Stellar Labs,Outdoor FM Antenna OMNIDIRECTIONAL

This antenna works great. These days there is a lack of effort by manufacturers of audio equipment to build good quality FM receivers because everyone streams music or mp3's but a few of us still like listening to the good old radio. This antenna makes the lackluster receivers (and transmitters too) perform like things did in the old days. I have this mounted about 20 feet above the ground and feeding a Sony receiver amplifier and it lets me hear the stations I like. Do not forget to add some lighting protecting to this if you are putting it up above a structure! It's cheap and easy and prevents you from getting things inside your house that you want kept outside your house!!! Just search for an F-type lightening arrestor here on Amazon and make sure it has a good ground connection and that's all you need.

WOW, Great reception. I live in the country up on a hill. I can get several more stations and all are crystal clear. Even the stations I was getting with a small wire antenna, now they come in in full stereo.

I read all the 400+ reviews before purchasing. Following what the others said, I tested the antenna myself in 6 positions: Three mounting positions (attic, low on existing outdoor TV antenna mast, high on TV outdoor antenna mast), both in the round assembled position as instructed, and the assembled S shape as many other reviewers stated. In my situation, outside mounting was better than the attic but not by much. Strangely, higher up the mast did not help and in fact weakened the signals I was trying to also receive from the opposite direction. By assembling the antenna in the S shape, all installed locations had a dramatic signal improvement. I had seen installed S shape FM outdoor antennas many years ago; however, I see none for sale now. For this product and installation location, I was trying to receive a very weak station to my north (the direction I aimed the antenna), along with strong and weaker signals to the south. I was able to achieve the desired result, mounting the antenna on the lower TV antenna mast. Installing the antenna in the S shape (or as the instructions show in the circular shape), you still need to aim it in the desired direction (the front of the antenna [where to point it for the maximum signal] is the opposite side of where the coax line connects to the antenna). The signals though are almost as strong at the coax side; the reception on the sides is weaker. So as with all "Omni-directional" antennas, aiming the antenna is still very important. The antenna is stable intalled in the S shape, and has gone through wind storms with no issues. As others stated, I gently assembled the antenna using no extra force, and connected the antenna coax cable using hand tightening only. This is not the quality Channel Master/Winegard antenna made years ago (sadly none seem to be made by anyone now); however, it does the job installed in the S shape format. Living in a ranch house, the roof is only 20 feet off the ground, and had the antenna been assembled in the round format, I would have returned it because the reception improvement from inside the house to the attic or roof was negligible. However, it does the job using the modified assembly. The antenna is worth it and provided many more clear, stable FM channels!

Having been an Amateur Radio (HAM) operator since 1954, I have had a lot of experience with antennas, both commercial and home-made.This antenna is simple a folded dipole that is wrapped around in a circle. Hams call this type of antenna a "Halo" antenna. We most commonly use these on the 6-Meter band. In the '60's, they were quite popular for mobile operating setups.While a straight folded dipole is bi-directional with the maximum signal pickup being at with angles to the antenna arms, wrapping the antenna into a Halo configuration pretty much creates a circular reception pattern. In my case, with FM stations surrounding me by 360 degrees, that's what I need.Testing with my spectrum analyzer shows that, as expected for this type of antenna, the pattern of the antenna is not quite circular but is slightly dumbell shaped, with the ends of the dumbell (best signal pickup) being pointed directly along the metal support bracket of the antenna.If you want the maximum signal pickup from a particular station, point the end of the antenna that has the coaxial cable connection box in the direction of the station. This will give got a slight signal increase of about 4 dB. Note that the weakest signal pickup directions will be at right angles to this pointing direction. But, in any case, modern FM receivers are so sensitive that I doubt you will be able to tell the difference unless the signal is so weak that is noisy.In the attached photos, the direction of maximum pickup is towards the right of the antenna, in the same direction that the parabolic antenna is pointed.As for construction quality, the aluminum tube used for the antenna is reasonably thick and quite stiff so it should retain its shape through the years. If you mount the antenna so the coaxial connector is facing downward, then the four small weep holes in the bottom of the plastic case will let any water condensation escape to prevent corrosion of the matching transformer that is enclosed in the box.A nice touch is the inclusion of a black soft plastic boot to cover the coaxial cable connector where it attaches to the antenna. Be sure to slip the cover over the end of the coax cable BEFORE you install the connector because you will not be able to install it after the connector is crimped on the cable.After you tighten up the coax connector on the antenna, the boot may be slid up the coax cable and over the connector. The boot then slides nicely into a ring-shaped recess under the bottom of the plastic box. This forms a shield that will prevent wind-driven rain from getting to the connector and eventually wicking into the coax cable. Water and coax cables are a bad mix, because the water will cause a high signal loss.So I am well pleased with this antenna, and think that is worth it for the modest price. I am now able to receive FM stations from as far distant as 90 miles, depending on weather conditions.I almost forgot, got to fmfool dot com to get your own reception map for the FM stations at your location.Happy listening!

I put up an FM receiver for my streaming server and needed an antenna. This works outstanding for me.All stations within about 45 miles come in clear.I mounted this on a 20 foot pole about 15 feet up next to a metal-sided structure. I used about 40 feet of rg-59 and f connectors at both ends.It's lightweight and so far withstood about a dozen midwest storms. I used electrical tape (but no coax sealer) for weather proofing.It works as expected.. Good purchase.