 |
11-02-2009, 02:43 PM
|
#1
|
|
Newbie
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Mechanicsburg, PA
Posts: 24
|
Basement antenna using electric circuit
I recently finished my below-grade basement. I put a stereo system down there that has an AM/FM radio receiver in it. Depending on the alignment of the stars and planets, etc, I may get great reception one minute and virtually nothing the next. I was thinking that some time ago, I had heard orread that you could use you home electric circuitry as a giant antenna. Is there any validity to this? If so, how does it work? Does it require any special equipment? Is is risky or dangerous? 
|
|
|
Warning: The topics covered on this site include activities in which there exists the potential for serious injury or death. DIYChatroom.com DOES NOT guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information contained on this site. Always use proper safety precaution and reference reliable outside sources before attempting any home improvement task!
|
11-02-2009, 02:58 PM
|
#2
|
|
Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: NW of D.C.
Posts: 3,560
|
Basement antenna using electric circuit
Quote:
Originally Posted by Woodcutter
I recently finished my below-grade basement. I put a stereo system down there that has an AM/FM radio receiver in it. Depending on the alignment of the stars and planets, etc, I may get great reception one minute and virtually nothing the next. I was thinking that some time ago, I had heard orread that you could use you home electric circuitry as a giant antenna. Is there any validity to this? If so, how does it work? Does it require any special equipment? Is is risky or dangerous? |
You use a low value capacitor with a high breakdown voltage to couple the antenna to one side of the AC line. The capacitor's impedance at radio freqs. is much lower than at 60 Hz, so the 60 Hz doesn't go where it's not supposed to.
50 pF is probably enough.
It's the opposite of an RF choke.
Somewhere on the Internet is probably a schematic and parts list for one of these.
Last edited by Yoyizit; 11-02-2009 at 03:06 PM.
|
|
|
|
|
11-02-2009, 05:32 PM
|
#3
|
|
Child Alert! Pull Up!
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 37
|
Basement antenna using electric circuit
Seems like there used to be commercials on TV for a gizmo like that, you would just plug it into an outlet and it would use the electrical wiring as an antenna.....check the site "as seen on TV" or radio shack.
|
|
|
|
|
11-02-2009, 05:36 PM
|
#4
|
|
Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Welland, Ontario
Posts: 2,022
|
Basement antenna using electric circuit
What are you using for TV antenna? FM band is right between channels 6 and 7 and TV antenna will work great for FM signals.
__________________
Do not PM with questions that can be asked in a forum. I will not respond.
|
|
|
|
|
11-02-2009, 05:39 PM
|
#5
|
|
Child Alert! Pull Up!
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 37
|
Basement antenna using electric circuit
Then again, maybe not such a good idea - I googled "whole house antennas" and came across this link:
http://www.kyes.com/antenna/antennat...ennatypes.html
Best to do a little, or a lot of research. 
|
|
|
|
|
11-02-2009, 06:23 PM
|
#6
|
|
Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: NW of D.C.
Posts: 3,560
|
Basement antenna using electric circuit
Try it.
10' of Romex makes a 1000 pF capacitor between each conductor.
One conductor goes the antenna, the other goes to one side of the AC line.
Be sure to insulate the ends so they don't touch each other or anything else.
|
|
|
|
|
11-03-2009, 08:41 AM
|
#7
|
|
Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Nashua, NH, USA
Posts: 1,507
|
Basement antenna using electric circuit
All of the wiring in the house will pick up radio signals but the signal picked up from one branch circuit will commingle with the signal picked up by another branch circuit and the result may either be stronger (additive) or weaker (subtractive due to cancellation). So what you get when you plug a "whole house antenna" or a "power line antenna" into a wall receptacle is a matter of luck.
A similar stroke of luck may improve AM radio reception by stringing a power cord of the radio or a lamp past the AM antenna which is generally a pencil or crayon or Magic Marker shaped and sized rod (some are fatter than others) inside or on the back of the cabinet.
A long time ago, FM radios had a so called "line cord antenna" which used the power cord as the antenna and had a strip of metal wrapped around the cord (where the cord entered the back of the cabinet) and wired to an antenna terminal. In effect this is the same thing as a $29.95 or so whole house antenna that plugs into a receptacle; the metal strip mimics a small capacitor to pass the radio waves but not pass enough to cause a shock hazard. In reality, most of the signal actually getting to the antenna terminal was picked up by the 6 or so feet of line cord itself.
The AM antenna on a stereo receiver is often just outside the back of the cabinet and a label warns not to use it as a handle. A year or so ago an inspector used a similarly shaped antenna mounted to the fuselage of an airplane to hoist himself up to get a close look at something and of course the antenna broke off.
__________________
.
Last edited by AllanJ; 11-03-2009 at 08:53 AM.
|
|
|
|
| Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
|
| Display Modes |
 Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
|
