In May 2009 a number of listeners in the Frisco-Silverthorne area and elsewhere discovered they could no longer get KUNC 107.1 on their FM radios.  This resulted from Summit Public Radio’s move of the ‘Dillon water tank’ translator to its Baldy Mountain Electronics Site to accommodate the addition of KQSE La Neuva Mix to its station list.

While KUNC was still available at 88.3 FM from Baldy, some folks were still having difficulty getting a clear signal.  An FM radio that had worked perfectly with the nearby signal now refused to perform.  Recognizing the seriousness of the problem, SPR set about trying to make things right with its listeners.

A list of people having reported reception difficulties has been compiled, with a follow-up phone call to learn the exact nature of the problem.  In some cases we are able to provide an immediate solution over the phone.  For more difficult problems the next step is a personal house call by an SPR technician to further evaluate the problem and come up with a solution.

Our track record for improving poor reception is good.  The fix usually involves a simple improvement to the existing antenna. 

It can be something as simple as stretching out a wire antenna that has been wrapped up into a clump behind the receiver with a twist-tie around it.  Also, the FM antenna may be inserted into the AM radio antenna connector or perhaps an AM radio loop antenna is being used instead for FM reception.  It may be the wire antenna is inserted in the connector on the back of the radio but it is too short or made of the wrong  material—always use insulated copper wire.

If these solutions don’t work you may need a separate antenna connected to the back of your receiver with an “antenna transmission line” such as ordinary Cablevision© wire also known as coaxial cable.  For inside use the antenna can be an inexpensive T-shaped, wire antenna called a dipole antenna, which can be mounted on a ¾” x ¾” stick for convenience.  This can be moved around in the area behind or above the radio to optimize the signal.

An inexpensive FM dipole antenna.

An external directional FM antenna

If you already have a separate antenna that’s not working correctly it may need to be replaced.  Otherwise you may need a larger antenna mounted in an attic or on the roof.  Such installations are more complicated and may require the assistance of an electrician or professional antenna installer.