An FM antenna is an ideal device that is able to “Pick-Up” signals and provides your radio receiver with a large number of radio channels. These types of antennas are usually very easily mountable and can be placed in any desired place.
FM antennas can offer a wide range of signals. Some of these antennas even have a 360-degree design and can be adjusted accordingly so that they could capture signals in all of the directions.
You are watching: 11 Best FM Radio Antennas [reviews and buyer’s guide]
We have tested a lot of Indoor and Outdoor FM antenna models, and we are proud to show you our list of the best ones, before reading our details best FM Radio antenna reviews…
- Overall Best Indoor FM radio antenna: Terk FM+ Omni-directional
- Best outdoor FM radio antenna: 30-2435 FM Antenna Omnidirectional
- Best for attic-mount and RV FM antenna: FM loop outdoor antenna
- Best living room radio antenna: FM antenna for the indoor Stereo receiver
- The cheapest stereo receiver antenna: Bingfu FM radio antenna
- Best antenna for outdoor installation: Winegard HD-6010 HD FM radio antenna
- The best stereo receiver antenna: FM antenna, Ancable Indoor F-type antenna
- Best Indoor FM telescopic antenna: Ancable Indoor FM telescopic antenna
- Best dipole antenna 75 ohm: Superbat FM dipole Indoor antenna
- Best antenna for Home AV stereo receiver: Fancasee Universal Magnetic Base FM antenna
- Best antenna for CAR radio: Car Radio AM FM MAST Antenna
Buyer’s guide: How to choose the best FM radio antenna
Of course, we will be giving you a full buyer’s guide so that you could find the best FM radio antenna, and purchase it without regretting that purchase.
We have shown you many of the best FM indoor and outdoor antennas today. Even though these are the best of the best FM antennas, you should pay attention to details and make sure you buy the one that will suit you well. In the end, the conditions in which you will be using the antenna, as well as the purpose matter the most. With that being said, you will have to set criteriums and stick to them while shopping.
Make sure to take things slowly and not rush into buying something if you are not 100% sure that it will be the best choice for you. Here’s what you should determine, and look out for.
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Indoor or an outdoor FM antenna?
As we have mentioned before, depending on where you will be using your antenna, and your FM radio in general, you should choose between indoor or outdoor antennas. For an example, if you have a car FM radio, an outdoor antenna that can be attached to the front of your car is the obvious, and the best choice. But, on the other hand, if your FM radio is located somewhere in your house, or if you intend to use it only inside, you have the ability to choose between these two.
Our personal preference is outdoor antennas since they have a better range, and can generally receive better signals. But this one is totally up to you and to your liking.
Determining whether you need an indoor or an outdoor FM antenna will help you shorten your choices, and eventually help you find the right antenna.
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Pay attention to the coaxial cable length
Logically, the longer the coaxial cable, the greater the mobility will be. In other words, this means that you will be able to move your FM radio around without losing the reception, or the strength of the signal. If you decide to put the antenna in a room (indoor antenna) where you will mostly use your radio, but you also enjoy moving around your portable radio, you will need to purchase an antenna with a longer coaxial cable.
The standard length of coaxial cables for FM antennas, in general, is 10 feet. Of course, you might stumble upon antennas with a shorter coaxial cable, but our recommendation is to not purchase those models.
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Mounting options
We love antennas that have the ability to be mounted in different ways, and different places too. Of course, some people surely won’t find this as a crucial factor that will determine which antenna model you will buy, but we think that this is pretty important.
If you think that this is important, make sure, and check all of the mounting and installation possibilities before purchase. Installations are easy, but, if you have the ability to mount the antenna anywhere you want, that certainly makes the overall antenna experience way better.
In-depth product reviews of the best FM radio antennas
1. Overall Best Indoor FM antenna
Terk FM+ Omni-directional Indoor FM antenna
The first antenna that we will be showing you is the TERK Omni-directional one. This antenna is specially designed for music lovers who enjoy listening to different music radio stations on their FM radio.
When it comes to the reception, this antenna has an amazing reception and is able to reach out even for the farther signals. As you can see, this antenna is the perfect solution for all of the radios who need a little nudge to improve their reception. Since this is an Omni-directional antenna, this means that this antenna will be able to catch signals in all of the directions. The gamma-loop technology which is built into it is able to enable the radio to receive more radio stations without making any noise.
Its design is pretty convenient and is able to easily fit into any kind of place. The best thing about it is that it can be mounted on a wall, or can simply be placed on any shelf. On top of that, there is a 6-foot and 75-ohm coaxial cable that will surely help with the connection.
2. Best outdoor FM radio antenna
Outdoor FM Antenna Omnidirectional (30-2435)
Besides being the best outdoor FM antenna, this is also one of the cheapest FM antennas available. This is one of those antennas that could easily improve the reception of any FM radio. We have tested this model out alongside the best FM radios.
Besides being able to easily get mounted anywhere, this antenna can also catch signals in all the directions- it’s an omnidirectional antenna.
Even though this antenna might have a little bit of an outdated design, it is still able to serve its purpose. When it comes to its size, t is around 19 inches wide, and around 4 inches tall. As you could notice, it’s small and quite practical.
Of course, this antenna comes with a coaxial cable which is quite long and could reach greater distances.
3. Best for attic-mount and RV FM antenna
Tesslor-USA FM-10A FM loop outdoor antenna
This is an antenna that was specially made to be mounted outdoors. To be more precise, it’s made to be installed on any high surfaces, preferably attics. It’s made out of durable materials because of that. The heavy-duty construction features of the design will make sure that your antenna stays in place after being mounted. Don’t let the size of this antenna frighten you, it can actually be installed in under three minutes, even though it’s bigger than 21 inches.
Once you turn on this antenna, you will surely notice a lot of improvements in the reception of the signal. The looped design especially contributes to that, as it provides 360-degree reception.
All that you need to make this antenna work properly is the 75-ohm coaxial cable, and nothing else. Installation instructions are included in the user manual, and can easily be followed.
4. Best radio antenna for living room
FM antenna for the indoor Stereo receiver
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The next model of the antenna is the best living room antenna that you will ever see. Namely, this is a full-range antenna that is able to receive all of the popular FM stations.
When it comes to its design, this is a free-standing antenna with a fold-out base that could easily be installed. On top of that, this is one of those antennas that are universal. In other words, it’s compatible with most, if not all of the FM radios. It comes with a Male F connector and arrives with four types of adapters. It works best with Sangean, Sony, Yamaha, and other radios.
The most convenient, and the user-friendly thing about this antenna is that there is a 100% guarantee and a 12-month warranty that comes with it. With that being said, in case of any breaks or bad performance, the user will have the power to either return or replace this antenna.
After testing it our satisfaction was at a very high level. Of course, there are other antennas that might not be in the “living room” category and are better than this one, but this model surely does its job well.
5. The cheapest stereo receiver antenna
Bingfu FM radio antenna for stereo receivers
Now, the next antenna is certainly the cheapest antenna that you will ever see. Even though it’s cheap, it actually has a lot of good features and amazing quality. Let’s see what’s so amazing about it.
Namely, this is an adhesive mounting FM radio antenna that has dipoles. It is made for stereos, music systems, indoor Bluetooth radios, and different types of receivers in general. When it comes to its brand compatibility, it’s compatible with most of the popular brands such as Panasonic, Pioneer, Sony, Yamaha, and et.
This is a 75-ohm antenna that is able to catch a lot of FM signals. You will surely have the best reception if you connect it to your radio. It can easily be connected to any stereo receiver. Since it has a 10 feet / 3 meters coaxial cable, it will be able to reach out for your device even if you decide to put it outside. The mounting is a piece of cake and can be mounted to the wall, or simply placed on any table/ground,
Once the user opens up the package, they will be able to find an antenna inside, as well as three connector adapters, and a user manual too.
6. Best FM antenna for outdoor installation
Winegard HD-6010 HD FM radio antenna
Now, as soon as we saw this antenna, we knew that it was only made for outdoor installation. Of course, this is quite a powerful antenna, and once you put it outside, you receive an even better performance and reception. Namely, this Winegard HD-6010 HD antenna has a maximum range of 2040 miles. This means that it is able to reach out even for the farther signals, and still make them sound great and not cut out.
This compact antenna has a very popular design. To be more precise, it has a one-piece construction design, and can easily be mounted or installed on any surface because of that. It can mount to a maximum of 2-inch diameter pipe and has 300/75-ohm power. Of course, the transformer is included in the antenna and doesn’t have to be purchased separately.
7. The best indoor FM antenna for stereo receiver
FM antenna, Ancable Indoor F-type antenna
And once again we have another 75-ohm indoor antenna that also has a push-in F-type connector. This is a stereo antenna that is specially designed to make the reception of any FM radio a lot better. With this antenna by your side, you will never again experience signal drops or unstable signal sounds. This is one of those antennas that has a stretchable end for even better reception.
One of the best things about it is that it is universally compatible with most of the FM radios. All of that is possible due to the, earlier mentioned, male F-type connector, and three types of adapters that come with it. So, If you have a Yamaha, Pioneer, Samsung, Sony radio, or any other FM radio, be absolutely sure that this antenna will be able to make your reception a lot better.
Have in mind that this is a portable antenna. If you love to move your receiver around from one room to another, be sure that you could move the antenna with it too. It is able to work even in garages, basements, attics, and basically in any room of the house.
The Ancable brand provides all of its users with a 100% money-back guarantee if they are not satisfied with their products. You will easily be able to get either a replacement or a full refund for the antenna. Of course, if the antenna breaks, there is also a 12-month warranty available.
8. Best Indoor FM telescopic antenna
Ancable Indoor FM telescopic antenna
Next, we have yet another Ancable telescopic FM indoor antenna that has everything you seek for. Namely, this is also a full-range antenna that is able to 100% improve one receiver’s reception.
It’s made out of high-quality materials. In other words, it’s made out of brass copper and is quite thick, yet very elastic. Of course, like most of our previous antennas from this list, this one too has universal compatibility and can work with most of the popular worldwide brands. We must mention that this antenna has three types of adapters, both PAL male and female, and can work with stereos, radios, and different types of receiver systems.
Besides being compatible, this is also an easily installable antenna. Since this is a telescopic antenna, this one is way easier to install than the regular antenna with a coaxial cable. For the installation of this model, you won’t be needing any extra tools to install it properly.
Of course, we have mentioned before that Ancable company offers a 100% money-back guarantee and a 12-month warranty for all of their products. So, if you decide to purchase this antenna, you will absolutely have this privilege.
9. Best dipole antenna 75 Ohm
Superbat FM dipole Indoor antenna
The next model of antenna which is about to be presented is the Superbat dipole antenna that is made for indoor use. This is an antenna that has an impedance of around 75 ohms, and 7 feet cable length. Once again, since this is a dipole antenna, it has two types of dipoles which are both around 27 inches long.
Once the user receives this antenna, they will notice that the PAL female, as well as the RF coax adapter, come with it inside of the box. The RF coaxial cable is there so that the antenna can be connected to some of the rarer radio models.
For the best performance, you will need to stretch the antenna’s dipoles all the way out. That way, the antenna will be able to give your device the best possible reception. And, when it comes to connecting with different radios, we are happy to say that it can be connected to different radio models, and radio brands too.
10. Best antenna for Home AV stereo receiver
Fancasee Universal Magnetic Base FM antenna(6543847912)
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Next, we have yet another universally compatible antenna that is able to be connected to generally a lot of receivers. Of course, to enable the connection to various different FM radio models, the antenna naturally needs to have different plugs. This antenna, in particular, has five diverse connectors: the PAL male and Female, the BNC male, and 75 to 300-ohm adapters. This is one of those antennas that could easily make the reception of any device better, without using too much power. This antenna also has an amplifier, which makes the reception only better.
On top of everything, this antenna is also equipped with a 10 feet coaxial cable that will enable easier, and farther connection between devices.
As you can see, this is quite a simple-looking antenna that has a magnetic base stand made out of iron. It can be used everywhere indoors, even in basements or attics, since its reception is extraordinary.
11. Best antenna for CAR radio
Car Radio AM FM MAST Antenna
And lastly, we have the best car radio antenna that will blow you away. This is one of those antennas that is specially designed to fit most of the vehicles, and make the reception in the car a lot better. Its job is to fully equip the radio with the best reception possible, even if the radio itself doesn’t have any type of the lead individual antenna.
This MAST antenna comes with 13 interchange mounting heads that are responsible for the antenna’s compatibility with most of the vehicles. If you didn’t know MAST stands for a motorized automatic replacement kit.
On top of everything, this is one of the most affordable car antennas that cost under $50.
A great way to improve radio reception
If you own an FM radio, you have surely experienced a slow reception sometimes in your life. Today’s generations usually use modern technology, or the internet to listen to music and watch entertainment programs. But the real sweet feeling is doing those same things on the radio.
If you have experienced bad reception, the only solution that might help you is the best FM radio antenna. Today, we will be introducing you to some of the best models of best FM radio antennas and seeing which one is the ultimate best, and the most affordable. After testing every single one of them, we could say that we have some favorites among the best ones.
Our take about best antenna for radio
And, in the continuation, we will be talking about the advantages of owning the best FM antennas, why should you buy them, and how they could make your life way easier.
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Why should you buy an FM antenna, the advantages of owning it
Are you an owner of a shortwave radio? Has one of your shortwave radios lacked when it comes to the reception of signals? Well, if it has, know that adding an FM antenna to it might be the best possible solution for that type of reception.
Here are some reasons why purchasing an FM antenna is essential if you are an FM radio owner.
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Clear, strong reception
Obviously, one of the reasons why you should buy an FM antenna is because it will greatly improve your radio’s reception. Your device will be able to receive only clear and strong signals. Be assured that once you connect the antenna to your receiver, the reception will greatly be improved. Even if you decide to move your radio around (and you will be able to do so since the usual long coaxial cables), the signal strength will most likely not change at all.
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The opportunity to get more radio stations
Most of these antennas have amplifiers built into them. Even if some don’t, they will still be able to enable you lots of radio stations which your radio alone can’t catch. If the number and variety of radio stations you can listen to is important to you, then you will surely love FM antennas.
Of course, the number of FM radio stations depends on your location, but your radio will surely receive a couple of new ones which you didn’t previously have access to.
These are just a couple of advantages of using FM radio antennas. There are a lot more, but we could write a whole book about them. If there are any FM antenna users reading this, let us know in the comments why do you love to use FM antenna, and which model do you have.
Setting up an FM antenna
Of course, we will be giving you a step-by-step guide on how to set up an FM antenna. You will see that the process is not hard at all, and can literally be done by everyone. There’s no reason why you wouldn’t be able to do it yourself! Let’s see the steps.
- Throughout the review part of this article, we have mentioned that a lot of antennas have male and female F connectors. Some have one of those. Either way, you should use the F connector to connect your radio to your antenna. If you have no idea what that F-connector stands for, we recommend you to use your antenna’s user manual. No need to worry, you surely won’t make any mistakes.
- After you have connected the F-connector of the antenna to your FM radio, you will have to connect the Ac adapter of the antenna to the power outlet. Therefore, giving the antenna power to do its job.
- Once you have done that, you will need to turn on your FM radio and play with the frequencies a little bit. Do that until you find one frequency where the signal is the strongest and the clearest.
- Lastly, after you have found just the right frequency where the signal seems very clear, you should finally mount the antenna. There are different ways you could mount your antenna, and we are sure that all of the options are very well described inside of the antenna’s user manual. Of course, you just have to make sure that the antenna is stable, and not easily movable after mounting. If an antenna is not well adjusted to the surface, you might experience unexpected signal drops as the antenna keeps moving.
In Conclusion of Best FM Antenna reviews
Since these models we have presented you with today are literally the best out of the best, you won’t make a mistake if you end up purchasing any of them. Of course, your conditions matter, and those will surely help you find the right antenna.
After testing these antennas out, we have come to the conclusion that the ultimate best one is surely the Terk Omni-directional Indoor FM antenna. Even though we prefer outdoor antennas, the Terk Omni-directional one showed quite an impressive performance. We could proudly say that it has provided us with the best reception, and is quite easily mountable.
As you could have seen, these antennas are worth your time. We hope that we were able to help you choose the one which you will purchase next.
Thanks for joining us today! Until next time!
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FAQs related to FM radio antenna
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How can I boost my FM radio signal?
There are some things you could do to boost your FM radio signal. You could first put the FM antenna outdoors, and mount it to your window or the roof. If you do that, the reception will greatly increase. You could also consider purchasing an omnidirectional antenna that could catch signals in all of the directions.
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How do I fix poor FM radio reception?
If your antenna is having a poor reception, you could check to see if everything is okay with the antenna. You could try placing the antenna anywhere outside of your home. And the last thing you could consider is adding an amplifier.
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How to connect an FM antenna to a receiver?
Connecting your antenna to a receiver is pretty easy. All that you have to do is take the antenna’s plug and put it inside of the receiver’s jack. Of course, some receivers don’t support external FM antennas, so you will have to make sure that yours does support it.
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Amplified indoor VS outdoor antennas
There are quite a few differences between amplified indoor and outdoor antennas. The first difference is in the range these antennas have. To understand those differences better, we will put the information in the table.
Indoor antenna Outdoor antenna The reception Has a better reception Worse reception than the outside antenna’s Mounting Harder mounting Can be placed anywhere inside the house
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Can you use a TV antenna for an FM radio?
No, you cannot use a TV antenna on an FM radio. These two are totally different antennas, and cannot be used on different devices.
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