FM antenna made simple

Bmpnyc- I am referring to a device about 4-5' long and approx. size of a 2x4. I don't have any significant multipath problems here, I put it in the attic (20' above grade) and I didn't hook up the amplifier, and was pulling in many, many stations without even a good physical connection to my HT receiver (the Yamaha has something that almost looks like a Pal type connector, can't thread the f connector on, but just placed it so the "hot" center lead touched, or even came very close) to the center of the amp connector). Didn't do any critical listening, it was just an experiment on the TV antenna I was going to return. Have no idea how it performs under more difficult conditions.

Well I have tried two of your suggestions. First I moved the T attenna to a different inside wall that faces the direction that I suspect most local signals are coming from and most stations are were received more consistently and clearer.

Sean, I made up the vertical dipole you so completely outlined above. I was able to solder the wires and as an initial trial ran in outside and tacked it behind a wooden shutter on the first floor of our wooden shingle covered home. The stations coming from this side of the house(north) are coming in beautifully, considerably clearer than with the T.
Another local station that I suspect comes from the west is not coming in as well as it did with the T. I am planning to move it higher on a east facing wall to see if that will help.

Glad that it is working out a little better for you. The reason that i said to mount it in the window was for specific reasons. If it is mounted in the middle of a window, it is not REAL close to any metal that might detune it plus it is still indoors. This protects the wire from being exposed to the weather and will keep both it and all of the connections from corroding. As mentioned previously, this basic design is omnidirectional, i.e. it should pick up all directions relatively equally as long as the entire antenna is vertical. If you've got aluminum siding, the wooden shudder is near a large metal frame for the window or you have conduit or wiring located closely to the antenna in the wall behind it, this could cause both detuning and directionality. If you can, you might want to run another wire dipole on the west side of your house and then simply hook up an antenna switchbox that you can get from Rat Shack. This would give you the best of both worlds at the flip of a switch. Sean
>