Causes of Poor FM Radio Reception
A few reasons can cause poor radio reception. The following factors play a role in how clearly the signal comes in:
Distance: You may be too far from a station transmitter to receive a good signal. If you’re too close to a transmitter, the signal may overpower your radio.Stationary obstacles: Radio signals can be affected by physical obstacles such as hills, buildings, and trees. Some home construction materials, such as stucco, concrete, aluminum siding, metal roofs, foil-lined ducts, and solar panels limit the effectiveness of indoor antennas. Since FM radio transmissions require line-of-sight reception, the curvature of the Earth can also block reception at very long distances.Moving or intermittent obstacles: Interference from certain types of electrical equipment, cell towers, and airplanes can affect FM radio reception. Interference can also occur when station frequencies are too close together.Multipath interference: If you live in a valley or an urban area with tall buildings, signals can bounce about and reach the antenna at different times, resulting in noise distortion.Antenna type: If you have a directional antenna, it may not receive signals from multiple transmitter locations. On the other hand, if you have a multi-directional antenna, interference is more likely.Shared antenna: If you have more than one radio connected to the same antenna via a splitter, the signal will lose strength.FM tuner sensitivity: Sensitivity is how well a radio tuner can receive radio signals of varying strength.
How to Fix Poor FM Radio Reception
Try these steps to improve your radio reception:
Consider Cable FM Service
Most cable services include FM radio stations as part of their channel offerings. If you are having problems using an FM antenna, you may be able to access radio stations from your cable box. Make sure the antenna connection terminals aren’t rusted. If possible, check the entire length of the cable for breaks or cuts. If worn, replace with new cables, preferably 18AWG RG6 cables as they are durable and you won’t have any bandwidth issues. Cable prices vary depending on brand and length, starting at just a few dollars for a three-or-six foot length. Antenna prices vary widely and can range from less than $10 for a basic indoor antenna to over one hundred dollars for a long-range outdoor model. Don’t assume that the antenna range listed or advertised for your antenna is accurate. Ratings may be based on optimum conditions. If available, there are two ways to set it up:
If your cable box is connected to your TV via HDMI, use the RF output to connect your box to your FM radio, stereo, or home theater receiver. If your cable is connected to your TV via RF connection, split the RF cable coming out of your cable box, sending one feed to your TV the other to your radio, stereo, or home theater receiver.
