[bell.ham-radio] walkman radio reception info wanted

mark@cbosgd.UUCP (06/24/83)

I have a walkman-style radio (specifically, it's a Rhapsody
Stereo-to-go RY-90 with AM-FM-Cassette play/record) I use in
my office, so as not to annoy others around me.  Trouble is,
the FM reception is terrible, because (a) the walls are metal
(I do have a window, but the window doesn't open so I can't run
an antenna out it) and (b) the terminal I use, a Blit, puts out
considerable RFI.  (Not only does distance from the Blit matter,
but when the screen clears the RFI becomes much less of a problem.
Too bad I can't work with the screen clear.)  Cassettes sound fine,
but you get tired of them after a while.

I would appreciate any hints as to how to either shield my radio
or construct an antenna that will bring in good reception.  The
unit has two earphone jacks, and apparently the FM antenna is the
headphone cord.  I made a brief attempt to make an antenna like this:


      -----------------window--------------------------------------
      |   /-------------------wire--------------------            |
      |   |                                                       w
      |   |       +-----+                                         a
      w   |       | blit|                                         l
      a   |       +-----+                                         l
      l   |
      l   | /------headphones
      |   + +       me
      |  -----
      |  |   |
      |  -----
      |

The wire was wrapped around a stereo mini-plug which was plugged
into the other earphone jack.  The reception was considerably worse
with the extra antenna plugged in.

Any hints gladly accepted.

--
	Mark Horton
	CB 4276
	614-860-4276
	cbosgd!mark