Good Radio For Pulling in Low Power FM?

redsquid2

redsquid2

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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Aug 31, 2011
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There is a college radio station in my neighborhood that has unique programming, some of which I enjoy. Problem is, it is so weak, it is almost a line-of-sight thing.

I currently don't have any kind of receiver. I want something as simple as possible. It does not have to be an entertainment center or high end audiophile stuff. No need for lots of different jacks for plugging in everything, or amplifying anything, but I would like it to be AC powered, and have a headphone jack and probably external antenna terminals.

A quality item without bells and whistles.

I was looking at a Sangean WR2. Seems like I heard or read something positive about it. Costs about $110.

Any other ideas?

Thx.
 
Check out Grundig around the same price and you should be able to get any station better with external antenna on it. Were you from redsquid if you dont mind me asking I live in bridgeport we might be neighbors .
 
Check out Radio Shack or equivalent for antenna advice... sometimes just a copper wire works well as an antenna.
 
There are different power levels for FM transmission I assume a school has the lowest. Your big problem is getting a better antenna. Directional ,pointing toward the transmitter. There are some good sources for antennas .Avoid RadioShack like the plague !!! They're useless for real radio. You might contact the station and ask for suggestions.
 
before you buy another radio try this idea.attach some speaker wire to the telescopic antenna using alligator clips and on the other end of the speaker wire attach an alligator clip and attach that to a SLINKY.stretch out the slinky long ways or up and down no matter,which ever works best.
I am a ham radio operator and have used slinkys for added reception with many of my smaller cheaper radios.it helps pick out faint signals and even pull in new ones.
it can work better if the slinky is near a window[if possible].
best of luck.
 
You have a computer and an internet connection. Why not use that? Most college radio stations stream their broadcasts to the internet. iTunes is free and it's easy to use as an internet radio tuner.

http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/18/qa-adding-radio-stations-to-itunes/?_r=0

There is cheap software for Mac and Windows to "time shift" internet radio broadcasts by recording them as MP3, AAC or whatever you want. All you need is software and computer speakers or headphones that sound good enough to you. Much easier than finding an FM table radio nowadays. Cambridge Soundworks and Boston Acoustics made good ones for under $100, but they have gone to join the Hudson Terraplane.
 
LEGION 12 said:
Check out Grundig around the same price and you should be able to get any station better with external antenna on it. Were you from redsquid if you dont mind me asking I live in bridgeport we might be neighbors .
Click to expand...

I'm in Hyde Park.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions, guys.
 
Reviving the thread because I've upgraded antennas.

I've used baseboard dipole antennas for 50+ years.

fm-dipoliantenni_1.jpg


They cost $2–$4 and they usually work, but sometimes you need to put the antenna in a window, and they're not good for that. This is what switched to:

FM+_MED.jpg


Audiovox Terk FM Only Stereo Antenna, MSRP $11.99. It is 5½" x 5½" and it has a 6' cord with connectors for coaxial and push button antenna jacks. I listen to a typical low power college station 7 miles away (WNUR), and a high power community college station 30 miles away (WDCB). With a baseboard dipole antenna, reception was marginal: sometimes OK, sometimes not. With the new antenna in the window, reception is always good enough for casual listening.

FM broadcast reception is 98% about the antenna. The next step up from my setup is a roof antenna. If you have marginal reception with a roof antenna, a more sensitive FM receiver may help. The best FM reception will not sound as good as the same broadcast streamed over the internet.
 
Thanks for all the feedback, everybody. If I ever get my computer fixed, I will start streaming the station.
 
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