OT radio won't work in shop!!?? Suggestions?

56oliver · Jan 16, 2017

Kinda a stupid question but maybe one of you guys can help me. I have had a nice little Sony radio in my 60 by 100 pole barn/shop. I can only get about 1 station on it. I guess the metal walls don't like it much. I've tried running a small gauge wire out the window about 6 feet and it seems to help some but it's still bad. Anyone got any ideas? Thanks

Royse · Jan 16, 2017

I have the same problem with my metal buildings.
Easiest fix for me was to run a Cat6 cable out there and use
a computer/tablet/whatever to stream music over the internet.
May not be an option for you, but its an idea.

RayP(MI) · Jan 16, 2017

Radio people call that a "Faraday shield." A polebarn is pretty well enough rf proof. Take the radio out in the yard and see if it performs better. If it does, that indicates that you need an outside antenna. Something like an automobile antenna would probably work if mounted out and clear of the building.

Janicholson · Jan 16, 2017

The antenna needs to be outside. Use shielded cable (coax) to go from the antenna to the outside. then (from the Coax center
to a wire about 2.5 meters long between two supports. SHould do well for AM or FM Jim

Ray · Jan 16, 2017

I hAve a car antenna on the side of my building.The coax goes to a tractor radio
inside the shop.I use an old two way radio power supply to power the radio.Worked
in my 72x42 building for over 10 years.

old · Jan 16, 2017

Metal shields radio waves so you need a simple antenna set up. If you have any of the old 300 ohm flat wire tha twas used for antennas years ago you can make a simple dipole antenna out of a piece that is 5 foot long. Twist the ends together and in the center of one wire cut it and run one side to the antenna if the radio and the other end to some place that is a ground on the radio like one of the screw in the case. Of set up an old TV antenna out side of the building or simply put the radio in a window

504 · Jan 16, 2017

I am with Ray.

Hobo,NC · Jan 16, 2017

Car radio, 12V power supply and an old boom box speakers. Ran the antenna outside it will rock 8)

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Mark - IN. · Jan 16, 2017

What you need is an antenna. Metal barns or barns with metal roofs are kind of bad for reception and its even worse when you're far away from any stations. A radio, some wire, a good antenna, maybe even a signal booster can all make the difference. I'd start with a simple basic antenna though.

Good luck.

Mark

Royse · Jan 16, 2017

Here's my antenna Mark. I still use the internet to stream.
No need to worry about wavelength or impedance mismatches.

JDEM · Jan 16, 2017

What band, AM or FM? Does a car radio work better when you park in the shop? Most radios today have poor reception without good antennas, but some do much
better then others. I am in a fringe area and I had many radios that got near nothing in my shop, but a Kaito 1103 pulls in near everything I want.

redtom · Jan 16, 2017

I have tv coax hooked to my radio at work and center wire hooked to 3 ft rod through the block wall. It does almost nothing to help reception. It comes and goes with the weather. T-8 flourescents killed the reception when they were installed. and its only one row that was put in.

Stephen Newell · Jan 16, 2017

I had the same problem. I just hooked the radio up to TV rabbit ears and it worked.

Geo-TH,In · Jan 17, 2017

did you try putting radio next to window? Try using window that is in the same
direction as the radio station.

Radio waves are blocked by metal. So is you have both metal sides and roof, you
are inside a metal can blocking electromagnetic waves. Aliens or government
can't ease drop on you. If you bring the radio waves in you may let them in
too. HA HA.
geo

Texasmark1 · Jan 17, 2017

That should take care of the FM part, or at least improve it.

Mike M · Jan 17, 2017

I can't get a portable plug in radio to work in my building either.
funny thing is I can turn the one on in the truck parked in there and it works fine. Go figure ?

Briar Hill Brittanys · Jan 17, 2017

Bought one of these, tremendous improvement.

http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/STELLAR-LABS-30-2460-/30-2460

Hobo,NC · Jan 17, 2017

Antenna pix Antenna came off a car I had setting around. This will resolve your radio issues I have noting in it but time. You can pick up a cheap power supply and jam life will be good.

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oldsarge · Jan 17, 2017

Don't really believe in FM (at least the crap that's on it)

old · Jan 17, 2017

I know I have one set up on my shop radio and it has been that way for 10 plus years. Radio plays 24/7-365. Help keep things out that do not belong in the shop also good old rock and roll all the time

Geo-TH,In · Jan 17, 2017

Mike, my dewalt shop radio had trouble getting a single. I used a 3 ft jumper wire. Connect one end of wire to radio antenna. Connected the other end of wire to the overhead garage door track. The L-shaped track works great as an antenna. Bubba came up with this idea first.
geo

Dave Sherburne, NY · Jan 17, 2017

If you have a computer in your shop use that as your radio. I can get stations from all over the world mostly listen to AM 1290 Wichita Falls Texas No Static whatsoever

C. Amick · Jan 17, 2017

Do you have two terminals on the radio to connect an antennae? If so, make a dipole antennae and stick it out the window. They are easy and inexpensive to make. Might be worth a try.

Fred Werring · Jan 18, 2017

What I did

Fred
Antenna

OT radio won't work in shop!!?? Suggestions?

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