Connecting FM radio to TV outlet

[Bamboccio]

Hello,

Firstly would connecting the external aerial antenna provide signal to an FM radio?
If so where can I found a cable or just the female plug for the radio side?

Thanks!

 

[Terryl]

It depends on what band or bands the TV antenna is setup for, yes an FM radio will work on a TV antenna, but some TV antennas are for the UHF band and may not work too good for the FM band, TV antennas are also directional, so may not pick up the FM stations if they are in different directions then the local TV stations.

FM band is from about 87 MHz to 108 MHz, UHF TV is from 416 MHz to 700 MHz (there or about, this depends on where and what country you live in) so you can see why a UHF TV antenna may not work so good for the FM radio.

If you still watch the TV with off air signals, then you should use a TV/FM signal splitter, (if the TV antenna can handle the FM signals) this will help you out with the correct signals to each

If you have a VHF and UHF TV antenna then it should work for FM, and what type of connector are you looking for, a photo of the jack on the radio would be nice.

 

[Bamboccio]

Thank you - Its a Tivoli Radio:

Tivoli Audio Model One Owner's Manual (Page 10 of 13) | ManualsLib

www.manualslib.com

I think it is an F connector same as those used for satellite cables, am I wrong?

Thanks!

 

[Terryl]

Ahhh, no your correct it is an "F" type coax connector, then any hardware store should have a connector or a pre-made coax cable to connect to the radio.
Now does your TV antenna support the FM signal, that's the question, if so then all you would need is a 2 way signal splitter and the coax cable from it to the radio.

Are you still using the TV for off air TV stations, if not then just connect the coax from the antenna to the radio, and according to the manual you have to flip a switch in back to use that input.

But again the antenna must support the FM band, a UHF only antenna would not work too good.

 

[ozumo]

I find unplugging nearby cheap switching mode power adapters (the type that come with everything electronic these days) greatly improves FM & DAB reception on portable radios.

 

[PaulR]

If the radio only has provision for an external aerial and no telescopic aerial of its own (I can't open the pdf to check) then almost any external metal will provide a better signal than nothing. The exception to that would be if there's some kind of bandpass filter in line which filters out all but the TV frequencies.

So, go ahead and try an adaptor cable. If it works and you still need the aerial for the TV as well then get a frequency splitter (diplexer) so you have two outlets.

 

[Bamboccio]

Thank you all. I get some buzz noise on pretty much all channels. So it could be coming from other power adapters as you said. I have one wire based antenna so I wanted to give a go at something external. I will get the adapter and report.
Thanks!

 

[Terryl]

They do have external AM/FM antennas available on Amazon, some are even amplified.

 

[MCelliotG]

My Alcad FM200 antenna I have on my roof receives all the regional DVB-T with no issues and plenty of signal (although not used for this at all, I discovered it randomly).

 

[rodscha]

are you trying to DX on FM?
if so,a1m30 long "t" structure of electric wire oriented toward your preferred set of transmitters should work fine
...it is what I used in North france to get UK and Holland and farther statons (100-150kms) needs to be oriented and "fiddled"...then it just works
the longer part of the "t" should be 1m30 long ,so you need a single wire (divide eletric wire into 2),build the "t" maybe on a piece of wood...it just works better than the stuff sold in shops!
1 direction gave me UK another Holland another Brussels etc... all this from Lille..; back in the 90's
works wonders in "flat" areas,N-France belgium NL...seaside anywhere!
btw where are you?

 

[Bamboccio]

I am in London. Still have not tried, I will do early next week and report back. For now I wonder if I just need a filtered socket?

 

[Channel Hopper]

No filter should be required even though many combined sockets will be 'diplexed' with a band separator circuit inside.

Try simply on the existing socket for now, just to verify some low frequency signal is getting though from outside. This could be a simple short wire from the centre pin to the centre pin on the radio input.

 

[rodscha]

what kind of stations do you want to receive?
the signals from London ones should be strong enough..
a simple aerial should suffice,
you may even get "too much" signal,then cut off half of your existing aerial:this happens in Paris:too many stations too strong signals!
.or are you trying to get French FM from a hilltop?In which case the above mentioned system will work,pointed at Calais of course!

 

[Bamboccio]

Thank you all. I am trying to get decent signal with less interference. I bought an external telescopic aerial which did not give much gain against the inbuilt aerial in my radio. Finally I built a cable to connect the radio to the tv socket and the signal is a tiny bit better. So in the end the TV aerial appears to be the way to go.

 

[Bamboccio]

After trying this for a while I am not quite sure if its just the bit of cable that acts as an aerial as the reception is affected by my position.

 

[Terryl]

Did you flip the switch to the external antenna input on the back?? you should get a ton of signals vs the internal one with a good outdoor antenna of any type. (well most any)

Try looking for one of these types at your location, they are amplified.

https://www.terk.com/radio-antennas/