FM tuner use in SF Bay area

Hi. The Bay area is atypical environment for FM reception. The type of antenna that benefits you is dependent upon the conditions in the immediate area where you live. Due to the hilly terrain, the antenna that works for your cousin in Alameda may be unfit for use in Berkeley.

Per your mention of classical music, you may be interested in listening to 90.9 which is a public radio station broadcasting from Sacramento. Some parts of San Fran, North Bay, and some areas of East Bay can receive this station. Unlike 102.1 there are no commercials, the music played is more diverse and they do not focus on playing snippets of works, the announcers are more professional and listenable, and last but not least, the fidelity surpasses 102.1 by leaps and bounds. Although you may not be an opera fan, they have a fabulous opera show on Friday nights that even non-opera lovers typically enjoy. This is lead by Sean Bianco who is an amazing listen.

Good luck.

I am also a big fan of KDFC 102.1, so big of a fan that I just got an old tuner that I had laying around (Kenwood KT 8300 upgraded by Joseph Chow via Audio Horizon) just to listen to 102.1. The only antenna I use is a cheap Y wired indoor anntena. This antenna does not allow me to pull other stations in clearly but KDFC comes in crystal clear. The Kenwood KT 8300 does need to be mentioned as it is a very signal sensitive unit.

I live in the Richmond district in San Francisco surrounded by overhead power and bus lines. Anyway, KDFC should not be a problem but 91.1 the Jazz station is one that you will need an outdoor antenna.

BTW, hope you are not missing out on "Music around the World" on KDFC this week. They are playing music from a different country every hour.

If you have Comcast digital cable, they may have a KDFC feed. It's always been a challenge to get a good, clean signal for this station, though they recently switched over to digital broadcasting, perhaps that will help.

I am surprised at the positive comments about the station. It's a button on my car radio because there really aren't any classical alternatives, and I do like Dianne Nicolini, but I think their programming is lame. Lowest-common-denominator classical music with an occassional interesting departure. (Okay, I'm exaggerating a bit.) Great website, though.

I live in a very rural area north of LA & have alwsays had problems with FM reception. I purchased a Magnum Dynalab ST-2FM antenna after trying several others & I must say it works awsome. The key was not to just put it on the roof somewhere. I actually got outside on the cell phone with my wife near the tuner on her phone. I moved all around the roof area until she gave me the "best signal" sign. The placement was very critical. Believe it or not, the best spot was on the side of the house & not on the peak. Had I not tested the reception this way I would have had little or no increace in reception. Good luck with yours.
-John

I live in Walnut Creek and also listen to KDFC 102.1. I own the Magnum Dynalab MD-102T FM Tuner and am using the Fanfare FM-G2 inside 54" whip antenna (www.fanfare.com)). My reception is excellent for this station but not all stations are okay. An outside antenna is always the best but sometimes an antenna in your attic will work okay. My space does not allow using my attic or outdside. I suggest you experiement with your tuner to determine how good your reception is.