Suggestions for trying to improve or regain reception:
•If you listen in the Boulder area switch to our new translator at 99.9FM on the dial.
•Move your radio around. Many table top radios include antenna circuitry inside the radio and reception is affected by how the radio sits on the table. FM signals also reflect off objects such as mountains or buildings. Because of this sometimes just moving a radio to a different location in a room will improve reception.
•Move your antenna. If you have a telescope antenna or an FM dipole antenna try moving it around. If you live south of the Greeley/Fort Collins area set up the FM dipole so that is parallel to the signal, i.e. the ends of the antenna are on an east-west axis.
•Add an FM dipole antenna to your radio. The FM dipole is an inexpensive wire antenna that can be added to radios that have terminals labeled antenna.
•If the "FM dipole" doesn't work the last thing to try is a larger directional antenna. These antennas look like TV antennas but are designed for FM. Usually we install these antennas on a roof, as high as possible on the side of a building, or in an attic. They are then connected to the "antenna" terminals on the radio. Turn the antenna until you get the best reception. (KUNC's main signal is broadcast from a site approximately 10 miles west of Fort Collins. This type antenna and the supplies to mount them and connect them to your radio are available at most electronics stores. More information is available at http://www.kunc.org/media/PDF/FM%20Antenna%20Art%20and%20Parts.pdf
• Small "amplified" antennas might work in some situations. We only recommend them if the store will let you "try before you buy." The signal you're trying to pick-up is very small. You are best off getting an antenna up in the air so you can point it towards the station and "gather" only the signal you want. The small "amplified" antennas try to compensate for being small and collecting signal from all directions by adding amplification, "turning up the volume" on everything they pick-up. This usually just makes the noise that is interfering with your reception worse.
•KUNC continues to make its programming available via the internet. It is possible to listen to the station using your computer and computer speakers. Another option is to purchase an internet radio. There are two models available at the NPR Shop.
•If you live in the foothills along the front range, or in the southwest suburbs of the Denver-metro area and are unable to receive either KUNC or the Colorado Public Radio AM signals there is another option. Both KUNC and KVOD offer HD radio signals. If you receive KVOD (90.1FM) it is likely that by purchasing a HD radio you will be able to receive the KVOD HD2 signal, which is a simulcast of Colorado Public Radio’s News and Information Channel that is heard at 1340AM. More information about HD radio can be found at http://www.hdradio.com/index.php |