Radio Road

Correct

72.228.59.174

stellavox

A

In Reply to: RE: External FM signal strength meter? posted by ltman on July 15, 2023 at 19:22:08

You are down in the microvolt level - plus you have to be able to "tune" to a single frequency of interest (rejecting everything else) and covers the relative bandwidth of the (150Khz or so) signal whose strength you want to measure.

Many companies made portable, tunable Field Strength Meters. Most covered the TV and maybe cable TV bandwith(s). Used ones are pretty cheap on the market now. And the commercial FM band is within a lot of these units' capability.

Charles

Follow Ups:

RE: Correct - ltman 14:42:10 07/17/23 (7)
Thanks, I am giving this one a try.
- Is there anyway to tune that thing to the frequency that you want? )MT( - J. S. Bach 16:42:04 07/17/23 (6)
  Later Gator,
  Dave
  - RE: Is there anyway to tune that thing to the frequency that you want? )MT( - ltman 18:37:20 07/17/23 (5)
    I don't think it can be tuned. I can try to sell it to some other idiot if it doesn't work for FM band (lower end of which is where my NPR stations are).
    I did find a map showing Potosi Mountain where the transmitter is located for KCNV. And I have eyeballed with good result the 4 element Yagi I am now using (flimsy thing but it is providing much better reception than the Crane dipole). Easy to see the mountain from my location although I am considered on the fringe of their reception.
    However I have two other tuners in the house I am working on restoring, so it would be nice to have a reliable way to aim an antenna while working on those.
    
    Edits: 07/17/23
    - RE: Is there anyway to tune that thing to the frequency that you want? )MT( - stellavox 04:11:10 07/18/23 (4)
      Does/does'nt one of your tuners have a signal strength meter? If so use that to aim the antenna. If you can see the mountain / antenna location, the tuners are probably "limiting" i.e "fully" getting the station with maximum Signal/Noise ratio
      - RE: Is there anyway to tune that thing to the frequency that you want? )MT( - ltman 12:00:58 07/18/23 (3)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Is there anyway to tune that thing to the frequency that you want? )MT( posted by stellavox on July 18, 2023 at 04:11:10
        
        Unfortunately both the Sony and Pioneer only have led "steps", no analog meters.
        
        The led steps seem very crude, even with top level led lit, the Sony has some issue sometimes with reception using the omnis.
        
        And since I have multiple antennas and even the dipole and omni have some directionality, I would like to have some way to guide the orientation and gauge the gains.
        
        RE: Is there anyway to tune that thing to the frequency that you want? )MT( - 6bq5 21:22:43 07/18/23 (2)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Is there anyway to tune that thing to the frequency that you want? )MT( posted by ltman on July 18, 2023 at 12:00:58
        
        FM is in between channel 6 & 7 on the TV dial- so yes in the thick of it as it were-
        You should also try FM Fool- you can put in your zip code and height of antenna and it will map polars for available stations-
        This may well help as most antennas are directional - except the ST-2 from MD and analogues...
        but all others are directional...
        
        for signal strength to be meaningful you also need to look at center tune (and whether they are broadcasting accurately) and multipath - it can get complicated -
        is your MR-77 still extant?
        the tuning section is pretty good and it has a multipath detector - assuming that the tube is not tiered...
        I gave mine away also - but I have two MR-74s...
        
        Happy Listening
        
        RE: Is there anyway to tune that thing to the frequency that you want? )MT( - ltman 20:49:12 07/20/23 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Is there anyway to tune that thing to the frequency that you want? )MT( posted by 6bq5 on July 18, 2023 at 21:22:43
        
        MR 77 is gone, sold, but then destroyed in shipping. I did get a partial reimbursement.
        
        I paid UPS to double box it, but they did only a cursory job, hence the damage.
        
        RE: Is there anyway to tune that thing to the frequency that you want? )MT( - ltman 20:47:21 07/20/23 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Is there anyway to tune that thing to the frequency that you want? )MT( posted by 6bq5 on July 18, 2023 at 21:22:43
        
        that sounds (pun intended) interesting, will give it a try!

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