How to improve FM radio reception

For those of you who want to improve FM radio reception here’s how you can get the best results:

Extend the aerial fully and tilt and swivel it until you get the best signal.


Try moving the aerial to a different position, such as near a window, or upstairs rather than downstairs.


Some systems with an FM tuner typically have a wire or a T-shaped ribbon cable as an aerial. This must be connected to the correct terminals on the system. Please see your manual for details.


If you get background hiss when listening in stereo, but not when you switch to mono, this is a sign that the signal is not strong enough. A separate aerial should improve the sound quality. This should be connected to the aerial socket on your radio - check first that your set has such a socket.


The simplest solution is an indoor FM aerial, available from all good S/m shops. However, this may not give good results for stereo so is not recommended for serious listening.


Sometimes the aerial works best in a vertical position


The best solution is an outdoor aerial on the roof or outside of the house, or even in the loft - in general, the higher up it is, the better. We suggest that you have any outdoor aerial installed by a professional aerial installer registered with the CAI