Antenna Help

How to make an FM antenna for WHYS Radio

There is a simple, homemade antenna that can pull-in WHYS 96.3 FM. This antenna tuned exactly for 96.3 in the spectrum of available radio frequencies. These are plans for a T-shaped antenna made of 300-ohm lead-in wire. The critical segment of this antenna is the crossbar of the T. The vertical tail of the T is not important. For your antenna to pick up the full width of the FM band the crossbar of the T should be 4 feet , 9 inches long. That length will give good reception across the FM dial. However, making an antenn that is 4 feet, 10&1/3 inches will tune the antenna directly to 96.3.
300 ohm lead wire

cut slit
Designing your antenna to zero in on a particular FM station will not exclude other stations.

Making your own antenna is simple. You will need the following materials: small wire cutters, plastic electrical tape, soldering iron (helpful but not essential), 300-ohm lead-in wire (this is standard FM radio and TV wire, available in radio supply stores for 30 cents a yard) and 6 feet of 1/2 by 2 inch wood lath (also optional).

The 300-ohm wire consist of two stands of copper wire held parallel to each other by the plastic body of insulation (Figure 2). Cut the horizontal crossbar of your antenna to the desired length, but with an extra inch at either end. Use the wire cutters to strip the plastic away from the extra inch at either end, exposing the wire. Twist the exposed wires together at each end, solder them if you wish, then wrap each end in plastic electrical tape. cut and strip insulation

Find the center of the horizontal crossbar. just above the lower wire, cut a 3 inch slit with a sharp knife (Figure 3). be careful. Now use the wire cutters to cut the lower wire in the middle of the slit you made with the knife. Bend the wire down and strip off the plastic (Figure 4). Now you are ready to attach the vertical tail of the T to the horizontal crossbar. Strip an inch of plastic off one end of the vertical tail as you did with the ends of the crossbar. Then twist each wire together with its corresponding exposed wire in the middle of the crossbar (Figure 5). You can solder each twist for added strength, but you needn't bother with this if you make sure the wires are securely fastened together. The left and right wires should not touch each other. Carefully wrap each wire with electrical tape.

You can tack or nail the horizontal crossbar to a thin strip of wood to give it rigidity (6 foot length of 1/2 by 2 inch wood lath.), or simply tack it to the wall. (although direction is important) The length of the tail is determined by the location of your horizontal crossbar. The higher you put the antenna, the better your reception will be.Any antenna placed on a roof should be equipped with a lightning arrester. At the FM receiver end of the tail, strip off an inch or two of plastic and attach one wire to each of the two FM antenna terminals on the back of the receiver. Be sure the wires do not touch. In placing your antenna, it is important that the horizontal crossbar be perpendicular to the line of broadcast from the FM station you wish to receive. The horizontal crossbar should face Downtown Eau Claire. (check a road map if you are uncertain about the direction)

There is a simple, homemade antenna that can pull-in WHYS 96.3 FM. This antenna tuned exactly for 96.3 in the spectrum of available radio frequencies. These are plans for a T-shaped antenna made of 300-ohm lead-in wire. The critical segment of this antenna is the crossbar of the T. The vertical tail of the T is not important. For your antenna to pick up the full width of the FM band the crossbar of the T should be 4 feet , 9 inches long. That length will give good reception across the FM dial. However, making an antenn that is 4 feet, 10&1/3 inches will tune the antenna directly to 96.3.
	Designing your antenna to zero in on a particular FM station will not exclude other stations. Making your own antenna is simple. You will need the following materials: small wire cutters, plastic electrical tape, soldering iron (helpful but not essential), 300-ohm lead-in wire (this is standard FM radio and TV wire, available in radio supply stores for 30 cents a yard) and 6 feet of 1/2 by 2 inch wood lath (also optional).
The 300-ohm wire consist of two stands of copper wire held parallel to each other by the plastic body of insulation (Figure 2). Cut the horizontal crossbar of your antenna to the desired length, but with an extra inch at either end. Use the wire cutters to strip the plastic away from the extra inch at either end, exposing the wire. Twist the exposed wires together at each end, solder them if you wish, then wrap each end in plastic electrical tape.
	Find the center of the horizontal crossbar. just above the lower wire, cut a 3 inch slit with a sharp knife (Figure 3). be careful. Now use the wire cutters to cut the lower wire in the middle of the slit you made with the knife. Bend the wire down and strip off the plastic (Figure 4). Now you are ready to attach the vertical tail of the T to the horizontal crossbar. Strip an inch of plastic off one end of the vertical tail as you did with the ends of the crossbar. Then twist each wire together with its corresponding exposed wire in the middle of the crossbar (Figure 5). You can solder each twist for added strength, but you needn't bother with this if you make sure the wires are securely fastened together. The left and right wires should not touch each other. Carefully wrap each wire with electrical tape.