Compact DAB/FM aerial
- Thread starter ellal
- Start date
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Your title suggests DAB and FM. A DAB aerial is much smaller than an FM aerial and it's vertically polarised (FM is horizontal).
So... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pure-One-...cement-Aerial-Genuine-Brand-NEW-/230870514112
http://www.ebay.co.uk/gds/DAB-Aerials-and-DAB-reception-/10000000008500528/g.html
http://www.satcure.co.uk/accs/page11e.htm
So... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pure-One-...cement-Aerial-Genuine-Brand-NEW-/230870514112
http://www.ebay.co.uk/gds/DAB-Aerials-and-DAB-reception-/10000000008500528/g.html
http://www.satcure.co.uk/accs/page11e.htm
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The supplied aerial is indeed supposed to be for both DAB and FM and it does give a pretty good reception.
I only need the FM side of it for two local stations, so the signal for them is quite strong.
I was just hoping that there was a compact version available which does both as well. I have seen some online but they come with varying reviews!
The first link you posted has a different connection, so I've put an image of the back panel below
View media item 80373
I only need the FM side of it for two local stations, so the signal for them is quite strong.
I was just hoping that there was a compact version available which does both as well. I have seen some online but they come with varying reviews!
The first link you posted has a different connection, so I've put an image of the back panel below
View media item 80373
Did you read ALL of the info. that I linked to?
See what you can receive with a paperclip stuck in the threaded 'F' socket.
If not everything, try a piece of wire about 50cm long.
See what you can receive with a paperclip stuck in the threaded 'F' socket.
If not everything, try a piece of wire about 50cm long.
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Most if not all compact indoor aerials are an exercise in hope over common sense.
If the signal is strong enough for a ribbon aerial to work then that will be as good as any compact indoor FM/DAB aerial. Some of the basic principles to follow with TV and radio aerials are: - height - clear line of sight and more metal in the air, but quality and not crap tinfoil
These are all things that indoor aerials do not do. Compacts have very little metal in the air and rarely have an unimpeded line of sight to the transmitter(s). They're often shoved in corners or up against a wall because that looks neat. No amount of boosting is going to compensate for a lack of signal from the aerial no matter what the advertising blurb says.
If you have a T-shaped ribbon aerial then it is acting like a half-wave dipole because that's what it is. (see pic)
Align the ribbon the same way then it will work in a similar fashion. DAB frequencies are higher than FM, so the FM aerial will pick them up if aligned vertically. It might not be as good as a dedicated DAB aerial, but it will do. The challenge with ribbon aerials is where do you put them so that they work their best. As soon as they're attached to a wall then the efficiency drops off. The other challenge with indoor aerials is modern insulation. Kingspan and similar foil backed insulating products make a fabulous Faraday cage. They block the incoming radio waves before they even reach the aerial.
So, if you have decent performance from the ribbon then I'd say don't waste your money on an alternative indoor aerial. If radio is a big part of your listening then get a dipole put up outside. That's your best option.
If the signal is strong enough for a ribbon aerial to work then that will be as good as any compact indoor FM/DAB aerial. Some of the basic principles to follow with TV and radio aerials are: - height - clear line of sight and more metal in the air, but quality and not crap tinfoil
These are all things that indoor aerials do not do. Compacts have very little metal in the air and rarely have an unimpeded line of sight to the transmitter(s). They're often shoved in corners or up against a wall because that looks neat. No amount of boosting is going to compensate for a lack of signal from the aerial no matter what the advertising blurb says.
If you have a T-shaped ribbon aerial then it is acting like a half-wave dipole because that's what it is. (see pic)
Align the ribbon the same way then it will work in a similar fashion. DAB frequencies are higher than FM, so the FM aerial will pick them up if aligned vertically. It might not be as good as a dedicated DAB aerial, but it will do. The challenge with ribbon aerials is where do you put them so that they work their best. As soon as they're attached to a wall then the efficiency drops off. The other challenge with indoor aerials is modern insulation. Kingspan and similar foil backed insulating products make a fabulous Faraday cage. They block the incoming radio waves before they even reach the aerial.
So, if you have decent performance from the ribbon then I'd say don't waste your money on an alternative indoor aerial. If radio is a big part of your listening then get a dipole put up outside. That's your best option.
OK, if you are happy with the performance of the piece of wire, you could try a hair-thin length of enamelled copper wire. It would be barely visible. It can be obtained by unwinding a transformer or choke, taken from the power supply of a broken power supply or charger.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Disassemble-an-E-block-transformer/
An alternative is a strip of aluminium foil that could be glued behind wallpaper or shaped to make a "feature" of it.
There are many ways to make a disguised aerial.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Disassemble-an-E-block-transformer/
An alternative is a strip of aluminium foil that could be glued behind wallpaper or shaped to make a "feature" of it.
There are many ways to make a disguised aerial.
It's worth a look. The transformer in a charger is tiny so you might need a magnifying glass!
Use fine sandpaper to remove the insulating enamel from about 3cm near the end of the wire and wrap around the paperclip wire.
It would also be possible to hide wire or ribbon aerial inside a length of narrow white pipe (B&Q) or the capped trunking that electricians use to hide wires.
http://www.ets4less.co.uk/mita-sa-2w-25x16mm-self-adhesive-mini-trunking
http://www.ets4less.co.uk/mita-sa-2w-25x16mm-self-adhesive-mini-trunking
Experiment. It might be critical or you might find it doesn't matter. Depends a lot on the signal strength and local interference.
I'd expect it to work better if fixed to a window.
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