Skip to content Skip to sidebar Skip to footer
Página inicial / I Live Under Cabinet Radio Model Ikb138s Reviews

I Live Under Cabinet Radio Model Ikb138s Reviews

Postar um comentário

NCPR broadcasts throughout the Due north Land on FM. FM is a truly wonderful thing … if handled correctly. To receive and relish our quality programs to the fullest, yous'll need the three A's of radio:

  1. A good radio
  2. A good antenna
  3. A good location

If you accept all three of these, you could potentially receive an FM station up to 100 miles away! Yet, most of usa have, at best, simply 1 of these items…

RADIOS: For good reception, a radio must have good selectivity (selectivity is a radio's power to separate weak stations located nearby, on the FM punch, stiff stations) and good sensitivity (the power to receive weak, distant, stations at all!)

Machine Radios: You already probably have a radio with these features. This radio is located in your automobile. Automobile radios have to be built to high standards to provide decent reception in a moving vehicle, in the presence of varying terrain, with a serious nearby source of interference (your engine!) … all while being bounced around on North Land roads. You've already probably noticed that FM radio reception is usually ameliorate in your machine than in your house. This is partially because your car radio is probably better than your home radio.

Home/Function radios: Most dwelling house radios have poor selectivity and sensitivity (we like to phone call them "junk" in the radio business). Typical $nineteen.95 radios with analog tuning (as opposed to digital tuning, where the radio station's frequency is displayed in illuminated numbers) volition work, but merely near a radio station's transmitter. About clock radios, under kitchen cabinet radios, "boom boxes" , crank-up radios, etc. just don't work very well… especially when compared to a car radio!

RadioBob Recommends:

  1. Ripping a auto radio from a car, edifice a 12 volt DC power supply, amalgam a really cool Honduras mahogany or Purpleheart cabinet, and finding some nice external speakers.
  2. OK, seriously, there are a few smashing radios out there… yes, they practice cost more than a $xix.95 plastic throw-abroad radio… but they perform MUCH better. They sound great, and are a quality product. Today, (early 2009) I'd recommend the Boston Acoustics "Horizon Solo" clock/tabular array radio for about $100. Or the stereo version (the Boston Acoustics Horizon Duo) for $150. Then at that place is the Tivoli "Model One" if you don't demand a clock, and like a "retro" analog tuning dial (effectually $140)… or even the button-filled Sangean WR-2 (besides around $140)
  3. If you happen to have a component "stereo" system (typically separate amplifier/tuner, with separate speakers) your tuner already might have decent sensitivity and selectivity …. Try connecting a amend antenna (come across below) and run into how your reception improves! If you'd similar to buy a state-of-the-art FM tuner (at a very reasonable price) get the SONY XDR-F1HD (under $100). Reviews take stated that this is one of the all-time tuners ever built! Recollect that you lot have to have an external amplifier and speakers for this one!

ANTENNA/LOCATION LOCATION/ANTENNA ANTENNA/LOCATION LOCATION/ANTENNA

These two items are actually MORE important than the kind of radio you're using… and they are related in a big mode. You can get the same reception in a bad location (using a great antenna) as you tin in a good location (using a bad antenna)! Simply lets work on improving both!

Statement from Radio Bob: You lot MUST have an antenna (of some kind) to receive any signals on a radio!

Another statement from Radio Bob: FM Radio Waves travel more-or-less in straight lines. They are weakened by objects that become betwixt the transmitter and receiver.

LOCATION:

  1. The closer you are located to an NCPR transmitter (bank check out this map) the better chance you take of receiving a clear signal from NCPR.
  2. The college upwardly your antenna is located, the ameliorate chance you have of receiving a articulate point from NCPR. In other words, if your radio has a congenital-in antenna, information technology will work ameliorate in your attic, than in your basement! Or if you accept an outdoor antenna, it will perform better on the roof, than on your kid's onetime swing-fix.
  3. If your house is on a loma, you'll get better reception than if it is in a valley.
  4. if there is a big object between your house and the NCPR transmitter (like a mountain, for case) y'all volition probably receive a poor signal!
  5. if your antenna is exterior, information technology will perform ameliorate than if it is inside.


ANTENNA:

Someone one time said that you lot MUST accept an antenna to receive any radio reception at all, and she/he was correct! The least expensive radios Merely accept congenital-in antennas, with no provision for connecting an external antenna. With better radios, you take a choice.


  1. A radio with a born antenna

    Built-in antennas: Even the lowliest radio has some sort of antenna… typically built-in, with typically poor performance. Almost clock/tabular array radios apply the ability string as an antenna. A "walkman" or iPod with an FM radio uses the headphone cord as the antenna! Except in strong indicate areas (nearby a transmitter) none of these perform very well. Signals they receive are commonly variable; for example, when you walk around the room, the signal strength will alter (usually for the worse!) Hither's a photo of a radio with a built-in antenna:

    Radio Bob Recommends: If your radio has a built-in antenna, and you are nearly satisfied with its performance, try moving the AC ability cord effectually… it may piece of work slightly better draped over the dresser, instead of lying on the floor.

  2. Wire "dipole" (commonly supplied with better radios): This is a flexible wire antenna that comes packed with some radios, including the few I recommended earlier. Using this antenna will amend reception somewhat… only as with ALL antennas, it'due south not the perfect solution. Information technology is fastened to the back of the radio, then "strung upward" somewhere in the room every bit a "T"… with the two ends extended every bit far as possible from each other. (this is the hard part, considering who wants an unsightly wire tacked on the walls of their living room…not even me!) It is also somewhat directional; information technology volition (in theory) pick up radio stations amend perpendicular to the horizontal portion of the "T". So if you listen to several stations broadcasting from unlike directions this might not exist ideal. (you might attempt snaking the antenna out a window and somehow tacking up the "T" portion outside for improved reception)
  3. Iii antenna types: rabbit ears (higher up left); outdoor directional (upper right); outdoor omni-directional (lower correct)
    Telescoping antenna(s)/"rabbit ears": Some "boom boxes" and portable radios have one or ii telescoping antenna rods. These perform somewhat better than the wire "dipoles" because you can motion the i (or 2) rods around for optimal performance. You tin can buy a pair of "rabbit ears" from Radio Shack for around $10.

    Radio Bob Tip: Don't bother with other indoor antennas that practice Non have a pair of cruddy long rods with them. Circular, ash-tray sized and other types of indoor antennas are meant for UHF television and won't work very will with an FM radio.

  4. Amplified indoor antennas: People ask me every solar day (well maybe every few months) virtually these things. … and I guess that my reply is something on the order of "it all depends" . There are several of these available, manufactured by Terk, Audiovox and others… they are dipole or like antennas, in an "attractive" case with a minor pre-amplifier intended to boost the bespeak before it gets to your radio. Technically at that place are several things wrong with this approach…. Typically your radio already has a very expert pre-amplifier built in to its circuitry. A "dipole" antenna continued to your radio should work just as well as an amplified antenna (if your radio isn't somehow "reception challenged" that is!) The additional pre-amplification sometimes causes increased dissonance in the reception, especially if there are strong FM stations in the neighborhood and you're trying to receive a weak ane!

    On the other hand, if you tin't have an outdoor antenna, and an indoor dipole or pair of "rabbit ears" is also cruddy, and then a slick-looking indoor antenna might exist the best for you lot…. However, I don't remember it will "work wonders" with your FM reception…. Permit me know how they work for you. Email radiobob@ncpr.org

  5. Outdoor Antennas: If yous tin can somehow manage an outdoor antenna, this is the way to go! Flat dwellers, renters, cave-dwellers, submarine operators…. I'm deplorable, as I know you probably can't install an outdoor antenna.

    The all-time thing for the residuum of us to do is to use (or re-purpose) a TV antenna that'southward already on your roof. If you nevertheless use information technology to receive off-air TV, then get an inexpensive TV-FM splitter. Or if you've switched to cable-Television or satellite-TV, so merely connect your old TV connection to your FM radio. You'll be surprised at how well this works!

    If you desire to install a new outdoor FM antenna, in that location are two types to cull from, "omni-directional" and "directional". An omni, volition receive FM signals from all directions, similar the Winegard Hard disk-6010 ($twenty). This is a decent choice if you lot like to station-hop.

    If you mostly listen to only ane station (NCPR perhaps?) or most of the stations you listen to are located in (more or less) the aforementioned management, or you could use an antenna "rotator", then y'all demand a directional antenna. NCPR typically purchases $800 heavy-duty log-periodics like this puppy, but you lot can practice almost every bit well yourself with a Winegard HD-6000FM ($25).

Installing an outdoor antenna tin can be fun, challenging, or both! Here'southward how:

  1. The easiest way to do this, is to accept someone else do the installation. Striking the Yellow Pages or enquire around.
  2. To do information technology yourself, "somehow" mount your new FM antenna on a metal pipe. (you can go antenna mast in 5 and x foot lengths). Somehow, secure the piping to the roof or side of your house (remember the higher the better!) . You can become tripod roof mounts and wall mounts from Radio Shack as well as antenna mast. (be careful, by the way!)
  3. If it'south a directional antenna, aim it towards the station of your choice (actually its better to await until the antenna is connected to the radio, then manually rotate the antenna for best reception and lock it downwards) Or purchase an antenna rotator… equally well as sufficient cable to connect it to the rotator command unit of measurement, which will exist inside your house somewhere.
  4. And then you demand to somehow get the signal from your antenna downward to your radio. In the "old" days, a apartment cablevision near ½" broad called "twin-lead" was all that was bachelor. Now everybody uses round coaxial cable. Your new antenna will probably accept ii screw terminals on it, so you'll need a coaxial "balun" or matching transformer to connect to this blazon of antenna. The matching transformer volition have an "F" connector on the end away from the antenna. Yous tin can purchase coaxial cable with mating "F" connectors already installed, or buy a special crimp tool and install your own "F" connectors on coaxial cable you purchase separately.
  5. Route the coaxial cable through the cellar, etc to the radio. Newer radios will as well accept an "F" connector on them… and a switch, labeled something like "internal" and "external"… connect the new cable from your new antenna to your radio, switch to "external" and hear more FM stations than you've ever heard before!

INTERFERENCE: Await! I didn't mention interference! (However, as adults, we should at least hash out it)

The temper is Full of radiofrequency signals, some of which will conflict with each other. Here's a few examples of types of interference to NCPR nosotros've heard about.

  1. iPod, Satellite Radio, FM Modulator (etc) interference: This has been a BIG problem for FM radio reception. These devices are designed to allow you mind to their audio through your FM radio… they accept a small FM transmitter which is designed to broadcast over a very limited range on an un-used FM frequency.

    In theory, this sounds perfectly acceptable, nonetheless several things tin can go wrong: Some of these units weren't designed properly and they broadcast over a MUCH wider area than they should. Some of these devices come pre-set to circulate on 88.1…. unless they are re-set, they will cause interference to actual FM stations on 88.one (like NCPR'southward transmitters in several communities!) Too, if improperly installed, some of these devices can cause tremendous areas of interference!

    You will probably observe this blazon of interference while driving. Suddenly, Howard Stern will override your Forenoon Edition! (and then disappear merely every bit apace) This may even happen at dwelling, if y'all live in an surface area of heavy traffic.

    What to do? The FCC has been requiring much more stringent testing of these devices… hopefully (eventually) the older non-compliant devices volition be replaced. Or if you happen to repeatedly run into the aforementioned vehicle producing the same interference to your radio, you might ask the owner to switch the output frequency of his device. Or if it is you that is causing the interference … cut it out!

  2. Interference from other stations: Typically this tin can be cured through the use of a radio with better selectivity. If you hear another station while trying to mind to NCPR, try listening on another radio (a automobile radio, for example) . If the situation improves, you probably need a meliorate radio. Another option is to use a directional antenna, and/or endeavor to re-orient whatever antenna your radio uses. If you tin can (somehow) increase the amount of NCPR indicate while decreasing the offending signal then your radio will be able to separate the two stations meliorate.
  3. Multi-path interference: Sometimes the same FM indicate can be received by your radio'due south antenna from several unlike places, at slightly unlike times! For example, if there is a nearby cogitating surface (like a cliff face) the signal might arrive at your antenna direct from the NCPR transmitter, then a fraction of a second later later on it has "bounced" off the rock cliff face. The radio becomes "confused" and noisy, harsh reception tin occur. To cure this, try to either use a directional antenna, or try to re-orient your antenna to maximize your reception.
  4. Other sources of interference: There are enough of other sources of interference possible, amateur radio operators (talk to them), computers, Telly's, fluorescent lights, electric fences…. Effort to determine which of these sources is causing the problem and isolate it…. And/or endeavor to ameliorate the FM signal getting to your radio …. Get a meliorate antenna or a better location for it.

NCPR is supported by:

nelsonoursend1939.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/about/reception.html

Postar um comentário for "I Live Under Cabinet Radio Model Ikb138s Reviews"