have 2 questions about fm stereo reception :

1. i live about 60 miles north of miami --where all the GOOD stations broadcast -
is the 60 miles still considered 'fringe area' for fm reception ?

2.many boxes we buy dont have the OEM antennas --do the replacements we get at radio shack, etc
weaken the original fm capabilities ?
even if they are within 25% of the same size ?

thanks to all who replys to this

No difference, as long as you meet the minimum wavelength of the highest frequency, you'll be fine.

http://www.1728.com/freqwave.htm

thanks kitt --

what about the 60 mile thing --am a screwed at this distance --or would alternate "better" antennas make up for these miles ??

Actually, distance, terrain and structures will affect you. The biggest thing is broadcast power of the station.

A good 100,000 watt broadcaster may be heard up to 100 miles away easy considering factos noted above.

There are no "booster" antennas per say, for a boom box that will boost reception.

I will recommend however, that if the box in question you choose to use that evening has external antenna hookups, connect those as you would for a TV to a set from Radio Shack, etc.

thanks oldy --

are 100.000 watt broadcasters -- expected from a big city like miami ?

Ira, check out this link, you can search radio stations for any state, by the frequency, when the search result list comes up just click on the stations ID and the next page will tell you the output wattage, this link is for FM their is also a AM search on the same page

http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/fmq.html

A larger antenna will only increase range if it can be resonated by refracted waves based on terrain and object reflection. You can't make up for absorbed signals by inadement objects in the transmitter to receiver path. It will also come down to the selectivity and discrimation of the tuner assembly front end.

As suggested, an AMPLIFIED antenna booster would work providing a dipole antenna is supported by the device. Typically this is transferred via a coaxial cable, not sure how you'd link it into a bbx unless it supports external antenna inputs.

thanks again kitt ------

tony --thats a cool link --
just looked up my favorite station -- it does have 100KW --and i dont often get it well

im moving to miami !!