Radioshark Mod - Page 2

DrBuzzo · 04-30-2005, 05:03 PM

Does anyone know if there is software to make the radioshark work with linux?

inniss777 · 05-30-2005, 04:27 AM

So has anyone had any good FM or AM reseption results when using the vehicles stock antenna wired into the radio shark?

Piperclub · 05-30-2005, 09:56 AM

version 2.0 beta of the software improved the reception quality... but at certain parts it still has interference....

you can't install it stock... you need a lot of modifications to the unit itself...

jabroni5 · 06-04-2005, 08:18 PM

Bummer about RadioShark's mediocre reception; I live in an outlying area, where reception isn't THAT great to begin with, and in a basement to boot. I haven't given up on the fin though (yet).

I bought an arial from RadioShack, along with all the proper gear for grounding and shielding, etc., and mounted it on my roof. Even without a signal amplifier, my new FM feed is remarkable; I pick up many stations that I didn't think that I EVER would.

Despite this success, only my stereo receiver seems to register the signal, not the RadioShark. After giving up on the headphone/aux. out jack on the base of the fin (I tried soldering my lead to the ground vs. the left/right channels of a 1/8" audio plug, as MP3Car.com user "Piperclub" suggested), I pried open the top of my RadioShark fin, and straightened out its internal FM antenna so that it sticks straight out the top (even this minor alteration seemed to improve the fin's reception markedly). Then I hooked a 75 to 300 ohm transformer to my coaxial arial antenna feed, and ran the lead wire to the tip of my RadioShark's exposed antenna. Although the signal DOES improve, slightly, station reception, across the band, isn't nearly as good as from my Harmon/Kardon AVR 100 stereo receiver.

Shouldn't a clear FM signal, with the proper 300 ohm impedance, improve the RadioShark's reception as well as it improves my receiver's reception? Thanks for everyone's help with this post!

Here's my new FM antenna:

...and my RadioShark mod:

MikeH · 06-05-2005, 08:26 AM

jabroni5,

It appears from your picture (kinda hard to see...) that you have your Radio Shack antenna backwards. The shorter dipoles should face toward your signal, not your house. Try flipping the antenna around and see if the reception improves.

jabroni5 · 06-06-2005, 06:30 PM

Yeah, true, my FM antenna (as seen in my post above) DOES appear to be facing in the wrong direction. I chose this position because I'm pretty sure that the broadcast signal of the FM stations I listen to originate from the other side of my house. Maybe I'll pick up a better signal anyway, as long as the receiving end (the shorter spokes) are facing AWAY from large structures, like my house?? Thanks for your comment.

Entonne · 06-14-2005, 06:28 PM

I bought a radioshark about a month ago in hopes of recording some AM radio programs while I was at work. The FM reception was a little bit better than "okay" but the AM reception was far worse. There was large amounts of static on most stations and I couldn't even catch some stations. So I decided to open it up, unsolder the internal antenna, and solder on a loop antenna I had made. Now the AM reception is clear, but I can hear another station faintly in the background of the station I am recording. Any ideas how to solve this problem?

MikeH · 06-14-2005, 06:42 PM

Quote:

I'm pretty sure that the broadcast signal of the FM stations I listen to originate from the other side of my house

i'd really suggest you either move the antenna away from the house (left or right), or raise the antenna above the house so that you have a clear line-of-sight to your source. Trying to go thru the house, especially at such a low mounting point, is not a good idea.

jabroni5 · 07-16-2005, 08:35 AM

Thanks for your help Entonne; It's encouraging to hear stories from anyone who's removed the RadioShark casing, and busted out their solderer to do some custom antenna work. I'm still holding out on removing the casing entirely, but a few more stories like yours, and I'll probably break down and tear it apart as well. And MikeH, yeah buddy, I'm sure you're right about the line of sight thing (what with the front door of my apartment being on a side of my house that's opposite to the FM signal's origin, and living in a basement and all) -- I may just have to wait until I find a new apartment before I'll have unfettered use of my RadioShark

LESLIEx317537 · 07-18-2005, 09:12 PM

Just got the Radio Shark. I have tested the Dlink USB and have that in my car right now.

This AM is good. The FM is just slightly better than the DLink but I think the real plus is how it routes audio through the USB and not like the DLink having a audio out.

So as of now, I'm gonna test it more in my room, and see what I can figure out. I think that this might make me wanna get my XM going even more since FM is so shady.

rossd · 07-26-2005, 12:37 AM

Anyone have this for Windows? Whenever I play audio through the device, I get click/pop/crackling sounds. Sounds a lot like when you set volume settings on a device at max and play it through a set of speakers (click/pop/crackling noise). It's not constant but does occur and is annoying. Side note, when I was using the radioshark on my mac, never experienced this problem.

Anyone else get this? Maybe it's a USB related issue?