"Ian Bell" wrote in message
...
MC_Emily wrote:

Hi everyone

I'm hoping someone can help me with this problem and I'm sure the
solution
is very simple )

Because of the bad weather (!) my horses are spending a lot of their
time
inside, so I've got the radio on for them for a bit of 'human' company.
However, the aerial is broken and only has a stubby bit left on, you
know,
the bit with the other bit that turns it round. So, at the moment I'm
using, well, I don't know what it is really. I think it's a length of
tube
from a caravan awning. It's about 3' long. I found it hanging around
and
it seems to work....to a point. I just sort of balance it on the stubby
bit
and lean it against the wall. It's certainly better than nothing but
the
reception is hopeless! The type of building might not help either -
it's
part block, part wood, with a metal roof and concrete floor.

Anyway, I like to have it on Lincs FM (102.2) but like I said the
reception is hopeless

Your aerial is too long. The wavelength of 102MHz is about 3 metres and
your aerial is a quarter wave whip, so it should be about 75cms or 30 ins
long in total. Assuming there's about 6 inches inside the radio then your
add on bit should be no longer than about 2 feet.

HTH

Ian


also depends if theres any inductive loading inline, to make a shorter
Antenna seem longer.