Antenna
Posted by: Evan D. Jay on 17 December 2000
I live three blocks from the Empire State Building in New York City. I use an 01 tuner with the Magnum Dynalab ST-2 whip antenna. I am having difficulty picking up even local radio stations. Does anyone have a suggestion for an appropriate antenna? Your advice is appreciated.
Posted on: 17 December 2000 by Ron The Mon
Evan,
Welcome and great question. Before I give you specific advice, please re-post with details of your set-up; What kind of building are you in? Brick, aluminum siding? How high up is your residence? Is your ST-2 outside or in? Did you get your hi-fi from Innovative Audio? If so, they can be more helpful (and should be for the price of an 01). NANA is located in downtown Chicago, I'm sure they can offer suggestions as well. There are no 'tricks" to getting great reception, only two general rules: 1)Height: get your antenna as high as possible. After calling Magnum Dynalab (another good source) this summer, they suggested to me to get my ST-2 higher. Even though I only put it 10 feet higher outside (because of local zoning rules) it resulted in eliminating all hiss and tremendously improving quality of music!!
2) Obstructions: Keep the aeriel away from anything metal, ie. gutters, window frames, home wiring, balcony railings, etc. Unfortunately high-
rises (lots of metal) in your way are the biggest problem. I live in an area of Detroit that is in the middle of power-lines, all major TV and radio transmitters, and some tall buildings and I'm only able to get about ten FM stations decently received (eleven, if you count WOMC through my Naim phono section). Fortunately my favorite station comes in perfect now! As a sidenote many FM stations are now broadcasting on the internet and the sound ranges from fair to pretty good (not close to off-the-air with an 01 though). Depending on where your computer is it is an easy connection and inexpensive to connect to pre-amp.
Welcome and great question. Before I give you specific advice, please re-post with details of your set-up; What kind of building are you in? Brick, aluminum siding? How high up is your residence? Is your ST-2 outside or in? Did you get your hi-fi from Innovative Audio? If so, they can be more helpful (and should be for the price of an 01). NANA is located in downtown Chicago, I'm sure they can offer suggestions as well. There are no 'tricks" to getting great reception, only two general rules: 1)Height: get your antenna as high as possible. After calling Magnum Dynalab (another good source) this summer, they suggested to me to get my ST-2 higher. Even though I only put it 10 feet higher outside (because of local zoning rules) it resulted in eliminating all hiss and tremendously improving quality of music!!
2) Obstructions: Keep the aeriel away from anything metal, ie. gutters, window frames, home wiring, balcony railings, etc. Unfortunately high-
rises (lots of metal) in your way are the biggest problem. I live in an area of Detroit that is in the middle of power-lines, all major TV and radio transmitters, and some tall buildings and I'm only able to get about ten FM stations decently received (eleven, if you count WOMC through my Naim phono section). Fortunately my favorite station comes in perfect now! As a sidenote many FM stations are now broadcasting on the internet and the sound ranges from fair to pretty good (not close to off-the-air with an 01 though). Depending on where your computer is it is an easy connection and inexpensive to connect to pre-amp.
Ron The Mon
P.S. If yor antenna is outside, make sure it is grounded!!
Posted on: 17 December 2000 by Arye_Gur
Evan,
Check if the hi buildings around you prevent
an "eye contact" with the transmiting antenas.
If they do, I think it is difficult to you to get a good input signal from the antenna (it is a problem with FM transmission/receiving).
Arie