how do I improve FM reception

[The Foot]

I have just bought a small stereo for the bedroom but no matter where I try it the thin wire that acts as the aerial doesn't give a really good reception.

I know that you can run an aerial down say from the loft and connect coax up to that but is there a way of just boosting the signal with something that plugs straight into the stereo?

[Chris Muriel]

Short of moving your bedroom closer to the transmitter or higher up, not really.
You are up against the laws of phsyics here.

Chris Muriel, Manchester

[Cable Monkey]

Hi,
run a co-ax to a convenient window and use the provided antenna or a boosted one from somewhere like Maplin. If that fails then you will need a loft or roof antenna.

[The Foot]

Hi Cable Monkey. Not sure what you mean. All I have is a thin wire coming out of the back for the fm aerial. I don't have a coax socket on the back so can you explain in more simple terms what I need to do !!

Thanks.

[Chris Muriel]

Originally Posted by The Foot

Hi Cable Monkey. Not sure what you mean. All I have is a thin wire coming out of the back for the fm aerial. I don't have a coax socket on the back so can you explain in more simple terms what I need to do !!

Thanks.

Please post the make and model number of your DAB box.

Chris Muriel, Manchester

[Sonic67]

The most basic stereos just have a wire coming out which acts as an aerial. The best you can do with them is make sure it's not bound up as it will have been in the packing and try and get it vertical. Either pointing down or up. I had a Matsui DA-1 like that. I used to sellotape the 'aerial' to the wall. Eventually I opened it up and soldered a co-ax to the place where the 'aerial' connected.

[The Foot]

Thanks Sonic. if I do that to mine can I then buy an aerial booster say from maplins £9.99 which plugs into your coax socket? Would this help?

[Sonic67]

How good are you at invalidating your warranty and doing some soldering?

Have a look here:

http://www.radioandtelly.co.uk/cgi-b...num=1104014770

That was for the Matsui DA-1.

In the case of the DA-1 the earth connection was next to the centre contact. To get a good signal you have the aerial and the earth. With the DA-1 a wire was soldered onto a contact and either side was a blob of solder for the earth. I removed the original wire and soldered on a co-ax lead and attached the braid to the connection at the side of the aerial contact. Once you have a lead coming out of a hole in the case you can attach that to a decent aerial. By the way you haven't mentioned your radio. If there's a transformer inside dangerous voltages can be in capacitors inside the unit even if it's switched off.

[Cable Monkey]

Originally Posted by The Foot

I have just bought a small stereo for the bedroom but no matter where I try it the thin wire that acts as the aerial doesn't give a really good reception.

I know that you can run an aerial down say from the loft and connect coax up to that but is there a way of just boosting the signal with something that plugs straight into the stereo?

To me, your first post does suggest you have a coax connector. If s the wire attaches to the centre conductor. If you don't have a connector then moving the radio is your only option without opening and soldering.

[Chris Muriel]

We're all waiting to hear the make and model number of the OP's box; only then can we be more specific on his options.

Chris Muriel, Manchester