Need a cheap radio antenna

[Yzzim]

What works best? Clothes hanger? Aluminum foil? Combination of the two?

Tried speaker wire but couldn't get a signal.

Held my finger on the antenna connector on my radio and I get a decent signal.

Any other ideas? Needs to be easily available and cheap. Do not need anything fancy for the garage.

 

[ScottMac]

What kind of radio? AM broadcast? (ala talk radio), FM?

For most AM / shortwave, a single long wire works best. Longer is usually better. IF the wire is horizontal, then broadside to the wire will give you the best signal.

For FM broadcast (~88 - 108MHz) the usual setup is a "T" ... the top / arms of the "T" are ~48" Twist the ends together so you have a big (flat) loop. Break one of the wires in the middle and connect your downlead (which will be a pair, like lampcord) from the radio such that one wire goes to each side of the break. IF your radio has a coaxial input/jack/connector, then get a twinlead to coax adapter (which is a really a 4:1 BALUN - 300 ohm to 75 ohm)

Details would be helpful, but either a "long wire" or a "T" loop will generally work.

Good Luck

Scott