FM Radio Antenna Considerations

[Yukon Cornelius]

With a 1/4 wave vertical antenna, you want the shield of the coax at the antenna end connected to the ground and not floating. That forms the ground plane. If you attached the antenna to the steel chassis, sure that would work, but not sure how you arrange the antenna itself. RF does not use the same rules as DC signals.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

With a 1/4 wave vertical antenna, you want the shield of the coax at the antenna end connected to the ground and not floating. That forms the ground plane. If you attached the antenna to the steel chassis, sure that would work, but not sure how you arrange the antenna itself. RF does not use the same rules as DC signals.

Are we talking reception or transmission here? For transmitting I can see your point.

 

[Yukon Cornelius]

Rules are the same for Rx and Tx.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

Portable AM/FM radios with plastic cases work ok without a ground plane...

Eh, I may never know since I doubt I'd install a radio. We'll know more closer to production!

 

[Yukon Cornelius]

True. They don't have a coax cable connected between the radio circuits and the antenna either. The antenna will work, it just won't work to it's full potential. a piece of wire jammed in the radio antenna connector will also work, just not as well as other options.