Need a better FM antenna

[silverback]

I want to upgrade our (OEM) roof mounted FM (and AM) antenna. I can walk 10 feet over to my truck and receive several FM stations that I can't receive in the trailer. Does anyone know of an upgrade that is a direct replacement for the factory antenna? I wonder if my truck's antenna will work?
Thanks,
Ken

[SilverRanger]

Have you considered an in-line signal amplifier?

http://tinyurl.com/9gho9

The one on my Bambi looks like an ordinary short auto rubber FM antenna. It may just screw off like any car antenna. If so, be aware of the height of your replacement mast.

[grizzy]

If you want a very good one you might try the Terk antenna ( http://www.smarthome.com/7744f.html ). I've never tried one on an AS but do have one at our home in the mountains - its the only way we could get any FM stations.

[crazylev]

We have exactly the same problem on our 19' CCD. Even when we are in range of stations I normally get in the van, they don't come in on the coach radio. Or reception is crappy.

Jonathan

[geosouth]

I've struggled with the same thing on my new to me 2001 Bambi. I will leave the factory antennae alone and use an xm satellite antannae that I can mount when I set up. I was thinking of a permanent install for the sat antennae, but I like to be able to put the receiver in a radio outside on a table, too. This way I have two options when set up plus I put the receiver in my TV while driving. Satellite radio really works for me because I can pick the exact content I want to listen to and I hate commercials.

[Airstream25]

Originally Posted by silverback

I want to upgrade our (OEM) roof mounted FM (and AM) antenna. I can walk 10 feet over to my truck and receive several FM stations that I can't receive in the trailer. Does anyone know of an upgrade that is a direct replacement for the factory antenna? I wonder if my truck's antenna will work?Thanks,
Ken

Why not just put a splitter (available from Radio Shack) on your TV antenna and connect that to your FM. Should work. I think FM frequencies fall between TV channels 6 and 7 so any antenna that receives broadcast TV should also receive broadcast FM.

[grizzy]

Originally Posted by Airstream25

Why not just put a splitter (available from Radio Shack) on your TV antenna and connect that to your FM.

Now that's a good idea - someones using their head! Simple and should be effective

[SilverRanger]

Originally Posted by grizzy

Now that's a good idea - someones using their head! Simple and should be effective

Sure is a no-brainer, but concealing the cable from the television to the FM radio may be problematic.

[RoadKingMoe]

And there's no free lunch. A splitter has loss and the signal to the TV will be reduced.

[JStanley]

I recall that back in the 1960’s when FM was really starting to takeover or push-out popular AM radio stations that there was a way to made your own FM antenna out of TV cable. Not coax cable but that flat two wire kind that went to the TV antenna. The improvised FM antenna is shaped like a “T” with each end of the top part having it’s two conductors connected together.
I think the important dimension is the length of the horizontal part of the “T.” Since FM broadcasts between TV channels 6 and 7 the length of the “T” must be the reciprocal of that frequency band to match the desired FM wavelengths in inches. Perhaps someone has the necessary dimensions and can share them.

[Pick]

L(feet)=468/Frequency For a half wave dipole.