about this reception problem, since it appears that a car stereo is not the immediate solution? I have a 100 foot tree outside, and I'm thinking of climbing it and putting some kind of antenna at the top. If I did this, what would be the best thing to put up there, for as much reception as I can get: fm, am, TV, whatever else is oscillating up there. What is the problem here, and in much of the NYC area?. No valleys, and I am even on a bit of a hill, about 10 mi. from Manhattan. What are my options? Preferably simple/cheap options, but at this point, I'll try pretty much anything. When I was a kid (in NYC), I calculated wavelengths, etc, and had antennas "cut to size" for the various FM stations I was listening to, in all kinds of orientations. Musta had about 30 antennas taped up in my room. It was hilarious, BUT I got good reception, and LOTS of stations! Those same dipole-type antennas are near-useless here. TIA. -- ------ Mr. P.V.'d (formerly Droll Troll), Yonkers, NY Stop Corruption in Congress & Send the Ultimate Message: Absolutely Vote, but NOT for a Democrat or a Republican. Ending Corruption in Congress is the *Single Best Way* to Materially Improve Your Family's Life. The Solution is so simple--and inexpensive! entropic3.14decay at optonline2.718 dot net; remove pi and e to reply--ie, all d'numbuhs |
#2
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Radio reception, fm,am
Proctologically Violated©® wrote:
... *Finally* accomplished said task, and, big big bummer, the reception of the car radio in my shop/garage is even worse than my home radios/stereos! Yet, this *same radio*, when I used to park the car this very same garage, had great reception. ... Been decades since I have taken a car radio and placed it in a cabinet with its' own speaker(s), power supply, etc. and created a "Miracle Kludge." However, if I remember correctly, I found the same as you, poor reception--until I tuned the antenna adjusting capacitor (was a hole on the back of the radio turned with a screw driver.) It then turned out to be the most sensitive am set I ever owned (well, for one without a long-wire antenna attached.) The antenna is part of an "antenna system" of which, the car body is a part with much influence ... ditch the car body and you have to readjust the antenna. Regards, JS |
#3
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Radio reception, fm,am
Good info.
You bring up another interesting point-- Just how is the radio itself connected to the car body/aerial antenna? Simple ground? So many wires going to this radio, not entirely clear what's going on. What I thought was positive and negative wires turned out to be two positives!! And both necessary! Hate to tell you how long it took to figure *that* out! There are *two* ground wires, which look like shielded antenna wires. Who knows..... I will look for that tuning screw. Is it insulated? -- ------ Mr. P.V.'d (formerly Droll Troll), Yonkers, NY Stop Corruption in Congress & Send the Ultimate Message: Absolutely Vote, but NOT for a Democrat or a Republican. Ending Corruption in Congress is the *Single Best Way* to Materially Improve Your Family's Life. The Solution is so simple--and inexpensive! entropic3.14decay at optonline2.718 dot net; remove pi and e to reply--ie, all d'numbuhs "John Smith I" wrote in message ... Proctologically Violated©® wrote: ... *Finally* accomplished said task, and, big big bummer, the reception of the car radio in my shop/garage is even worse than my home radios/stereos! Yet, this *same radio*, when I used to park the car this very same garage, had great reception. ... Been decades since I have taken a car radio and placed it in a cabinet with its' own speaker(s), power supply, etc. and created a "Miracle Kludge." However, if I remember correctly, I found the same as you, poor reception--until I tuned the antenna adjusting capacitor (was a hole on the back of the radio turned with a screw driver.) It then turned out to be the most sensitive am set I ever owned (well, for one without a long-wire antenna attached.) The antenna is part of an "antenna system" of which, the car body is a part with much influence ... ditch the car body and you have to readjust the antenna. Regards, JS |
#4
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Radio reception, fm,am
Proctologically Violated©® wrote:
The ground, for the antenna, was at the base of the old style telescoping whip. The ground connection to the body was through the mount on the whip, where the mount gripped the hole in the car body. Insulated? No, it was a plain mica cap. The screw on cap was probably chrome plated brass ... I have wondered if the "in glass" antenna on the cars could be replaced with the old whip and what sort of tuning was available on the new car sets. On my buick park avenue, there is, what appears to be, an active antenna--it is a little plastic box attached near the rear view mirror, compass and gps. I have seen some car radios which have been removed from autos and the terminal strips with all the wire connections do appear as a nightmare. I'd certainly desire a schematic and pin-out to tinker with one. I never bothered to look for the antenna trimmer though ... perhaps you must remove the case these days? JS |
#5
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Radio reception, fm,am
Proctologically Violated©® wrote:
If all else fails, an active antenna should give that radio real "ears." http://guests.antennex.com/rooms/sci...ew/incred2.pdf JS |
#6
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Radio reception, fm,am
John Smith I wrote:
Proctologically Violated©® wrote: If all else fails, an active antenna should give that radio real "ears." http://guests.antennex.com/rooms/sci...ew/incred2.pdf JS Someone just pointed out to me that antennax now requires a username and password to access that page. I placed a copy on a URL of mine: http://assemblywizard.tekcities.com/incred2.pdf it is a ~640Kb .pdf file, you will need adobe reader. JS |
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