When the TV was analog and broadcasted on VHF band, you needed a huge yagi antenna. With “bunny ears”, reception was terrible.
But FM radio, more or less on the same frecuency, can be listened with a little single monopole antenna. Why?
In: Technology
Ham radio operator and electrical engineer here.
There are multiple reasons.
1) TV transmitters tended to cover a large area and any radio signal weakens by the cube of the distance. FM radio tends to be more local.
2) video uses AM modulation which is more affected by interference and atmospheric events. The stronger the signal, the better the quality. FM tends to be full quality until you reach a threshold, then it is gone.
3) Buildings block a lot of signal. An FM radio antenna on a car works well. It works fine inside if you are somewhat near a transmitter. If you were able to put “rabbit ears” on top of a building, you would likely get much better TV reception.
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