Anyone know of any radio’s that have an external antenna port that can plug into a rooftop free to air antenna?
I’m assuming you’re looking at FM?
Yes, some Digitech ones like this one from Jaycar does
Or Tecsun is another brand that has some models that do.
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Yes I am looking at FM mainly but also DAB+ if possible.
Thanks
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Hmmm, not many portable models around that have FM and DAB and an external antenna socket for both.
A mini HiFi receiver like this one would
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Cheers, I’m assuming that DAB+ will work with the DTV antenna correct?
I know that the FM will.
If your VHF TV antenna is horizontally mounted, and you are outside the metro area, you may have trouble getting DAB on it, as DAB is transmitted vertically.
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The DTV antenna isn’t designed to received FM - it covers channels 6-12. FM is channels 3,4 and 5. DAB is covered because it falls between 9 and 11
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We have been told our aerial supports FM Frequencies. Is that a load of rubbish then?
Potentially. I wasn’t aware of any TV/FM combo antenna being available. I’m sure someone here could advise if you provide a brand or description or model number. Even from a picture it can instantly be seen if FM is supported.
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I can tell you the frequencies it supports on the manual…
They Are:
VHF: 87.5 - 230MHz
UHF: 470 - 862MHz
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That sounds like it would only be designed for reception in prime reception areas - not really suited to getting signals from afar.
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That does include FM then.
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It’ll have an amp. not sure how many dB.
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Is there any need for the UHF?
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Not really, except for C31 on channel 32 UHF… although thats going to shut down this year, The People fitting it only supply dual VHF/UHF antennas I believe, I need to send some more enquiries really.
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Hard to judge without seeing specs and design. The combo unit may give a good result taking into account footprint (being compact) and cost. If the installer is saying they can get the results with that antenna and they are reputable, it should be good.
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If you would like to take a look at them, they are called “TVGuy”, they are very popular in Melbourne and Gippsland as far as I’m aware, They are the only people who said they can guarantee atleast semi-reliable reception of Mount Dandenong from my location and were the best value for money.
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If you get DAB+ from Traralgon, I will be very surprised. When I live in Pakenham, I struggle to get DAB+ and was very patchy at best(It was the Holding the antenna in the air and being on one foot situation)
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Done some digging on this and now I’m even more curious.
91.5 was originally to be allocated to the first new commercial radio service in 2000 - what became Nova 100 (3MEL) instead launched on 100.3 displacing 3YYR Geelong, now 94.7 The Pulse (3PLS). This limitation RE: ABNT3 Launceston is outlined in the October 2001 LAP variation. (link)
This service is required to protect the reception of ABNT3 Tasmania North East. The specification is limited to a maximum ERP of 22 kW on the bearing of 170° until the clearance of ABNT3 Tasmania North East or test transmissions conducted by the licensee confirm that operation in accordance with the above specification does not cause interference to the reception of ABNT3 in areas where an alternative television channel is not available.
By 2004, ABNT had vacated VHF channel 3, and this stipulation was removed from the three affected Melbourne frequencies - the then-unallocated 91.5, now Smoothfm (3PTV); 89.9 Triple Seven, now TheLight (3TSC), and 90.7 SYN (3SYN).
This is where things become confusing. The April 2004 LAP variation licences SYN at the conventional maximum ERP of 56kW in line with the rest of the Melbourne-wide FMs. (link)
Bearing or Sector (Clockwise direction) Maximum ERP 0°T - 30°T 56 kW 30°T - 150°T 2 kW 150°T - 240°T 56 kW 240°T - 250°T 16 kW 250°T - 360°T 56 kW
This is consistent through the subsequent variation in 2006 (link), and is still present in the most recent LAP from 2017 (link).
Yet, the licence image for 3SYN available on ACMA’s RRL database (link) instead outlines the station’s radiation pattern as the following:
Bearing or Sector (°T) Maximum ERP (W) 0 - 30 35 000.0 30 - 150 2 000.0 150 - 240 35 000.0 240 - 250 16 000.0 250 - 360 35 000.0
Note that 35 kW in the 150°T - 240°T bearing is greater than the 22 kW limitation required pre-2004 to prevent interference to ABNT3, which rules out my earlier theory.
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I was having a chat with a friend who operates River FM and we got chatting about NAS operating stations that operate in the VHF frequencies.
And it got me curious, is it possible to buy a desktop radio that receives such frequencies as it would normal FM/AM? He mentioned it was (As he had one) but there hard to track down, so I was curious if anyone has one or knows where to buy one.