2. misc-audio
  3. 1001256907

Anntenna Question

Hi,

I recently had electricians put a Radio Shack FM antenna on my roof. It's wired with RG-6U cable through a couple of patch panels down to where my receiver is located. Probably about 100' of wire in all.

It doesn't help reception -- in fact, I've gone back to the little wire dipole anenna that comes with the receiver because it sounds better. I put a little Radio Schack antenna amplifier in the mix about 10' from the antenna, and that doesn't help either.

The problem is that I don't know of any way to check whether there's actually a signal on this wire! I have access to bench-quality DVM, but that's about it. Would I require an oscilliscope to check?

I'm also not sure this is the right type of wire, or that I'm hooking it to the receiver correctly.

Any advice appreciated. Thank you!

- Eric
ehart

Showing 1 response by 6bq5

6bq5
62 posts
 
Eric,
The antenna from RS is probably OK, and you are just loosing signal from the conectors, also how is the RG6 connected to the antenna?, Most RS antennas (multi-element Yagis)are set up for 300 Ohm lead, you will need to install a transformer to convert the 300 Ohm to 75 ohm of the RG6. A few mor notes re the RS antenna:
Yagis are VERY directional, they have well known patterns, and unless most/all of your stations are comming from one area, you will want a rotor. Unless the Yagi was designed for FM ONLY, it will cover the VHF spectrum (TV chnls 2 ~ 13; this should not pose a problem, unless you are having multipath and sensitivity problems. The suggestion of the MD ST-2 whip antenna is a good one, as it is omni-directional.
good luck.
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