New Member - Antenna Questions

[MR78]

Hello folks. Just joined. Looks like a great forum. I have been fooling around with broadcast listening since I was a kid. Now 60 and still hooked. Amateur radio took up most of my attention over the years but I would like to get a decent outdoor antenna up for FM.

I have been surfing the web and looking at:

1. Directive Systems DS88 - 17.2' boom. Nice antenna.

2. APS-9B

3. Antennacraft FM6

4. Winegard HD6055P

I believe that is about all there is out there right now? I have also looked at the W6STI antenna comparisons/modeling which were very informative.

However, I just wanted to get some opinions from real users. I live in the Memphis, TN area and will probably be using the receiver on my McIntosh MX-117 tuner/preamp.

I realize this is a VERY broad question but I would like to hear your thoughts.

Regards and Happy New Year.........

[MR78]

Talked to Dave at Directive Systems this morning. He is no longer making the DS88 so you can confine your answers to 2-4. Thanks much.

[cd637299]

I own a Radio Shack 6 element FM antenna that I believe is equal to the Antennacraft. I think it is great as far as bang-for-the-buck. Nice directionality, and I certainly get stations I cannot get on rabbit ears.

BTW you own an MR 78? If so, oh wow.....Keep us posted this summer if you can hear any Cuban FM, seeing u live in Memphis.....prime Es distance.

cd

[MR78]

Well, I'm a big six meter (50 MHz) operator. E is common on that band in the summer and some winter months. I imagine it is much less common on FM broadcast. I know that E on two meters (144) is very rare. We see it about two or three times a year if we are VERY lucky. You have to be sitting near the radio to catch it. It doesn't last long.

I did a search of the RS web page and it doesn't appear they sell any directional antennas for FM these days.

It seems like the Antennacraft might be the best bang for the buck in terms of pricing.

[Russ-PA]

From another comment either here or on the email list, I don't believe the APS-9B is available new either any more.

[MR78]

Talked to them this morning. The APS-9B is available, $99.00. They did have a model with a longer boom that has apparently been discontinued.

Thank you......

[Mike-CT]

That was the APS-13. You mean to say that Ed Hanlon discontinued it ???????????? Hmmm...his website shows it (http://www.antennaperformance.com) but when you click on the image you see an APS-9B. Well, I'm in shock. But then, the demand for them was only so large anyway. Too bad.
The APS-9B is still for sale on his website. The Winegard is still available. I've seen it on the Starke Electronics website. This one is pretty good. Not much out there anymore, is there.

[MR78]

So how do we compare the Antennacraft to the Winegard to the APS-9B???????? Especially interested in durability.

[cd637299]

Well since Danny sez that the Antennacraft FM = the old R Shack model, I'll chime in and say that the plastic clips that hold the elements in place don't last very long.

Another member gave a capital idea on how to possibly preserve the elements in place, should a plastic clip break.....get those plastic cable tie wraps you find at a Home Depot or Lowe's.

Since I do not own the other model, I cannot compare.

Disclaimer: One thing that is killing the FM DXing hobby is IBOC (for HD Radio). Surely, like Miami, Memphis must have its share of stations now, where you hear a hiss on the sidebands of FM stations. That's IBOC, and DXers have nothing to help them on it. Let's say, e.g., you wanna hear a first-adjacent to WMC-FM 99.7 (either on 99.5 or 99.9). If you hear strong hiss there, you are SOL hearing anything there, unless DX is hot and heavy.
96.7 from here used to be the prime Cuba frequency (since there are no class A's and above in FL on 96.7).....Now that WPOW 96.5 has IBOC----well, you get the picture. *Sigh*

Although the list needs severe updating, check out www.ibiquity.com to check which stations in/near Memphis have IBOC (see "Find a Station").

cd

[K4NBF]

I use a Winegard 6065P, which was discontinued a few years ago and replaced by the 6055. The 6065 is larger than the 6055, with ten elements as opposed to eight. Although I'm sure they are quite different, I've had pretty good luck with the 6065. It's directional enough to get a bit of a null on my locals (most are about 20 miles away), which usually allows DX of decent strength to cut through their IBOC. I don't have anything to compare it to for other types of performance, as I've never used any other outdoor yagi antenna.

Durability wise, it has held up exceptionally well. Its been up for about 5 years now, and I recently re-installed it on a taller mast. As far as I could tell, it was in great condition, none of the elements were broken, bent, or rusted, and the connector was still in good shape. My environment here in California isn't terribly harsh, but it has stood through strong winds, persistent sunlight, and occasional rain. If the new version is similar to this one, then it is definitely a sturdy antenna.

Edit - In regards to the post above, the Ibiquity IBOC list seems to be updated fairly regularly (at least the number of total stations keeps changing), but in my case some of the stations listed have not had IBOC for a long time (or ever) but are still on the list. I'm sure they don't want their station count to decrease, so they'll just leave stations up there. Also, with the current state of the radio industry, I'm sure some of the "coming soon" stations may take a long time to implement IBOC, if at all. Personally, I'm pretty optimistic that IBOC will not grow more than it already has, but it may take a while to die off I'm afraid...

[MR78]

Well, the digital radio channels are on some stations in Memphis. However, I don't see how they can continue to support them. Revenue at all broadcast outlets here in Memphis is WAY down. Prime time anchors are being let go on TV. Radio stations are letting local talent loose, not they had much to begin with. It would seem that money is going to drive all this. How can they invest in one or two extra channels when they can't place enough ads on the analog side????? I honestly don't know a single soul that has an HD radio here in Memphis. What is the point????????????

[cd637299]

To the DXer, MR, there is no point. At all. I see the 1 or 2 advantages of HD radio to Joe Public:

(1) It was meant to compete with Sirius & XM Radio.....advantage being, no monthly fee. One you get an HD radio, you're home free. You see readouts of song played, artist, etc.

(2) Just like XM/Sirius, the intention was CD quality sound. Having not heard HD Radio yet, I am not sure we can come to that conclusion.

There IS an HD radio out there that I plan to buy very soon, and it's also supposed to be a real DX machine as well, along with RDS readout and other goodies. Some here on this board have one: The Sony XDR-F1HD. And the price is $100 or less! Money is kinda tight for me too, so I have to wait.

Since you are new here, you are free to check out past columns. There are reviews of the above receiver, and other tricks/techniques on getting better DX.

cd

[MR78]

Thank you very much. Very interesting subject.

[Gary Hickerson]

MR-78,
So, you also, are a member of the 60+ club. Thats good.

About your question, on FM antennas. I would recommend the Winegard HD - 6065 (which is now out of production) But can be found at Summit Source, for about $68.00. It has 11 elements , well built, and has good gain.
Try this whttp://www.summitsource.com/winegard-hd6065-hd6065p.
Good luck.

Gary H.
Okla.

[K4AD]

"Talked to Dave at Directive Systems this morning...no longer making the DS88-8" That's a shame. Dave is a nice guy, and the antenna was really a quality piece, although really just for 88-92 mhz. However, if one wanted to copy and make a homebrew one, I see Dave still has the specs up on the www. complete with element length and spacings. :)

http://www.directivesystems.com/PDF/DS88-8.PDF

The APS-13 is discontinued as well? Sheesh.

My first directional was the Antennacraft FM10, and I have one of their (now discontinued) FM13's now. I can attest to the breakdown of the blue plastic insulators on the Antennacraft, but not sure that doesn't affect other manufacturers similar products as well. We get hit with ice storms around here so much that I have dreamed of copying either the APS-13 or the Korner 17.5 out of 6065 tubing from Texas Towers or the like. I beat the busehes for a MR78 for years before I lucked upon one for $500 in 1990. It replaced my Sumo Charlie at the time, but I had to sell it a few years later when times got tough. Nice tuner.