Jim, are you trying to select an antenna to buy, or are you just playing around here? If the former, anyone who potentially could help you would need to know where you live and the locations of FM broadcasters in your vicinity. I disagree that FM stations commonly have 1000 foot towers. In the DC area the major towers are no more than 300 ft. That’s 22 miles to the horizon. Maybe add 100 feet or so for height above sea level.
Outdoor FM Antenna
Unlike a few years ago not much options are available for a dedicated FM Broadcast antenna. Forget TV antenna that have no gain on FM ALI has inexpensive FM antennas with many elements but shipping is $150 to $260 dollars- too expensive. Wilson sells an FM antenna for $350- again too expensive. The only reasonable 4 cost option is Stellar Labs four element on eBay for $68 shipped. This horizontal mount antenna will receive full power FM stationers away with full quieting up to about 60 miles away in flat terrain. Two antennas could be bought taking the first two elements of one and use a 3/4" EMT conduit coupling attaching the two front elements to the four element to get 6 elements. This should receive FM stations to perhaps 80 miles away. For four elements 1 inch EMT for 15 foot length should be ok with 50 MPH winds. A wooden dowel inside the conduit in top section with mounting clamp at bottom 5 feet from house will allow much higher wind speed. EMT conduit is expensive thus two sections of 2" EMT costs about $135. The wood dowel is mandatory with 6 elements or use a roof mount tri-pod.
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- 44 posts total
- 44 posts total

