[spacedout]

I thought everyone was forced into a smart phone by now

I work with computers every day and have many tablets, with that said I do not want a so called smart phone. Way to small of a screen to actually be useful form my needs & cost over a basic phone is ridiculous. I have two different 4G mifi devices(US Cellular and Verizon) so I can use internet anywhere still, but on a much larger screen.

I always wonder is it still a smart phone when a dumb person owns it? Is the phone smarter than the owner?

 

[jblackburn]

I work with computers every day and have many tablets, with that said I do not want a so called smart phone. Way to small of a screen to actually be useful form my needs & cost over a basic phone is ridiculous. I have two different 4G mifi devices(US Cellular and Verizon) so I can use internet anywhere still, but on a much larger screen.

I always wonder is it still a smart phone when a dumb person owns it? Is the phone smarter than the owner?

The gap between the two is closing quickly! *holds iPad to ear*

 

[obermd]

I always wonder is it still a smart phone when a dumb person owns it? Is the phone smarter than the owner?

In many cases Yes.

 

[Green]

My mom JUST upgraded to an iPhone after using the same LG flip phone for the last 6? Years...

For the moment I'm still using the flip-phone thing, Don't really have a need or desire for it never mind anything else

 

[Blue Angel]

For the moment I'm still using the flip-phone thing, Don't really have a need or desire for it never mind anything else

Once you have it, you need it and can't go back... it's a trap!

 

[Robby]

Lizzie,
As stated earlier in the thread, only a longer antenna can help FM reception, but not by much.

The FM broadcast signal is essentially a straight line from the broadcast tower......a comparatively weak one at that.
Because it is a straight line, and we live on a globe, as we travel away from the tower we begin to go under the signal.....that is where you hear it start to warble and then as you continue, it reaches a point where you have completely dropped below the signal........so, antenna 'Strength' if there really was such a thing, can't help in this circumstance.
Same thing happens to the FM signal in cities with tall buildings.....the buildings obstruct and sometimes absorb the signal....try driving downtown Chicago listening to FM......it'll drive you insane.

Since we're talking radio, the AM signal is entirely different and has a much larger range even though the station may be broadcasting at a lower power. AM grow......a side view would be sort of like a megaphone.....the end you speak into represents the top of the broadcast antenna, the big end represents the signal growing......this continues to follow the curvature of the earth (as well as off into space) so you have far more range.
Add to this, AM signals can 'bounce' off of thick cloud cover, sometimes doubling the range of stronger stations to almost 1000 miles.

Satellite radio is as stated....the signal is broadcast down to earth using satellites as repeater stations......this is why, when obstructed from above such as a bridge, the signal is lost momentarily.

Use AUX to minimize aggravation heh heh.

Be careful out there.....happy holidays,

Rob

 

[LizzieCruze]

I always wonder is it still a smart phone when a dumb person owns it? Is the phone smarter than the owner?

I wish that I could like this twice!! :bowdown:

 

[LizzieCruze]

The gap between the two is closing quickly! *holds iPad to ear*

I'm laughing out loud here!

 

[LizzieCruze]

Lizzie,
As stated earlier in the thread, only a longer antenna can help FM reception, but not by much.

The FM broadcast signal is essentially a straight line from the broadcast tower......a comparatively weak one at that.
Because it is a straight line, and we live on a globe, as we travel away from the tower we begin to go under the signal.....that is where you hear it start to warble and then as you continue, it reaches a point where you have completely dropped below the signal

Thanks, Rob. I understand now how a longer antenna is the only way to get better reception.

 

[obermd]

Thanks, Rob. I understand now how a longer antenna is the only way to get better reception.

A longer antenna may or may not help. The relationship between radio wavelength and antenna length is critical. You want an antenna length that is a whole number divisor of the wavelength. For example, if the wavelength is 50 meters you want an antenna length that is a multiple of 5 meters for best reception. Ideally it would be 50 meters.

 

[Robby]

To those folks metric challenged that would be a 150 foot tall antenna.

YIKES!

Rob

 

[ChevyGuy]

1/4, 1/2, 3/8, 5/8 wave are all popular sizes. Even then, the electrical size can be changed by adding a coil to it.

100MHz is 3m so a 1/4 wave is 2.4 ft - kinda long to put on top of a car.

Generally, a "stubby" isn't going to help. But like a lot of things in life, what works best is based on a number of factors - including how well designed and built it is.

 

[UlyssesSG]

The FM reception in my 2012 cruze is abysmal, worse than any other car I have owned.

Ditto here. The absolute pits.

Shamed by every make and model car I've ever owned, ridden in or driven and so equipped. I gave up counting years ago, but a conservative estimate would be well over a hundred different vehicles starting with my Mom's '66 Plymouth Belvedere station wagon.

If I didn't know better, that the Cruze we drive is the proud product of the square shooters at the new GM, I'd say the sucky FM radio thing smacks of the old GM cutting a deal with SiriusXM.

Merry Christmas!

 

[UlyssesSG]

100MHz is 3m so a 1/4 wave is 2.4 ft - kinda long to put on top of a car.

Okay, consider this: Assuming the Cruze's FM receiver is of adequate quality to be able to acceptably process a FM signal, why not put an upright quarter wave antenna on the right front fender and be done with it? Worked well for decades on just about every make and model car and truck built in the USA.

 

[Robby]

Okay, consider this: Assuming the Cruze's FM receiver is of adequate quality to be able to acceptably process a FM signal, why not put an upright quarter wave antenna on the right front fender and be done with it? Worked well for decades on just about every make and model car and truck built in the USA.

It did indeed work well......trouble is, every element of carmaking involves reducing drag.......even that stick on the front fender creates measurable drag and, quite possibly, wind noise.

The price of progress????

Rob

 

[Blue Angel]

Generally, a "stubby" isn't going to help.

My pappy always said, the size of your antenna doesn't matter, it's how you use it.

Cmon, you didn't see that one coming???

 

[spacedout]

100MHz is 3m so a 1/4 wave is 2.4 ft - kinda long to put on top of a car.

I would assume then any increase in antenna length could possibly improve reception? Heck I kinda like the remote control car look, 2.4ft antenna wouldn't bother me one bit.

 

[LizzieCruze]

This could be me...:music:

 

[Merc6]

If one screwed a longer antenna into the stock base, how much weight could it actually support?

Satellite and FM are the same quality for me. Cheapest decent "Smartphone" would be my backup Nokia Lumia 635. I couldn't do a flip phone for half a day and the next up faux blackberry style GoPhone was no better. So far the 6 Plus does not like my radio and at times the USB stick decides it doesn't like the radio either.

 

[ChevyGuy]

I would assume then any increase in antenna length could possibly improve reception?

If you're going to qualify it like that - sure! It could. It's worth a try. Likewise an amplified antenna could improve things as well (if you can find one that fits.) Then again, an amplifier can make things worse. It depends on how strong the local stations are and if the amplifier has a better noise figure then the radio.