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Attach antenna to FM radio
I need some help from you experts. I have a radio that uses the power
cord as the antenna. I need a better antenna but have no idea where to add it. I don't know if just soldering a length of wire to the connection point of the ground wire would help or better to add a two wire antenna. I just don't know where to add the wires, if it is possible. TIA, Walt |
#2
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On Thu, 02 Dec 2004 22:36:09 -0500, Walt Stanley
wrote: I need some help from you experts. I have a radio that uses the power cord as the antenna. I need a better antenna but have no idea where to add it. I don't know if just soldering a length of wire to the connection point of the ground wire would help or better to add a two wire antenna. I just don't know where to add the wires, if it is possible. Hi Walt, A ground wire wouldn't be advisable, I wonder if you have anything metal (that actually went to a ground in the set) to attach to anyway. Sounds like your set is powered with a two prong, polarized plug and the case is probably plastic as a safety consideration. As for an external antenna - again there seems to be no provision, nor expectation that this is even an option. As it appears it is intimately tied into the power cord, trying to preserve that feature and/or attaching your own connection may be lethal. About the only remaining choice is for passive coupling where you take an external antenna, bring its lead down and wrap it several times around the cord (or tape it along its length) and hope. Leave all insulations intact, this is simply a function of proximity, not connection. Even this is a spin of the wheel. 73's Richard Clark, KB7QHC |
#3
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On Fri, 03 Dec 2004 06:13:15 GMT, Richard Clark
wrote: On Thu, 02 Dec 2004 22:36:09 -0500, Walt Stanley wrote: I need some help from you experts. I have a radio that uses the power cord as the antenna. I need a better antenna but have no idea where to add it. I don't know if just soldering a length of wire to the connection point of the ground wire would help or better to add a two wire antenna. I just don't know where to add the wires, if it is possible. Hi Walt, A ground wire wouldn't be advisable, I wonder if you have anything metal (that actually went to a ground in the set) to attach to anyway. Sounds like your set is powered with a two prong, polarized plug and the case is probably plastic as a safety consideration. As for an external antenna - again there seems to be no provision, nor expectation that this is even an option. As it appears it is intimately tied into the power cord, trying to preserve that feature and/or attaching your own connection may be lethal. About the only remaining choice is for passive coupling where you take an external antenna, bring its lead down and wrap it several times around the cord (or tape it along its length) and hope. Leave all insulations intact, this is simply a function of proximity, not connection. Even this is a spin of the wheel. 73's Richard Clark, KB7QHC Thanks Richard: Yes you are right about the radio. I'll try the wrapping "and hope". Walt |
#4
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Walt Stanley wrote:
I need some help from you experts. I have a radio that uses the power cord as the antenna. I need a better antenna but have no idea where to add it. I don't know if just soldering a length of wire to the connection point of the ground wire would help or better to add a two wire antenna. I just don't know where to add the wires, if it is possible. TIA, Walt Typically there is a metal clamp, either inside or outside the plastic case of the radio, around an inch long and 1/4" wide, that bolts to the power cord. This is a capacitive coupler. You can safely add a wire to that piece of metal, the wire being as long as you want. For FM broadcast, 5 or 6 feet should be adequate. Use an alligator clip instead of soldering (in case you change your mind later, or to avoid melting the power cord). Email me directly if you want, and I will send you a JPG of what the one on my bedside clock looks like. It's old, but I doubt that it's changed much. Dave |
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