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Post by quattroll on Aug 23, 2020 20:34:28 GMT -5
I can’t seem to get good reception of a few quality stations I like to listen to, one classical, the other independent and mixed music. I have fiddled with the standard antenna but still don’t have reliable reception on my XMC-1.
Question: would going to a high quality dedicated separate tuner likely to be significantly better in terms of bringing in the apparently weak signal? Now I do stream radio stations too, but I like the old school FM experience and simplicity, like not having to rely on the network and phone battery etc.
I am looking at a Primare T23 which is tempting. Even if I don’t use it with the XMC, I have a few other locations like a bedroom and workshop that I could put it in too, so I’m likely to get some use out of it. But, if realistically I’m facing antenna issues, I suppose it won’t help much.
Please give me some advice and maybe persuade me to go for it!
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Post by Ex_Vintage on Aug 23, 2020 20:50:51 GMT -5
I am a big fan of streaming any "radio stations" either local or otherwise. Sorry, no help in encouraging a dedicated FM tuner from me...
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Post by creimes on Aug 23, 2020 21:16:07 GMT -5
Also an option is running it coax to a better indoor antenna, something like a TV one, I actually just use rabbit ears upstairs which is connected by a coax cable to where my XMC-2 is downstairs.
Chad
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Post by selind40 on Aug 23, 2020 21:18:44 GMT -5
Most people these days look down their nose if you enjoy listening to FM radio.....the hell with them. I've been using my Carver TX-11a tuner hooked up to my XSP-1 for over 2 years now I love it.....got a Bob Carver Sunfire Theater Grand hooked up with some Airmotiv 6's in my office, and it sounds great listening to FM. Glad to see there is still a few of us that like listening to FM radio still.
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cawgijoe
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Post by cawgijoe on Aug 23, 2020 21:22:23 GMT -5
Most people these days look down their nose if you enjoy listening to FM radio.....the hell with them. I've been using my Carver TX-11a tuner hooked up to my XSP-1 for over 2 years now I love it.....got a Bob Carver Sunfire Theater Grand hooked up with some Airmotiv 6's in my office, and it sounds great listening to FM. Glad to see there is still a few of us that like listening to FM radio still. It’s even better if you can hook up an HD Radio tuner. You get the sub channels. They are hard to come by though. |
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Post by quattroll on Aug 23, 2020 21:24:44 GMT -5
Yes I’m thinking I need to start with a real antenna solution.
I realize that maybe an HD radio tuner could be better than a high quality FM only tuner from an investment perspective.
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cawgijoe
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"When you come to a fork in the road, take it." - Yogi Berra
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Post by cawgijoe on Aug 23, 2020 21:30:31 GMT -5
Yes I’m thinking I need to start with a real antenna solution. I realize that maybe an HD radio tuner could be better than a high quality FM only tuner from an investment perspective. You get more channels than regular FM and they are clear. But you do need a good antenna depending how close you are to the radio towers. I have a Sangean tuner in the bedroom connected to my rooftop VHF/UHF Winegard antenna. Works great. |
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Post by AudioHTIT on Aug 23, 2020 21:50:23 GMT -5
I agree with the antenna suggestions. I get a few local stations with a coax connection to rabbit ears at the top of my upstairs network closet. I don’t need much distance as several stations broadcast about 10 miles away, but I’m going to try one of these to try and improve my signal a bit, and not deal with a rotor — though I have a good mount and RG run. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DHHOZBI/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A20H7HZMYKP2JK&psc=1As mentioned though, no HD 🙁 that would be the biggest benefit to a separate tuner (which doesn’t discount sensitivity and sound). Either way you’ll want a good antenna so why not start there? |
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Post by JKCashin on Aug 23, 2020 21:52:12 GMT -5
I'm sorry I can't provide a really good data point, but I can tell you that my XMC-1 was able to pull in way more stations than I guessed it would with just a simple antenna. When I added a better antenna located high on the exterior wall I was able to get really good quality FM signals.If I remember to do so I will give my XMC-2 a test tomorrow to see if it's just as good
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Post by quattroll on Aug 23, 2020 22:02:52 GMT -5
Thanks guys, good suggestions all around. I’m going to tinker a bit with my antenna options, inside definitely, outside maybeish.
I’m glad there are people who like FM still, now that I think of it more it was my source of new tunes back in the 80’s, and I’d sit there waiting to press record on my cassette!
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Post by creimes on Aug 23, 2020 22:21:59 GMT -5
Thanks guys, good suggestions all around. I’m going to tinker a bit with my antenna options, inside definitely, outside maybeish. I’m glad there are people who like FM still, now that I think of it more it was my source of new tunes back in the 80’s, and I’d sit there waiting to press record on my cassette! Just remember if you use an outdoor antenna that it is grounded as a lightning strike could do major damage to your XMC-1  Mine works well with an indoor one located on the main floor. Chad |
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cawgijoe
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Post by cawgijoe on Aug 24, 2020 4:16:23 GMT -5
Thanks guys, good suggestions all around. I’m going to tinker a bit with my antenna options, inside definitely, outside maybeish. I’m glad there are people who like FM still, now that I think of it more it was my source of new tunes back in the 80’s, and I’d sit there waiting to press record on my cassette! Just remember if you use an outdoor antenna that it is grounded as a lightning strike could do major damage to your XMC-1 Mine works well with an indoor one located on the main floor. Chad Good advice. I have an 8 foot grounding rod pounded into the ground for my tv antenna. But remember that lightning is powerful and unpredictable and it’s best to unplug during a storm. |
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Post by novisnick on Aug 24, 2020 8:59:22 GMT -5
Just remember if you use an outdoor antenna that it is grounded as a lightning strike could do major damage to your XMC-1 Mine works well with an indoor one located on the main floor. Chad Good advice. I have an 8 foot grounding rod pounded into the ground for my tv antenna. But remember that lightning is powerful and unpredictable and it’s best to unplug during a storm. Lightning is indeed unpredictable! My cable was struck oN the pole, it’s 150’ away and travels underground to the 8’ grounding-rod just outside my living room to a box that feeds the house. The strike killed the FM receiver part of a Yamaha xx-x 1000. The rest of it works fine. Upstairs the cable wasn’t working and when I unscrewed the coaxial cable from the box I discovered the copper was gone, vaporized! The rest of the house cable was fine, path of least resistance! 🤯 Yep, lightening is a strange and powerful force. Speaking of grounding-rods, your generator should have one as well, it helps to protect electronics and compressors is what my electrician has told me. |
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cawgijoe
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Post by cawgijoe on Aug 24, 2020 10:00:44 GMT -5
Good advice. I have an 8 foot grounding rod pounded into the ground for my tv antenna. But remember that lightning is powerful and unpredictable and it’s best to unplug during a storm. Lightning is indeed unpredictable! My cable was struck oN the pole, it’s 150’ away and travels underground to the 8’ grounding-rod just outside my living room to a box that feeds the house. The strike killed the FM receiver part of a Yamaha xx-x 1000. The rest of it works fine. Upstairs the cable wasn’t working and when I unscrewed the coaxial cable from the box I discovered the copper was gone, vaporized! The rest of the house cable was fine, path of least resistance! 🤯 Yep, lightening is a strange and powerful force. Speaking of grounding-rods, your generator should have one as well, it helps to protect electronics and compressors is what my electrician has told me. Just to add to that....grounding is really meant for static electricity and lightning in the area, not meant to stop a direct lightning strike. If it's close enough, lightning will not be stopped. So, again it's wise (and I rarely do it), to unplug your gear from the wall during a lightning storm. |
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Post by MusicHead on Aug 24, 2020 10:24:33 GMT -5
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cawgijoe
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Post by cawgijoe on Aug 24, 2020 10:48:25 GMT -5
Putting an antenna for FM or TV in the attic is not ideal but can work depending upon how close you are to the towers and how strong the signal is.
Outside is really the best if you are willing to run cable, ground, are comfortable on a ladder, etc.
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Post by MusicHead on Aug 24, 2020 11:06:24 GMT -5
Putting an antenna for FM or TV in the attic is not ideal but can work depending upon how close you are to the towers and how strong the signal is. Outside is really the best if you are willing to run cable, ground, are comfortable on a ladder, etc. Yes, an antenna outside is always the optimal situation. However, as long as you do not have a metal roof the attenuation at the frequencies of FM broadcast is not that much |
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Post by 405x5 on Aug 24, 2020 11:41:11 GMT -5
I can’t seem to get good reception of a few quality stations I like to listen to, one classical, the other independent and mixed music. I have fiddled with the standard antenna but still don’t have reliable reception on my XMC-1. Question: would going to a high quality dedicated separate tuner likely to be significantly better in terms of bringing in the apparently weak signal? Now I do stream radio stations too, but I like the old school FM experience and simplicity, like not having to rely on the network and phone battery etc. I am looking at a Primare T23 which is tempting. Even if I don’t use it with the XMC, I have a few other locations like a bedroom and workshop that I could put it in too, so I’m likely to get some use out of it. But, if realistically I’m facing antenna issues, I suppose it won’t help much. Please give me some advice and maybe persuade me to go for it! It’s not really a question of XMC VS dedicated tuner (I have both and use neither). Why?? Because I’m a victim of bad geography when it comes to frequency modulation. My last move to my current location was the death 💀 sentence for FM reception Streaming your favorite radio has plenty of it’s own pitfalls but better than going wild with antennas. ( I once had a dedicated FM roof antenna with a rotor.) |
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Post by 405x5 on Aug 24, 2020 14:39:42 GMT -5
Most people these days look down their nose if you enjoy listening to FM radio.....the hell with them. I've been using my Carver TX-11a tuner hooked up to my XSP-1 for over 2 years now I love it.....got a Bob Carver Sunfire Theater Grand hooked up with some Airmotiv 6's in my office, and it sounds great listening to FM. Glad to see there is still a few of us that like listening to FM radio still. I don’t think it’s a matter of looking at what you and others are doing with FM 📻 in a negative fashion. ( I love that TG...ran mine for 13 years and now keep it in storage.) Plain and simple....FM reception is a no go for some of us because we can’t pick it up because of our distance from the broadcast, plain and simple. After I moved and played with my dedicated FM antenna every which way, I got ONE station. TG 2 and XMC1, the same deal....oh well. Realistically anyway, the worldwide web is the global stage now. From a musical perspective I’m like a kid in a candy store with it and have broadened my musical horizons to no end with it! Bill |
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Post by 405x5 on Aug 24, 2020 14:50:47 GMT -5
Thanks guys, good suggestions all around. I’m going to tinker a bit with my antenna options, inside definitely, outside maybeish. I’m glad there are people who like FM still, now that I think of it more it was my source of new tunes back in the 80’s, and I’d sit there waiting to press record on my cassette! Yes! hitting the “record” button! I still have a Denon cassette deck hooked into my Home Theater to playback some of those tapes. Some of those tapes have music that until now, l could not ID the artist. Thanks to a modern PC and some deductive reasoning I was able to solve some mysteries that were more than 15 years old. Bill |
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