FM Antenna Price Inflation and Performance Deflation?

[Ben Zonia]

This one is $90 at Walmart. One source claimed just 5.5 dBi maximum gain with it for FM. If accurate, that's just 3.35 dBd. A well designed 3 element one should be better than that. Why does anyone quote dBi anyway? It seems that it's deliberately deceptive. Especially since there is no such thing as an isotropic antenna. The smallest oscillating electromagnetic molecular dipole is directional, with minima on the axis of vibration, and the maximum is perpendicular to it.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/FM-Antenna-H ... xcQAvD_BwE

[HD74]

Those used to be available at MCM Electronics for $19.99.
Wish they were still in business.

[Ben Zonia]

The Antennacraft/Archer FM-6 used to be $16.95 at Radio Shack. According to modeling, it has 5.0-6.3 dBd across the band (7.15-8.45 dBi). So the gain may be accurate for the three element, but still overpriced.

[Ben Zonia]

The Stellar Labs 30-2460 averages $45.00 online. 4.5-5.0 dBd (6.65-7.15 dBi) Stock according to modeling.

[Plate Cap]

There are better prices available here and there, but remember: certainly less than 1 in 100 people would even understand what its for, and even a sliver of those would have an interest in purchasing and installing an outdoor directional "FM" antenna. I have RF in every cell of my old body, but I simply don't bother anymore. Streaming is easier. "Supply Chain" problems are bad enough with popular products.

Further, look at the popularity of the junk in-home TV antennas. They appeal to the lazy guy that wants to cut the cord, and is easily buffaloed by the advertising that such units will magically "pull in" distant signals. Would you like to be Wineguard making a line of decent outdoor antennas and have to compete against that? I wouldn't.

I experience the same thing trying to specify to clients quality 150-160 and 450-470 MHz base antennas. The good old standbys, like PD455s, PD200s, DB220s and DB420s are very hard to find and very expensive if you can. Cheaper 3-5 dB gain white sticks even more so. The professional radio market has simply dried up with most businesses using mobile telephones and most states / counties / CVTs using trunked 800 MHz systems.

It only makes sense to build things that will sell, and if sales will be low, the remaining NOS will be expensive.

[k8jd]

DIY antennas are my thing. But the price of wire, coax, twinlead, light metal tubing, and various insulators , have gone out of reach with the current economy. I am starting to forget "L in Ft = 468/F in MHz" !

[Marcus]

Most the best tuners have been long discontinued, so this does not surprise me. The antenna in the photo looks like the Clear ConX that I own. The difference is that mine is 300 ohms, and the Walmart item says that theirs is 75 ohms. The brand ClearConX seems to have disappeared. They also had an 8 element FM antenna.