boosting fm reception

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lancelot

Member - Posts: 17

Joined: November 30, 2004

Location: Canada

Posted: September 25, 2007 at 5:54 PM / IP Logged

I get clear reception about 80kms away from the local cities here in Alberta. I would like to boost that to 150+ kms, anything over that is just a bonus. How do I figure out what type of booster/antenna combo that I need to accomplish this feat?

Will a booster like this do it?

http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441889551&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396672459&bmUID=1190760262012

lancelot

Member - Posts: 17

Joined: November 30, 2004

Location: Canada

Posted: September 25, 2007 at 5:55 PM / IP Logged

It says in the ad. that it's a 20dB gain, but it says on the packaging (if you zoom in) 15dB.

jmelton86

Gold - Posts: 1,228

Joined: February 07, 2007

Location: South Carolina, United States

Posted: September 25, 2007 at 6:32 PM / IP Logged

the link doesn't go straight to the product.

2013 Kia Rio -90a alternator

DDX470HD GTO14001 GTO1014D (x3)

Big3 in 1/0G

1/0G to GTO14001

lancelot

Member - Posts: 17

Joined: November 30, 2004

Location: Canada

Posted: September 25, 2007 at 8:03 PM / IP Logged

okay, well, it's a canadian tire special, it's $16.99:

it says:

Features

Amplifies weak radio signals
Makes distant stations sound loud and clear
Strong 20dB. Signal gain
Installation instructions included

jmelton86

Gold - Posts: 1,228

Joined: February 07, 2007

Location: South Carolina, United States

Posted: September 25, 2007 at 8:18 PM / IP Logged

Do these add noise at all? If not, I wouldn't mind adding one to 1. get better reception 2. get more stations.

2013 Kia Rio -90a alternator

DDX470HD GTO14001 GTO1014D (x3)

Big3 in 1/0G

1/0G to GTO14001

lancelot

Member - Posts: 17

Joined: November 30, 2004

Location: Canada

Posted: September 25, 2007 at 9:07 PM / IP Logged

I would like to know about that too...

sectorz

Member - Posts: 1

Joined: September 26, 2007

Location: Ontario, Canada

Posted: September 26, 2007 at 9:17 AM / IP Logged

I bought one of those a few years ago, plugged it in and ripped it out immediately. I couldn't care less about increased reception for the noise it caused on the stations I was getting clearly already. Maybe I was doing something wrong, but I think you could compare it to the idea of using gain to try and solve a volume problem. You just don't.

lancelot

Member - Posts: 17

Joined: November 30, 2004

Location: Canada

Posted: September 26, 2007 at 9:24 AM / IP Logged

so maybe the $16.99 price tag is saying something about that? Maybe there's more to it than just boosting reception?

dwarren

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Joined: December 03, 2004

Location: California, United States

Posted: September 26, 2007 at 4:22 PM / IP Logged

I generally haven't had much luck with those boosters in past, I find that reception is more based on tuner, the antenna (solid mast, motorized, stubby, etc), location of antenna on the car, and even the car itself.

jmelton86

Gold - Posts: 1,228

Joined: February 07, 2007

Location: South Carolina, United States

Posted: September 26, 2007 at 6:53 PM / IP Logged

sectorz; great analogy to a gain knob. I think that is most appropriate. You're probably right.

dwarren has a great point, too.

2013 Kia Rio -90a alternator

DDX470HD GTO14001 GTO1014D (x3)

Big3 in 1/0G

1/0G to GTO14001

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