Does Anyone Know How To Enhance FM Reception ?!

Does Anyone Know How To Enhance FM Reception ?

I have a couple of glorified 'boomboxes' that I use in the yard when I'm gardening . My local FM stations are not what I call 'classic rock' stations , but I do live near enough to the Chicago market to receive some of theirs fairly well . But I want to enhance the reception . I would really appreciate good solid answers , not ones that say to use a coat hangar and things like that .

What's your suggestions ?

2 months ago
Many years ago , a friend suggested making a dipole antennae by making a large loop in a wire and attaching that to the antennae outlet .
Could that work and do you know how ?

2 months ago
Mr Wyzard - Yes , I need help . I read the first link , but still need help with exactly what can I use and how to make it . What kind of wire ? How big ?
FYI - I'm directly across Lake Michigan from Chicago . I'm guessing 60 miles or so . And I would like better reception on all , but particularly 97.1 FM -WDRV , The Drive .
Thank you all for any help that you can proivide !!
P.S. - My email is open !!

The best thing to do would be to create an antenna. The dipole antenna would be good due to the rather uniform area that is covers.

There is more to antennas then just folding a loop in a wire. A folded dipole may not be your best bet. A dipole may be better. Basically the length of the antenna is 1/2 the wavelength of the frequency you are trying to receive. For example. If I am trying to receive a signal at 98.5Mhz, the wavelength for this would be equal to the propogation velocity over the frequency.

Propogation velocity = velocity factor x speed of light
Vp = 0.95 (vf for air) x 300,000,000(speed of light)
Vp = 285,000,000

wavelength = Vp / frequency
wavelength = 285,000,000/98,500,000
wavelength = 3 meters

Therefor since it is a 1/2 wave dipole, it would 1.5 meters long. Each side extending 0.75 meters from the middle for a total of 1.5 meters or 1/2 wavelength. This should be coupled to some form of shielded line, such as coax, rg6, rg12, doesn't really matter. Make sure that you can get a connector to mate your antenna to your receiver. This dipole can be made of wire or metal, either doesn't matter.

Now, if you are planning on leaving the antenna on one particular station or don't mind turning an antenna, a Yagi will give you better reception. You will find information on that below in a URL. I can help you with the construction of either but I will not go into explaining that here. If you need help, I have tagged this post so just say so in the comments for whomever you vote best answer to and I will find a way to get a hold of you.