I think I need a unidirectional FM antenna

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Alphonso

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  • #1
    I am located about 65 miles northwest of Austin, Texas. Been listening to one FM Austin station(93.7) for 40+ years.
    EDIT: Transmitter distance: 58 miles.
    For the last couple of years, periodically, signal from a Dallas station(100+miles) will over ride the Austin signal.
    EDIT: Transmitter distance: 174 miles.
    Outdoor omnidirectional antenna, approximately 25 feet off ground, 10 feet above roof.

    The interference has been getting worse this spring. Daily, hours at a time. Worst in the morning hours.

    Recommendations for an unidirectional antenna?
     
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    BigLan

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  • #7
    Could you just stream the station rather than use a radio? Looks like they have a bunch of options, either website, app or tunein/iHeart which your receiver might have built-in.

    Where to Listen

    How Can I Listen? 1. FM Dial 93.7 Ready to leave the internet? Nothing wrong with the original method of getting your KLBJ fix. We’re still 93.7 FM on your standard radio dial. 2. Stream Click “Listen
    www.klbjfm.com www.klbjfm.com
     
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    Alphonso

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  • #8
    Definitely got skip. Sometimes get a 93.7 out of Shreveport. Hopefully a directional antenna will minimize the skip.

    Streaming is not a viable option. Can't stream in the car, truck, forklift or other machinery I use daily. Besides, there is a delay with streaming that that messes with my feeble mind when I go back and forth with radio and streaming.
     
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    Alphonso

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  • #10
    Antenna arrived the other day. Had to wait 4 days for the rain to stop.

    Installed antenna. Not much better. Still getting interference from Dallas station. Not as much, only for a few minutes at a time. Variable recurrences, ten to fifteen minutes.

    Austin station is supposed to 97000 watt, while Dallas is 43000. Suspect that the Austin transmitter is not putting out full power. Have heard morning DJ complain that power is down and the powers that be won't spend the money to fix it.

    I guess next step will be to relocate antenna. Maybe set it lower as first try.
     
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    Shavano

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  • #11
    Alphonso said:
    Antenna arrived the other day. Had to wait 4 days for the rain to stop.

    Installed antenna. Not much better. Still getting interference from Dallas station. Not as much, only for a few minutes at a time. Variable recurrences, ten to fifteen minutes.

    Austin station is supposed to 97000 watt, while Dallas is 43000. Suspect that the Austin transmitter is not putting out full power. Have heard morning DJ complain that power is down and the powers that be won't spend the money to fix it.

    I guess next step will be to relocate antenna. Maybe set it lower as first try.
    Click to expand...
    Austin 93.7 (KLBJ) is licensed for 40kW. Wikipedia is wrong.

    I would also try flipping the polarization and adjusting the pointing. Sometimes that makes a big difference.
     
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    rain shadow

    rain shadow

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  • #12
    Alphonso said:
    Installed antenna. Not much better. Still getting interference from Dallas station. Not as much, only for a few minutes at a time. Variable recurrences, ten to fifteen minutes.
    Click to expand...
    I hate to be that guy, but it is really super common, even among A/V afficionados, to install TV and FM antennas 180º off. The end with the shortest element points at the transmitter. I assume that you did the right thing, but if you're having bad reception, you gotta check everything.
     
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    AmigaPhreak

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  • #14
    Alphonso said:
    Don't know how to flip polarization.
    Click to expand...
    Rotate the antenna 90 degrees along its axis. If the elements are horizontal (side/side), rotate the antenna so they are vertical (up/down).

    Essentially, you are trying to match the antenna orientation at the transmitter.

    Some quick googling suggests that FM transmitters are now almost always circularly polarized, so orientation wouldn't matter (rather....you couldn't fix polarization by rotating the antenna...you'd need a different antenna design).
     
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