tuner comparos

[redbenjoe]

been confused about this for decades !!!

when trying to compare any 2 tuners side-by-side----

they are most often weak or strong on different stations --right ??

so - unless one tuner is consistently weak all across the dial....
how can we make a fair comparo ???????????

 

[Master Z]

It sounds like you answered your own question.

I just see if the tuners can pick up stations from other cities along with weak signals from universities like in Detroit and Ann Arbor.

What else besides the ability to pick up a station and locking it in do you look for in a tuner?????

 

[redbenjoe]

i meant--
a tuner might be very clear in stereo on some local fm stations
but not great on other local fm stereo stations --
while the other comparo tuner might have the opposite receptions?

 

[blah blah]

i can compare pretty easily, since i live in the mountains and have no stations, all tuners suck equally interesting thought though RBJ, there is an interesting difference with what tuner picks up what stations. I find all mine pick up the most powerful stations fairly equally, but different tuners do seem to pick up different oddball stations...

 

[Superduper]

i meant--
a tuner might be very clear in stereo on some local fm stations
but not great on other local fm stereo stations --
while the other comparo tuner might have the opposite receptions?

That sounds weird. Mostly, my experience is that a tuner that is weak will be weak across the band unless it's not aligned properly.

 

[redbenjoe]

weird --
is that i have no 2 boxes where i can go down the line and pick up each good station even close to
equally well

 

[Superduper]

weird --
is that i have no 2 boxes where i can go down the line and pick up each good station even close to
equally well

So Ira, you've heard about the mystery spot right? A place in the world where up isn't 90 degree perpendicular to the earth, north on the compass is south and water drains counter clockwise? Well, I guess your trailer is the boombox reception mystery spot.

 

[redbenjoe]

due to this faulty location--
i now plan to apply for a property tax rebate

 

[Superduper]

If a robust tuner is important to you Ira, may I suggest the Grundig Satellit 800 receiver? No, no. No kidding. You will NOT be disappointed. It takes batteries too so you can carry it around too. If this receiver does not perform well for you, then your location is beyond salvation.

BTW, I've owned one for many years and it is as important to me as ANY of my boomboxes -- something I'll never get rid of. So I don't make this recommendation lightly. Check it out.

 

[redbenjoe]

does that grundig happen to have a stereo line-in/out

 

[oldskool69]

Ira how is your reception away from your neighborhood or at the beach at least? Remember the last time I was down there I mentioned the fact that you were surrounded by so many metal structures in close proximity, let alone living in one is a major contributing factor.

You have two factors here...

1. Radio wave absorption and dispersion due to the metal structure.

2. Upon said absorption, signal to ground effect due to nautral grounding of metal structures when contacting the earth.

My recommendation to you was to get an external Yagi antenna. Looks like this:

Then run a sheilded cable where you could either clip to your rod antenna or if your box had the option connect to antenna leads.

Other than that, maybe a powered indoor antenna or leave the neighborhood or head to the beach away from the trailers.

 

[redbenjoe]

thanks oldy-
i did try a powered antenna- it did make a decent difference
but - i guess that big yagi is the best route

you are right about this trailer syndrome-
even my cheapest jwin/coby jobs --
get clean fm stereo --at the beach

 

[devol-toni]

Ira , this may help you also, to improving your FM reception

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/16579422/Make-Your-Own-FM-Antenna

 

[Ghettoboom767]

Hi Ira-Try the JVC PC-55!! I have used mine in Miami area and was at MM84 Islamorada and it's the only box that can pick up Power 96-Hot 105 and many others from about 90 miles away!!!!
It has an absolutely incredible tuner!!
Good-Luck-GB.

 

[Johnny]

I will tell you the best tuner I have had in a boombox is the TC-999, picks up stations with ease - alot better than the more modern Kaboom!! Also Realistic (AKA G.E.) boxes have great tuners!

 

[redbenjoe]

toni - thanks --it looks easy to make - so i will do it

and jeff -- i am using the pc-5 - its my best one
which i suppose has a similar tuner to the pc-55 -- right ??

 

[Ghettoboom767]

toni - thanks --it looks easy to make - so i will do it

and jeff -- i am using the pc-5 - its my best one
which i suppose has a similar tuner to the pc-55 -- right ??

Hi Ira-yes they are close boxes! The PC-55 is just nuts-can get station so far away-even Jamaica & of course Cuba!
I know the 55 is top dog but the PC-5 may have the same tuner-Oldy would know this.
Good luck-sometime using a FM antenna used on home stereos can work.I think Freddies idea will work great to!
Have a great week-GB.

 

[Superduper]

does that grundig happen to have a stereo line-in/out

Indeed it does. Guaranteed to be the finest tuner in your house, by a factor of 10. It will tune stations you didn't even know existed. AND it is a big sucker. It looks smaller in the photos than it really is.

 

[MasterBlaster84]

If a robust tuner is important to you Ira, may I suggest the Grundig Satellit 800 receiver? No, no. No kidding. You will NOT be disappointed. It takes batteries too so you can carry it around too. If this receiver does not perform well for you, then your location is beyond salvation.

BTW, I've owned one for many years and it is as important to me as ANY of my boomboxes -- something I'll never get rid of. So I don't make this recommendation lightly. Check it out.

Norm I almost bought one of those 2 years ago but the seller had a greedy discovery before I could get there.
The seller listed a minty 800 for $50 so I responded immediately after it appeared on CL and set up a time I could pick it up. Before that time I received an email from the seller saying he found these sell for hundreds on ebay so he said he would sell it to me for $500. The summary of what I told him was simply thanks but no thanks. The real funny part is this radio still shows up on CL every month or so but he's dropped the price steadily for 2 years so now he's wants $350. I've been getting some sick pleasure from seeing it listed over and over and over again.

 

[redbenjoe]

funny story, don --

in exactly 4 more short years--
you will see it a 50 , again