wjm (02/07/83)
----- News saved at Mon Feb 7 09:32:57 1983
General comments on FM reception from a suburban apartment dweller who
likes to listen to classical music (WQXR and WNCN in particular).
1. Classical stations tend to sound hissy because they have a wider dynamic
range than rock outlets. The rock guys tend to have a very narrow dynamic
range and they limit the peaks of their programs so that the average level
is very close to the 100% modulation level (which is the maximum allowed by the
FCC - if you exceed this you splatter signals into adjacent channels). Since
classical stations don't use limiting to as great an extent, they have to
keep the average level lower to avoid going above 100% modulation on peaks.
This lower level is closer to the noise level.
2. If you can't install an outdoor antenna (which is the best way to get
high quality FM signals) you might try the following alternatives:
2a. Does your landlord provide a master TV antenna jack to your apartment?
TV distribution systems often (although not always) provide FM as well
(This is the approach I'm using to get around the no antennae clause in my
lease). You'll need a two-set splitter connected to the jack and then run
one lead to the TV set and the other to your tuner.
2b. Do you have cable TV in your area? Many cable companies provide FM as
part of their basic package. Again, you'll need a splitter. Most cable
companies provide FM stations at the same frequency as they are broadcast
so you don't need a converter, but check with your cable company about this.
2c. If you aren't too concerned about aesthetics, hang a "super-fringe"
outdoor antenna indoors on your ceiling. Generally, the super-fringe units
have enough gain to make up for the losses in the walls. Of course, some of
these beasts are 8 feet long, and will dominate your living room. You may
be able to disguise it as a piece of modern sculpture.
3. Most of the "indoor" antennae that are sold are not effective in the
suburbs. They generally reduce multipath interference at the expense of gain
which is fine in midtown Manhattan, but out here you need all the gain you
can get.
4. Check your tuner (or receiver's tuner section) to see that it is operating
properly. If all else fails, you may want to invest in a more sensitive tuner
and look at Carver's new model (the TX-11) which uses signal processing techniques
to improve its performance.
5. In the short run, try switching your tuner to mono. You won't have stereo
but you also won't have as much noise. Good luck.
End of flame.
Bill Mitchell
Bell Laboratories - Whippany
(whuxk!wjm)prgclb (02/07/83)
Thanks for the FM reception item you posted to the net,
Bill Mitchell -- was very informative.
I've tried two approaches to receiving FM signals --
the folded-dipole approach (that's the antenna that
the mfgr. supplied with my tuner) and the TV antenna.
With a good splitter, both approaches give me the same
result. With a bad splitter, kiss the TV antenna goodbye.
By the way, I have my TV antenna in the attic.
I can get away with this as a homeowner -- doesn't
help you apartment dwellers very much, however.
TV antenna would do better on the roof, but then
I'd have to hassle with a boom, straps around the chimney,
lightning protection, rf amplifier ('cause the chimney
is on the other end of the house from my stereo,
and the run would be awfully long).
Carl Blesch
Bell Labs - Naperville, Ill.
IH 2A-159, (312) 979-3360
ihuxm!prgclb