Build an indoor FM antenna for 75 ohm coax input

Here is a simple but effective indoor FM dipole for receivers that only have a 75 ohm antenna connector.

[andelamb]

This worked a treat! I didn't actually solder anything or use heat shrink stuff. Just twisted wires old school and used electric tape til I can get to the hardware store. Thanks for a clear, concise and extremely helpful video. You're a prince among men!

[mrphil]

Just made this today, for a tuner amp in a basement flat, and it works a treat. many thanks great info..

[bottles]

Just made one for an operator at his station. Never seen him so happy! Thanks a million! :D

[QoraxAudio]

So, the piece of cable is for matching the 75ohm impedance, while the two wires are just an open dipole?
Or can I connect the dipole wires directly to a coax connector?

[darrelschindler]

I have a slightly different problem. Sony sells a 2 channel Receiver that has a proprietary input for a dipole antenna they provide. I have a great coaxial aerial that I prefer to use instead of their dipole. Is there any way using their proprietary input and cutting off the rest of the dipole and then attaching an adapter which I can connect to my coaxial aerial?

[chriskaprys]

Great vid, thanks for the tips and quick & easy construction. Couple questions as a matter of interest that I hope someone in the comments might be able to address (which may be answerable with some trial & error anyway...)
1) The wires attached to the coax, would they do better as solid or stranded, and does the gauge affect performance?
2) If I know the direction where the transmission is coming from, is there a configuration that could help this setup be advantageously directional? (e.g. T-shape perpendicular to line-of-sight with the station)
3) When you hook up an antenna to that 75ohm jack, does that override the radio's internal antenna? (In other words, does the location of the radio unit itself become irrelevant once you have an external antenna in the mix?)
4) If I mostly listen to just two stations, is there an advantage to customising the length of the antenna to the average of their frequencies, rather than 100MHz? (by my calculations, for stations 102.3MHz + 88.5MHz; average=95.4MHz; quarter-length=30.9 in.)
5) I've always wondered since I was a kid, why, when the reception is decent but not great, are the 's' and 'sh' and drum cymbal sounds affected most (come through garbled or white noise-y), while the rest of the audio spectrum comes through pretty clear?

[williamlongfellowjr.]

In the old days we took wire about 20ft or so wrapped it around a window screw Ed it to the back of the radio and let it play. 1950s

[jaganb]

This is called putting in practice what you learn in school :-) Thank you

[drummerdonniedotcom]

Looks like you're using 18AWG, but I guess it really doesn't matter? I've gone through about a dozen comments and nobody else seems to be asking this question. The reason this seems pertinent to me is because, as you're well aware, different gauge wire has different resistance. So 29.5" of 18AWG is going to have different resistance that say 20AWG or 22AWG. I kind of assume if it mattered you would've specified in the video, but being OCD, I thought I'd ask.
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Subscribed!

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Would it work in a car? And spreading the 2 wires along the top of the rear window?

[athmanff]

Simple but support for me, Thanks bro

[SkipRogersJr]

Thank you very much, its exactly what I needed.

[wooferhound]

Just take a 60 inch length of coax and strip 30 inches of shield off of it. Presto instant FM antenna.

[mrphil]

Hi How important is it that the two antenna wires are straight out, and not drooping or bent slightly etc.?

[ATGG]

Hello. Question! Is this going to work for a radio scanner? My scanner's frequencies are *25-88mhz*, *108-174 mhz*, *225 - 512 mhz* and *806 - 960 mhz*. Will this DIY antenna cover any, if not, all of these?

Thank you.

[nevkenis]

Can the Coax cable be any length, like perhaps 6 inches?

[RudySnareDrum]

Trying to find the Cable Prep stripper u use in this video. Where doni find one? Thanx....

[MyLexG]

You forgot to mention how long the coax cable is.
Thanks

[JasonTheJJGamer]

Wasn't aware I could make an antenna

[kennyrmurray]

But that’s not 75 ohms. What about a resistor?