Results 1 to 15 of 15

Thread: DIY FM antenna

  1. #1
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Posts
    17
    Thanks
    16
    Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts
    Rep Power
    0
    Reputation
    70

    Default DIY FM antenna

    Hi I'm wondering if anyone has any plans, designs, tips or ideas on DIY external FM antenna for stereo receiver for Melbourne area?
    Greatly appreciated for any responses

    Cheers



Look Here ->
  • #2
    Administrator
    mtv's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    19,893
    Thanks
    7,508
    Thanked 15,066 Times in 6,761 Posts
    Rep Power
    5647
    Reputation
    239305

    Default

    Any particular type of design...vertical, dipole, yagi?

    If you have reasonable reception in your area, an older TV antenna that included bands 1 & 2 will likely work well.

    Most TV antennas designed to receive ABC 2 were also suitable for FM.

  • The Following User Says Thank You to mtv For This Useful Post:

    Ranger1 (16-10-18)

  • #3
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Posts
    17
    Thanks
    16
    Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts
    Rep Power
    0
    Reputation
    70

    Default

    I was more interested in vertical or dipole, not sure how the Melbourne/suburb station transmit if vertical or horizontal but think they are horizontal, correct me if I'm wrong.
    Just looking for something to compliment my stereo to pick up as many stations as possible, I did have some home brew designs many years ago but now long lost

    I was also thinking of purchasing ALCAD FM102 COMPACT OMNIDIRECTIONAL FM ANTENNA, not sure how good these are.

  • #4
    Administrator
    mtv's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    19,893
    Thanks
    7,508
    Thanked 15,066 Times in 6,761 Posts
    Rep Power
    5647
    Reputation
    239305

    Default

    All the commercial and national FM stations transmit mixed polarisation (both horizontal and vertical).

    Some community and LPON stations are vertical only.

    The Alcad antenna you mentioned will work fine in good signal areas.

    You can build a groundplane vertical using the calculator from link.

    If you need more gain, a directional yagi (like the TV antenna) would be your best option.

  • The Following User Says Thank You to mtv For This Useful Post:

    Ranger1 (16-10-18)

  • #5
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Posts
    17
    Thanks
    16
    Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts
    Rep Power
    0
    Reputation
    70

    Default

    mtv I thank you kindly for your advise and info, that link is very helpful.

    Cheers.

  • #6
    Banned

    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    still above ground level
    Posts
    1,779
    Thanks
    5,562
    Thanked 1,964 Times in 714 Posts
    Rep Power
    0
    Reputation
    35657

    Default

    wavelengths are the thing = 300 over the frequency in mhz= wavelength therefore grab an old tv antenna and make the dipole half wave length long , elements spaced at quarter wave apart , feed with a tv balaun to coax . stand it up and your away

  • The Following User Says Thank You to hinekadon For This Useful Post:

    Ranger1 (16-10-18)

  • #7
    Premium Member
    ol' boy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    17,662
    Thanks
    8,131
    Thanked 10,460 Times in 5,194 Posts
    Rep Power
    4471
    Reputation
    184272

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Ranger1 View Post
    Hi I'm wondering if anyone has any plans, designs, tips or ideas on DIY external FM antenna for stereo receiver for Melbourne area?
    Greatly appreciated for any responses

    Cheers
    I remember building one as a kid
    I also receive Melbourne FM but from a long way away from Melbourne (160km L.O.S.)
    Yes it is horizontal polarisation

    I use a 3 Element Fracarro yagi and the difference is insane (compared to the 2 wire yagi)
    Stations are like CD quality (to my ears), and it tripled or more the amount of FM stations i could receive
    In fact, doing a scan was useless, as my receiver would stop every couple of Mhz on a new station

    I also have a 5 element FM, but its just too big to deploy, the boom is 4.3m long!
    (its still in its bag from new)

    Plenty of plans out there for you
    The results will be impressive
    Id just buy one, they are so cheap

    $59
    Last edited by ol' boy; 16-10-18 at 03:12 PM.
    If u want to go on an expedition get a Land Rover, if u want to come home from an expedition get a Landcruiser!

  • The Following User Says Thank You to ol' boy For This Useful Post:

    Ranger1 (16-10-18)

  • #8
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Posts
    17
    Thanks
    16
    Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts
    Rep Power
    0
    Reputation
    70

    Default

    Thanks for the tips, I ended up purchasing the Alcad antenna for the main stereo in the house but will still make a few home brew ones for the garage stereo.
    I actually found one of my old Electronics Australia book which has a DIY FM antenna so I will construct that one along with a few others for something to do.

  • The Following User Says Thank You to Ranger1 For This Useful Post:

    hinekadon (16-10-18)

  • #9
    Premium Member

    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Central Tablelands of NSW
    Age
    81
    Posts
    13,824
    Thanks
    1,242
    Thanked 3,806 Times in 2,525 Posts
    Rep Power
    1797
    Reputation
    56986

    Default

    Back in the days of steam powered Radio's, many were supplied with an antenna made of 300 Ohm tape.

    Take one length of tape about 28 inches long, bare the ends by about half an inch so its now close to 27 inches and join the ends (soldered) together.
    Bent in half and cut one leg and carefully pair back the insulation to expose about a 1/4 inch of wire.
    Now take a suitable length of Tape, bare the ends by about a 1/4 inch and solder to the length to make T shape,, take the other end to the FM receiver and you can either fit a 300/75 ohm balun and plug in if you have a pal type connector or touch one wire to the case, the other to the centre pin or screws, what is fitted.
    I have seen these sold from about $10 to $50 for TV antenna's long before the Introduction of FM Radio (1970's?) in OZ.......
    I stand unequivicably behind everything I say , I just dont ever remember saying it !!

  • The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to gordon_s1942 For This Useful Post:

    gulliver (17-10-18),Ranger1 (16-10-18)

  • #10
    Senior Member
    Reschs's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Outside a few schooners
    Posts
    3,080
    Thanks
    907
    Thanked 2,147 Times in 1,058 Posts
    Rep Power
    933
    Reputation
    33238

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Ranger1 View Post
    Thanks for the tips, I ended up purchasing the Alcad antenna for the main stereo in the house but will still make a few home brew ones for the garage stereo.
    I actually found one of my old Electronics Australia book which has a DIY FM antenna so I will construct that one along with a few others for something to do.
    Silicon Chip did an updated version recently. If you need a copy let me know.

  • The Following User Says Thank You to Reschs For This Useful Post:

    Ranger1 (16-10-18)

  • #11
    Premium Member
    Skepticist's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Posts
    1,139
    Thanks
    714
    Thanked 670 Times in 525 Posts
    Rep Power
    475
    Reputation
    12780

    Default

    Years ago I built a simple groundplane vertical dipole for radio and it worked a treat. I was in a good reception area so a piece of wire draped over the venetetians would work fairly well too I suppose.

  • The Following User Says Thank You to Skepticist For This Useful Post:

    Ranger1 (16-10-18)

  • #12
    Senior Member
    loopyloo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Mid North Coast NSW . Australia
    Age
    67
    Posts
    2,207
    Thanks
    1,431
    Thanked 469 Times in 313 Posts
    Rep Power
    415
    Reputation
    7297

    Default

    With some of the TV's I've repaired, I just stuck a 6" piece of copper wire into the socket and got all the channels...lol

  • #13
    Premium Member

    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Central Tablelands of NSW
    Age
    81
    Posts
    13,824
    Thanks
    1,242
    Thanked 3,806 Times in 2,525 Posts
    Rep Power
    1797
    Reputation
    56986

    Default

    I have a set of TV antenna's mounted up in a Pine Tree 80 feet high with an old Kingray 25db MHA without the FM filter and use that.
    I stand unequivicably behind everything I say , I just dont ever remember saying it !!

  • #14
    Senior Member
    loopyloo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Mid North Coast NSW . Australia
    Age
    67
    Posts
    2,207
    Thanks
    1,431
    Thanked 469 Times in 313 Posts
    Rep Power
    415
    Reputation
    7297

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by gordon_s1942 View Post
    I have a set of TV antenna's mounted up in a Pine Tree 80 feet high with an old Kingray 25db MHA without the FM filter and use that.
    Crikey ! ....how did you get it up there ?

  • #15
    Premium Member

    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Central Tablelands of NSW
    Age
    81
    Posts
    13,824
    Thanks
    1,242
    Thanked 3,806 Times in 2,525 Posts
    Rep Power
    1797
    Reputation
    56986

    Default

    I cut away part of the Pine tree, put a pulley top and bottom, mounted the antenna (2X CA16 Hills VHF Phased arrays) onto a 38 foot pipe past then used the old valiant wagon as the power source to pull it up like a crane jib.
    Once it was in place, I used some light chains I had to secure it to the tree trunk.
    Luckily I also had a couple of friends and my 11 old son used guy lines to stop if catching on anything as it went up.
    I got the idea from a small handbook for Riggers and as I didnt know it couldnt be done, I went ahead and did it.
    The antennas are still there today and when checked last, are in surprisingly good condition with the elements intact considering its been exposed to every weather condition you can think of for over 30 years.
    I stand unequivicably behind everything I say , I just dont ever remember saying it !!

  • The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to gordon_s1942 For This Useful Post:

    gulliver (19-10-18),sdrambo (28-10-18)

  • Bookmarks

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •