Question:
Dear Big Picture Big Sound,
I'm installing a HDTV outdoor antenna on my roof and was wondering if that would also give me FM reception as well. Can I run a splitter off of the main feed coming from the antenna then route one output to my TV and the other to my stereo receiver (it has a coax input on it)??
Thanks,
-Jordan
Answer:
Hi, Jordan,
In the U.S., FM radio frequencies fall in the VHF band at 88-108MHz, just above VHF channel 6 and well below channel 7. Most digital television transmissions (including HDTV broadcasts) are in the UHF band (300 MHz to 3,000 MHz). So if your antenna is designed for UHF/HDTV frequencies only, then it will not receive the FM broadcasts very well. But if it is a combined UHF/VHF antenna, with low-band VHF reception, then you should be able to receive the FM broadcasts. In this case, a simple high quality coax cable splitter is all you'd need to send one signal to your HDTV or set-top box and the other to your receiver's antenna input.
Of course, most antennas are directional so the implication is that your local radio broadcast towers and local HDTV broadcast towers are in the same direction. You could also get a rotating antenna if the signals are in different directions, or an omnidirectional antenna if you're close enough to the towers.
To find out where your local HDTV broadcasters are located, and which antenna you'd need for the best reception, see: AntennaWeb.org.
Regards,
-Chris
