How do you get clear fm radio reception?

Question

How do you get clear fm radio reception?

Answer 1

three options...

Move closer to the antenna of the radio station (most publications only quote 25 miles as the range of radio stations even though most are more like 50 or better)

Get a bigger antenna and a amplifier. In a car this would only be an antenna, on a portable radio most hook an extra length of wire for reception but I've known people who have spent thousands (tower, antennas, and amplifiers) to get clearer TV and Radio before satellite radio and TV.

The third is a better radio. Some radios are worse than others for reception. Most portables I've seen, as well as some cheaper car stereos you buy now have cheaply made receivers that overload (meaning they catch one station in more than one place on the dial) or the sensitivity isn't too high  (I've actually had radios built in the 1970s out perform radios bought today)..But there are radios still built with reception in mind such as the GE superradio III

As the other woman said, you could try Satellite radio but you still have to be close to the southern sky (with XM) or depending upon where you are in the US for sirius (as they recommend aiming it for around Kansas) unless you are in a metro area with xm/sirius repeaters... but you are still paying $12.95/mo for one radio (as you get more the fee per radio drops to roughly $5/per extra radio per month).

But hope these ideas help you.

Answer 2

I honestly got so sick of trying to get a clear FM signal that I decided to get satellite radio.  If you haven't gotten satellite radio, either Sirius or XM, you should check out www.SatelliteSweeps.com

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

Antenna, Antenna, Antenna.

Gearbox has it right. The easiest way is to just add some wire to the exisitng antenna, then hang it out the window and close the window over the wire.

There should be an antenna of some sort where you can jury rig (as above). If not, look on the back of the set for a small s***w. Attach your wire there. An imprint that says "ant" or "fm" should be stamped next to the s***w (but not necessarily).

You might want to then attach a loop antenna to the wire (readily and cheaply available at Radio Shack and other electronics stores).

Almost all modern cars have sufficient antennas built into the car somewhere (some are built into your windshield). If your problem is automotive and in warranty, take to the dealer and raise heck. If out of warranty, take to a local audio store that specializes in those awful boom box cars.

They should be able to boost your antenna and, unless something's wrong with the car itself, are probably familiar with the problem, because if you are having a problem, so are your neighbors.

-a guy named duh