Wireless FM Radio Signal Booster?

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PrIsMaTiC
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Wireless FM Radio Signal Booster?

Post by PrIsMaTiC »

A friend gave me an expensive clock radio - cd player
as a gift. CD playback through the speakers sounds
great. The radio itself is not so good. The FM antenna
is completely internal. Not even a 24 gauge wire hanging
out the back, like you see with most cheap clock radios.

If I move the thing away from the small table next to
my bed the reception improves. What's the point of
having a clock radio if you can't use it next to your bed?

I opened the back of the case to see if there was something
I could connect to a small monopole or dipole antenna. There
are a couple of wires that appear to be the internal FM
antenna, but I don't want to mess with them.

Is there some kind of signal booster I could build that
would improve the FM reception without wires? I remember
building a couple of AM signal boosters when I was a kid.
They worked inductively with the ferrite rod in the radio.
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jollyrgr
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Post by jollyrgr »

Look inside the radio again. Usually there is one of two things on these clock radios. A metal clamp like device that holds the power cable that "inductively" acts as the antenna for FM or a wire that hangs out the back of the radio. If the clamp is there, attach an insulated wire to it and run that out the back of the radio, possibly out the same hole as for the power cord. If there is a wire out the back of the radio, just add something to that. Normally when there is a wire out the back of a clock radio I wrap it round the power cable as if it were a spring. Pull the wire over to the power cord. Tie part closest to the radio and power cord around the power cord. Start wrapping around the power cord. Tuck at the end.

If you think the wires in the back of the radio are for FM try this: Power on the FM radio. Hold the wire and see if the FM reception changes. If it does, simply extend a wire out the radio and coil it around the power cord as described.
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PrIsMaTiC
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Post by PrIsMaTiC »

:smile::smile:

I appreciate your reply jollyrgr. Thank you.

The friend I referred to is wealthy. I never would have
purchased such a fancy clock radio. This gizmo
has rows of buttons and dials. 90% of the features
will never be used.

As I said, there was no wire hanging off the back of
the radio. When I removed the back of the case I
saw two red wires about six inches long. They were
plugged into a two pin socket. The other end of the
two wires were terminated with some kind of clip.
The clip looked like it was meant to act as a spacer.
It kept the ends of the wires parallel to each other.
The clip was an odd combination of copper ribbon
and plastic.

I did not see the metal clamp you mentioned. I guess
I'll take the back off one more time. There were no
hidden or buried screws, like you find on most modern
appliances. The back came off easily. Reassembling
the case was a nightmare! I had to line up about a
dozen slots and cutouts, before all the screw holes could
be engaged. When I regain my courage, I'll give it one
more try.
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dacflyer
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Post by dacflyer »

perhaps you can tell us the name and model of the radio..or provide some fotos of the internals ?
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Janitor Tzap
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Post by Janitor Tzap »

PrIsMaTiC,

Here are a few external antenna's that are available.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-Lfwxt78PuV ... splay=Terk

I know what you mean about poor reception.
I have an old clock radio that is that way.
I've tried the wire trick, and even put on a collapsible dipole antenna.
The reception is still ify at best.


Signed: Janitor Tzap
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