Help- FM antenna

[Miserablegit]

Hello- I’ve recently dug out some old FM tuner separates to try to listen to the radio a bit more. I know I can stream but I’d like to try the analogue system again.

I live about 50 miles from a number of transmitters and the old “bit of wire” stuck in the back doesn’t work in this location.

I purchased a hi gain antenna and installed it on the shed roof but aiming at all the different transmitters in turn gives me one random station.

I previously had to install a tv antenna in a tree to get a tv signal but have now replaced that with a small dome antenna which works really well- wondering if there is something similar I can use for FM.

I’m fully aware of PH mission creep...this is one thing I’m not that desperate to do if it will cost significant sums.

Please does anyone have an idea to assist?
Thanks

[66mpg]

Two things to try: get the aerial higher up, maybe on the house? Consider a masthead preamplifier.

Make sure you use a single length of the best quality coaxial cable you can find; check that the plug is properly fixed to the cable. Have a look around your neighbourhood to see which direction other people have their aerials aimed and start there. The more gain your aerial has, the more directional will be its response so aim carefully.

[megaphone]

Best get a omni-directional FM aerial, get it up as high as possible, use decent co-ax cable.

eg https://www.screwfix.com/p/labgear-omni-directiona...

[Miserablegit]

Thanks both - antenna can’t be on the house alas.
Might try to get it into a tree...

[bristolracer]

Miserablegit said:

Thanks both - antenna can’t be on the house alas.
Might try to get it into a tree...

When the tree goes into leaf you will lose signal
Signal is attenuated by water rich leaves
On a pole, as high as you can and decent coaxial cable

Do you get FM ok on a portable radio or car stereo?
If your car radio/kitchen radio works ok then you should be good to go with an aerial

[clived]

megaphone said:

Best get a omni-directional FM aerial, get it up as high as possible, use decent co-ax cable.

eg https://www.screwfix.com/p/labgear-omni-directiona...

I would say that isn't best at all - it's just a massively compromised dipole designed for high signal strength areas and maximising multipath distortion.

Given how far you are from the transmitters I'd suggest either picking one and getting a good directional FM aerial (such as https://www.aerialsandtv.com/product/fm-6-element-... or getting a half wave dipole (https://www.aerialsandtv.com/product/fm-half-wave-dipole)

[66mpg]

A vertically polarised dipole will be omnidirectional, a horizontally polarised one would be bidirectional (maximum response perpendicular to the dipole, minimum response along its axis. Given that you have stated that you are a long way from the nearest transmitter you need something with more gain, a multitude element Yagi, aimed as precisely as you can manage at a particular transmitter.

[Stan the Bat]

Miserablegit said:

Thanks both - antenna can’t be on the house alas.
Might try to get it into a tree...

Can you get it in the loft that's where mine is,

Omnidirectional one as above.

[Miserablegit]

Thanks all- weather has been too poor to brave the conditions over the past week.

I'll give it some thought and give an update when I've tested a few options.

Can't use loft as rooms have very high ceilings so limited loft space and a bugger to get to.