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Eric wrote:
> Looking for recommendations for a *good* indoor FM antenna. Does
> such a beast exist? Trying to improve reception of a college (88.3 MHz)
> station.
>


I've had very good results in a number of installations with the
Magnum-Dynalab ST-2.

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Buster Mudd wrote:

> > Looking for recommendations for a *good* indoor FM antenna. Does
> > such a beast exist? Trying to improve reception of a college (88.3 MHz)
> > station.
> >
>
> I've had very good results in a number of installations with the
> Magnum-Dynalab ST-2.

You're the second one I've seen recommend this antenna. How does it
perform in the 88-90 MHz range as compared to the FM-2G-C, which is
really a 80-100 MHz range antenna?

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In article <d9l60g02oce@news2.newsguy.com>, Eric <knippe@gmail.com>
wrote:

> sd wrote:
>
> > I have been using a B I C "Beam Box" for a couple of decades now.
> > [snip]
>
> I saw one at "that auction site" just the other day. Used, but he
> wanted $100-$150 for it. How does it play in the 88-90 MHz area?

As well as it does elsewhere. Keep in mind it's not an amplified
antenna, so if the issue is incoming signal strength from a 10-watt
FM or a tuner that's not as sensitive as you'd like, the Beam Box
won't do that much for you. It's a passive antenna designed to weed
out a good signal from among the distortion and garbage.

As for paying $100 for it, I don't think I paid $100 for mine when
it was brand new. I certainly wouldn't part with that kind of money
for one now. They come cheaper than that; I'd wait a bit if your're
inclined to go that way.

sd

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"sd" <sd55117@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news9nlq601mt3@news4.newsguy.com...
> In article <d9l60g02oce@news2.newsguy.com>, Eric <knippe@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> sd wrote:
>>
>> > I have been using a B I C "Beam Box" for a couple of decades now.
>> > [snip]
>>
>> I saw one at "that auction site" just the other day. Used, but he
>> wanted $100-$150 for it. How does it play in the 88-90 MHz area?
>
> As well as it does elsewhere. Keep in mind it's not an amplified
> antenna, so if the issue is incoming signal strength from a 10-watt
> FM or a tuner that's not as sensitive as you'd like, the Beam Box
> won't do that much for you. It's a passive antenna designed to weed
> out a good signal from among the distortion and garbage.
>
> As for paying $100 for it, I don't think I paid $100 for mine when
> it was brand new. I certainly wouldn't part with that kind of money
> for one now. They come cheaper than that; I'd wait a bit if your're
> inclined to go that way.

I sold one a few years ago on eBay for about $20 plus shipping. I paid $0
for it. I'd put the true value range at $0-25.

I'd also stress that the unit won't work miracules. It essentially is a
folded, folded dipole and it's signal boost is weaker than a straight folded
dipole. What it can help with is orientation, since it can be turned 270
degrees pretty easily.

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Buster Mudd wrote:

> I can't say I've ever specifically checked its performance at any one
> part of the spectrum; it's just been our go-to antenna whenever someone
> can't pick up their favorite stations using the stock dipole. The only
> time the Magnum-Dynalab ST-2 hasn't solved the problem perfectly was
> when we were dealing with folks in rural Connecticut who wanted to
> listen to a low-output college station in southern New Jersey. (The
> solution for them was an SE879 outdoor antenna from SE Engineering.)

Thanks. I received email stating that the ST-2, at 54 inches, suffered
in the 88-92 MHz range. Since the station I'm after is at 88.3 MHz, I
was interested by the FM-2G-C.

Archived from groups: rec.audio.high-end (More info?)

sd wrote:

> > > I have been using a B I C "Beam Box" for a couple of decades now.
> > > [snip]
> >
> > I saw one at "that auction site" just the other day. Used, but he
> > wanted $100-$150 for it. How does it play in the 88-90 MHz area?
>
> As well as it does elsewhere. Keep in mind it's not an amplified
> antenna, so if the issue is incoming signal strength from a 10-watt
> FM or a tuner that's not as sensitive as you'd like, the Beam Box
> won't do that much for you. It's a passive antenna designed to weed
> out a good signal from among the distortion and garbage.
>
> As for paying $100 for it, I don't think I paid $100 for mine when
> it was brand new. I certainly wouldn't part with that kind of money
> for one now. They come cheaper than that; I'd wait a bit if your're
> inclined to go that way.

That price included another piece of equipment, a "signal grabber" or
some such thing. If it is just a dipole (or folded dipole), chances
are that it is optimized for around 102 MHz, and suffers a little at
88.3 MHz.

Thanks.