I found out as soon as I got my HD Radio home that amplified antennas like those from Terk are a no-no. But I've heard that some folks have had success with in-line amplifiers.

Has anyone here found an antenna amplifier (for FM HD) that actually improves (rather than destroys!) reception?

Can you utilize the unamplified all-direction Weingard outdoor FM antenna Model PR-6010 for $32 and place it in the attic or garage or some other place-you need 67" maximum width.
Richard

i got one from receptec used for automotive, and it works great
needs 9v on the ant line though, and AM isnt that great compared to others ive had

Mike--

I think you may have read my other thread where I use a Channel Master 7777 preamp.. Yep, it's use is mainly for TV, however, it breathed new life into my Polk I-Sonic.

I have recently ordered one of the JVC HD car head units off of ebay; I am anxious to try the CM preamp on it, to see how the front end of that receiver handles it. So far, on the Polk I have had zero issues of overload or intermod, and I live just a few miles from the big Charlotte tower farm!

Regards,
Steve

Yep Skoone I read your thread. Sorry...getting older...fewer brain cells...couldn't remember exactly where I read it. But it made me start thinking. There's a particular target I'm after...WFAE Charlotte (90.7). Great analog reception, NO digital. And they multicast.

Yeah, they do offer multicasting.. It's pretty decent.. Seems to be more of a new age, folksy type of format... They're calling it "eXPonential Radio" or something similar to that... Artists like Steely Dan (really deep tracks from these guys), Dishwalla, Clapton, Joan Osborne, etc.. They just did a bit of BadFinger.. Good stuff! Plus, their audio quality sounds proper, not a bunch of squashed up junk. These guys care what they sound like. Their transmitter antenna is at 800 feet on the Hood Road tower in East Charlotte, close to the eastern half of I-485. I emailed the PD, Paul Stribling.. A very nice chap, he used to do the smooth jazz format on the analog side before they went all-talk.

Anyway, this one would be a goodie to have if you can snag it. Not sure where, you're located, I guessed somewhere near Wilkesboro perhaps.. I don't know if their translator in Hickory would have digital service.. 90.3, try that. If no luck, then do what you can for the 90.7 Hood Road site. I'm thinking a yagi with a preamp might be your best solution.

Steve

Exponential Radio is what the HD2 channel of a public broadcasting station here is carrying. It's the format I totally don't get, the one that played a punky Buzzcocks song followed by a Van Morrison ballad if I remember correctly. The audio quality is the worst of any HD2 station here. There's no bass and the stereo image seems to be screwy.

I have experimented with a Magnum dynalab 205 "FM Signal Sleuth" RF amplifier, and it does improve HD lock on my one DX station (KZEL 96.1 about 110 miles away).
My Sangean HDT-1 has a readout of "carrier to noise ratio" (when locked onto a HD signal). Right now on KZEL I see 67dB with the amp on and 62dB with it off. If the station is going in and out of HD, turning on the amp will usually lock it in. Note... 70dB is the best that I have seen on local (Portland) stations. I am using an APS-9B antenna, about 20 ft AGL.