Best way to improve car FM reception?

[Sodah]

One of my preferred FM radio stations which I listen to when in my car,
happens to be a fringe station (i.e. far away), and consequently often fades
away and/or has lots of noise. How can I go about improving my reception
for this station: (1) Install a booster amp? (2) Install a larger (or
additional) antenna (i.e. to increase antenna surface area and height)? (3)
Opt for a more expensive, higher quality FM receiver?...
Also, what does an FM filter do exactly and would a filter (of this or any
other conceivable kind) be of any use -say in combination with any of the
above- as far as reducing unwanted noise?

Thanks in advance,
Sodah

E-mail address: sod...@home.com

[jimmy john]

I recommend that you try (in order) 2, 1, 3. I used a booster amp once, and
while it worked ok, it badly overloaded the receive when NOT in a fringe
area. Having experienced the difference between a magmount "mini whip" and
a 7/8 wavelength trunk mount on 2 meters, the difference with a GOOD antenna
is dramatic.

Sodah <sod...@home.com> wrote in message
news:1q7V5.723352$8u4.11...@news1.rdc1.bc.home.com...

[Bob Miller]

"Sodah" <sod...@home.com> wrote:

>One of my preferred FM radio stations which I listen to when in my car,
>happens to be a fringe station (i.e. far away), and consequently often fades
>away and/or has lots of noise. How can I go about improving my reception
>for this station: (1) Install a booster amp? (2) Install a larger (or
>additional) antenna (i.e. to increase antenna surface area and height)? (3)
>Opt for a more expensive, higher quality FM receiver?...
>Also, what does an FM filter do exactly and would a filter (of this or any
>other conceivable kind) be of any use -say in combination with any of the
>above- as far as reducing unwanted noise?

You might look at a bigger and/or better antenna. Try
http://www.ccrane.com and look at their FM car antennas, especially
their big mother trucker's am/fm antenna.

That's not guaranteed to work, but it might be worth a try.

I'm not sure what kind of FM filters you're talking about, unless it's
a filter to reduce engine noise and hash. That might help, but your
basic problem is your station is too far away to lock in on the
receiver, so, in turn, you hear more engine noise or whatever.

Another thing you can do on weak FM stereo stations, is to simply put
your radio in the monoaural mode. That kills your stereo effect, but
often makes the signal easier to lock in. (I'm assuming your radio has
a stereo/mono switch -- it may not.)

Bob
k5qwg