In article ,
"Boner the Cat" wrote:

Hi, Radio challenged person here, wanting to make a simple (low
cost) FM radio antennae!

I only want it to pick up one station from Tampa. I get the station
but it fades in and out.

I am a great handy man and have lots of surplus wire and coax wire.

give me an idea of what to make.

Cheap and easy to make is a folder dipole antenna out of 300 Ohm
twin-lead cable from Radio-shack. You can get 50 feet for $7.99 as an
example.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...9617&cp=&kw=30
0+ohm+twin+lead&parentPage=search

You don't need that much so if you find a smaller length for less buy it.

You use this to make the antenna and it also is the lead-in to the
radio. This stuff is plastic insulator with a wire down each side.

1. Using a tape measure cut a piece about 57 inches long.

2. Trim the insulation on one end exposing the two wires and twist them
together.

3. Do the same for the other end.

4. Now using the tape measure find the center of this piece of cable
and cut just one of the wires. Either one will will do. Just cut the
one wire and not the rest of the insulation. Trim the insulation back
along the cut wire from each side of this cut a little more than the
width of the cable.

5. Trim the end of the remaining long piece of cable and twist the two
wires of it to the two wires you exposed on the side cut you made on
the 57 inch long piece. Twist together one wire from one side of the
long piece to one side of the center cut.

Tracing what was done, the left side of the long piece is twisted with
the left side of the center center cut, which goes to the left end,
across the left twisted wires, then across the top, then through the
right side twisted wires, then back toward the center cut where the
right side of the cut wire is twisted together with the right side of
the log piece.

The junction of these two pieces look like a 'T".

This "T" shape is the broad side of the antenna and you want this
broadside to face the direction of the station you want to pickup. Use
a supporting wall that best accomplishes that and mount it with tape,
thumb tacks, tie wraps or something else along those lines. The higher
the antenna is mounted the better. Keep the antenna away from metal
window frames, screens and that sort of thing.

If your place has aluminum siding you will have to put the antenna out
side away from the siding. In that case it could go in the attic strung
up with string, nylon fishing line or tacked to the rafters so it faces
the right direction.

--
Telamon
Ventura, California