How add Coax wire to Fm radio

Ace2 · 22nd April 2009, 03:15 AM

I have an old am/fm clock radio the antenna is ok but i want to make it better. I has a single wire across the circut board for the antenna. I have a omni directional antenna that I want to add I don't know how to wire the coax cable to the radio. I have Coax connectors out of a TV and a CB. Do I Cut the antenna on the raio a splice the wire with the one of the coax connector.

Which is better making it with the Tv or CB coax.

Thanks in advance,

Ace2

infinia · 22nd April 2009, 04:15 AM

Hi
Unless you are comfortable with electronics and know what various components are/look like and understand schematics, its probably going to be a problem unless you can get local help.
Basically you need get a TV 300 to 75 ohm balun. Connect the balun screw terminals (300 ohm side) to the FM antenna and a find a RF ground for the remaining connection. Use the 75 ohm side to RG6 coax. might need a coupling cap and drain resistor as well, not sure without schematic.

Depending on your antenna,cable,location and radio your results of this mod over a little whip/wire maybe not as good as you expected in my experience. see Antenna woes, I need guidance

Ed Holland · 22nd April 2009, 06:49 PM

first of all, I'd simply try an extension of the internal antenna wire, to bring it out of the radio's case. A couple of feet of stranded, insulated flexible wire should be sufficient, and it's an easy thing to try. Using a coax connection to an external antenna is probably overkill in the first instance.

Obviously be careful that your new spliced connection can't short out to anything inside the radio. Once it's attached, and led out of the case, you can adjust it's position for best reception.

Just a thought, hope it's helpful.

Ed

Steerpike · 22nd April 2009, 11:22 PM

For AM it probably doesn't use the wire antenna at all.
Has it got a grey rod with about an inch of copper wire neatly wound on it? If so, that's the AM antenna (ferrite rod) and no attitional wiring will have any effect on AM reception.

22nd April 2009, 03:15 AM	#1
Ace2 diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2009	How add Coax wire to Fm radio I have an old am/fm clock radio the antenna is ok but i want to make it better. I has a single wire across the circut board for the antenna. I have a omni directional antenna that I want to add I don't know how to wire the coax cable to the radio. I have Coax connectors out of a TV and a CB. Do I Cut the antenna on the raio a splice the wire with the one of the coax connector. Which is better making it with the Tv or CB coax. Thanks in advance, Ace2

22nd April 2009, 04:15 AM	#2
infinia diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Californication	Hi Unless you are comfortable with electronics and know what various components are/look like and understand schematics, its probably going to be a problem unless you can get local help. Basically you need get a TV 300 to 75 ohm balun. Connect the balun screw terminals (300 ohm side) to the FM antenna and a find a RF ground for the remaining connection. Use the 75 ohm side to RG6 coax. might need a coupling cap and drain resistor as well, not sure without schematic. Depending on your antenna,cable,location and radio your results of this mod over a little whip/wire maybe not as good as you expected in my experience. see Antenna woes, I need guidance __________________ like four million tons of hydrogen exploding on the sun like the whisper of the termites building castles in the dust

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22nd April 2009, 06:49 PM	#3
Ed Holland diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Mountain View, California	first of all, I'd simply try an extension of the internal antenna wire, to bring it out of the radio's case. A couple of feet of stranded, insulated flexible wire should be sufficient, and it's an easy thing to try. Using a coax connection to an external antenna is probably overkill in the first instance. Obviously be careful that your new spliced connection can't short out to anything inside the radio. Once it's attached, and led out of the case, you can adjust it's position for best reception. Just a thought, hope it's helpful. Ed

22nd April 2009, 11:22 PM	#4
Steerpike diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Johannesburg, South Africa	For AM it probably doesn't use the wire antenna at all. Has it got a grey rod with about an inch of copper wire neatly wound on it? If so, that's the AM antenna (ferrite rod) and no attitional wiring will have any effect on AM reception.