boombox antenna adaptor?

[bwingrave]

Here's a question for you electronics do-it-yourselfers:

Is it possible to rig a mid-range or high-end antenna such as a Terk so that it works with a boombox that has a swing-out telescoping antenna?

When I bought my boombox several months ago, I was hoping to eventually pick up a Terk antenna so I could pull in 97X, which doesn't come in on any of the new boomboxes I've tried. It didn't occur to me that there might be several different types of antenna connectors, some of which wouldn't work with a Terk antenna.

I have spoken with people at a few electronics/audio equipment stores, and none of them knew of an adaptor that would do what I want. My options appear to be [list=1]
Get a new stereo with an appropriate port.
Open my existing boombox and see if I can get something to work on my own.
Contact my boombox's manufacturer about antenna products.
Forget the whole thing.
[/list=1]

Any advice?

b

[Phreon]

Originally posted by bwingrave
Here's a question for you electronics do-it-yourselfers:


I have spoken with people at a few electronics/audio equipment stores, and none of them knew of an adaptor that would do what I want. My options appear to be [list=1]
Get a new stereo with an appropriate port.
Open my existing boombox and see if I can get something to work on my own.
Contact my boombox's manufacturer about antenna products.
Forget the whole thing.
[/list=1]

Any advice?

b

Personally, I like option #1, but.... :)


It kind of depends on what kind of connector you have on the TERK. If it's an F connector (screw on type like cable TV), I'd go to RAT SHACK, purchase the appropriate female connector.

Attach (solder, whatever) a short length of wire to the center conductor connection of the female connector and just wrap the(stripped/bare) other end around your boom box's whip antenna. If you wanna get really fancy, you can connect another wire to the outer conductor connection and attach it to the chassis ground of your radio. Where's a good location to attach it to chassis ground? I don't know. You'd have to open it up.

Will this be as good as a dedicated connection on your radio? No, the impedance will be all fu*ked up, but it's better than nothing.

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