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I recently bought a cheap stereo amplifier with built in FM receiver from Amazon at the first link below. Testing it out today I found the FM reception to be sub-par. All of my local stations that I can pick up in my car sound fuzzy. The antenna is approximately 14 inches long and is simply a floppy cord. Pictures are at the second link below.

I would like to build a better antenna to get better reception. If I can get reception equal to the reception you find on an OEM economy box car radio, I'd be plenty happy. What is a simple path forward?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QKW2WMF/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Mini Wireless Bluetooth Power Amplifier, ARCHEER 2 x 45W

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  • $\begingroup$ To add a bit of detail to my question, I've been researching this question, and based on the 14 inch length, it seems like the current antenna is an "eight wave" antenna. I do not know whether replacing this with a quarter wave or half wave antenna would work given that the system is built around the existing antenna. I also wonder what the best way to form a connection is. $\endgroup$
    – Bill Tedinator
    Aug 8 '19 at 0:30
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    $\begingroup$ Can you provide a photo of how the antenna connects to the radio? $\endgroup$
    – Chris K8NVH
    Aug 8 '19 at 2:33
  • $\begingroup$ Does the car have any kind of antenna built in? $\endgroup$
    – Zeiss Ikon
    Aug 8 '19 at 11:27
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    $\begingroup$ The Amazon link has a picture of the rear panel. The antenna is a wire that sticks out a hole in the rear panel. $\endgroup$
    – rclocher3 ♦
    Aug 9 '19 at 5:26
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    $\begingroup$ Well, I ended up finding a much better receiver at a yard sale, and returning the receiver unit from my post to amazon. The yard sale unit even came with a pair of rabbit ears, so I've got the best radio I could hope for, it picks up about 30 channels with perfect reception now. Compared to ~10 channels with terrible reception. And I don't even have to solder anything! $\endgroup$
    – Bill Tedinator
    Aug 26 '19 at 15:53

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