Is there a way to increase the reception on my radio??? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Metallica_Band · 07-29-2003, 09:58 PM

Hey there...I listen to a certain station before I goto sleep...the station is so far away that my radios have a hard time tuning into it...gotta be EXACTLY right...since yesterday the reception is gone...I usually try moving the cord around and moving the radio around a bit and it sometimes works...but this time it doesn't...my big sterio will get a good signal but that's only cause it uses a 4 foot antenna...I notice that when I lift the radio up in the air and hold the cord up too that it clears up a lot...

The radio I have looks like THIS...I use it to wake me up...it has no antenna...I think maybe it either has no antenna or it is in the electric cord...that would explain why it clears up when I lift the cord up and stuff...

well I was wondering if there was any way to clear up the signal...like make it stronger or something...I have two radios...I use them both cause sometimes one won't wake me up...could I do something to the radio to make it pick up the signal a little bit better...you know...like those stickers that have metal wiring stuff things in them that are used for cell phones that claim to improve your phone signal...CELLPHONE BOOSTERS...or something like that...THIS STUFF...hmmm...you think I could put one of them on the inside of the radio or something??? if so then where would I put it...

No...I'm not gonna just go buy another radio...cause I am in the middle of buying pc parts...I'm doing some major upgrades and need all the money I can save...any suggestions would be great...THANX
C'YA ?:-D

bonbonbox · 08-01-2003, 10:51 PM

Check out this link http://www.ccrane.com/select_a_tenna_regular.asp

There are several models. I have never needed an external antenna but for those that do I have heard nothing but rave reviews from users, not ads, about this particular model as well as other C Crane products. Click around thier site, there are many solutions to radio reception. My next radio purchase will be this one for camping and home as well. http://www.ccrane.com/wind_up_radios.asp

I hope that this info will be of some help.

sunstone · 08-02-2003, 03:37 PM

M_B,
If your radio uses the power cord for an antenna you can try this trick that uses the same principle as the $65 C Crane antenna. It's probably not quite as effective, but is a hellofalot cheaper. Take a piece of wire, preferably insulated solid wire so it will hold a shape, and make a few wraps around the power cord. Then string the rest out in different directions until you receive a good signal. Use at least several feet of wire (like 3 or 4), but using much more probably won't make an appreciable difference. This has worked for me in several situations. You can find a good spot and tack the wire down to hold it where it works the best. The wire doesn't have to be any particular gauge and doesn't have to be insulated, it just looks better if it is. And understand that you're not making any electrical contact with the power cord, just wrapping it around the cord. Sometimes if you slide the wrap up and down the power cord, you'll find an optimum spot.

AxelF · 08-02-2003, 03:53 PM

Also check if it has any connection for plugging in an external antenna, not likely though.

If you are very handy I guess you could open it up and solder an external antenna to the antenna cable where it goes into the power cable. But this is dangerous unless you are familiar with doing your own high voltage wiring. WARNING: Don't do it if it's your first job around high voltage, because the antenna is close to deadly cables.

Nisses · 08-02-2003, 05:13 PM

if you intend to solder it, pull the plug on it first

and then you shouldn't have too much trouble getting it done nice and safe.

don't connect it to your powercables itself in any case. You don't want anyone to come in, accidently grab a stripped piece of your antenna and walk out with a new hairdo.

Konichiwaneko · 08-03-2003, 12:27 AM

check to see if their's a web broadcast.

denim · 08-04-2003, 05:52 AM

1) Get a better radio
2) Move closer to the station, which may not actually help

07-29-2003, 09:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
Metallica_Band Loser	Is there a way to increase the reception on my radio??? Hey there...I listen to a certain station before I goto sleep...the station is so far away that my radios have a hard time tuning into it...gotta be EXACTLY right...since yesterday the reception is gone...I usually try moving the cord around and moving the radio around a bit and it sometimes works...but this time it doesn't...my big sterio will get a good signal but that's only cause it uses a 4 foot antenna...I notice that when I lift the radio up in the air and hold the cord up too that it clears up a lot... The radio I have looks like THIS...I use it to wake me up...it has no antenna...I think maybe it either has no antenna or it is in the electric cord...that would explain why it clears up when I lift the cord up and stuff... well I was wondering if there was any way to clear up the signal...like make it stronger or something...I have two radios...I use them both cause sometimes one won't wake me up...could I do something to the radio to make it pick up the signal a little bit better...you know...like those stickers that have metal wiring stuff things in them that are used for cell phones that claim to improve your phone signal...CELLPHONE BOOSTERS...or something like that...THIS STUFF...hmmm...you think I could put one of them on the inside of the radio or something??? if so then where would I put it... No...I'm not gonna just go buy another radio...cause I am in the middle of buying pc parts...I'm doing some major upgrades and need all the money I can save...any suggestions would be great...THANX C'YA ?:-D

08-02-2003, 03:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
AxelF Crazy Location: Europe	Also check if it has any connection for plugging in an external antenna, not likely though. If you are very handy I guess you could open it up and solder an external antenna to the antenna cable where it goes into the power cable. But this is dangerous unless you are familiar with doing your own high voltage wiring. WARNING: Don't do it if it's your first job around high voltage, because the antenna is close to deadly cables. __________________ Coffee

08-02-2003, 05:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
Nisses Shade Location: Belgium	if you intend to solder it, pull the plug on it first and then you shouldn't have too much trouble getting it done nice and safe. don't connect it to your powercables itself in any case. You don't want anyone to come in, accidently grab a stripped piece of your antenna and walk out with a new hairdo. __________________ Moderation should be moderately moderated.

08-03-2003, 12:27 AM	#6 (permalink)
Konichiwaneko The Dreaded Pixel Nazi Location: Inside my camera	check to see if their's a web broadcast. __________________ Hesitate. Pull me in. Breath on breath. Skin on skin. Loving deep. Falling fast. All right here. Let this last. Here with our lips locked tight. Baby the time is right for us... to forget about us.

08-01-2003, 10:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
bonbonbox Banned	Check out this link http://www.ccrane.com/select_a_tenna_regular.asp There are several models. I have never needed an external antenna but for those that do I have heard nothing but rave reviews from users, not ads, about this particular model as well as other C Crane products. Click around thier site, there are many solutions to radio reception. My next radio purchase will be this one for camping and home as well. http://www.ccrane.com/wind_up_radios.asp I hope that this info will be of some help.

08-02-2003, 03:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
sunstone Upright Location: Pacific Northwest	M_B, If your radio uses the power cord for an antenna you can try this trick that uses the same principle as the $65 C Crane antenna. It's probably not quite as effective, but is a hellofalot cheaper. Take a piece of wire, preferably insulated solid wire so it will hold a shape, and make a few wraps around the power cord. Then string the rest out in different directions until you receive a good signal. Use at least several feet of wire (like 3 or 4), but using much more probably won't make an appreciable difference. This has worked for me in several situations. You can find a good spot and tack the wire down to hold it where it works the best. The wire doesn't have to be any particular gauge and doesn't have to be insulated, it just looks better if it is. And understand that you're not making any electrical contact with the power cord, just wrapping it around the cord. Sometimes if you slide the wrap up and down the power cord, you'll find an optimum spot.

08-04-2003, 05:52 AM	#7 (permalink)
denim Banned Location: Massachusetts, USA	1) Get a better radio 2) Move closer to the station, which may not actually help