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There is no best for all conditions. Describe your situation/location first.
Kal
well, I live in a flat, 3rd floor in London, N4. Don't know where the nearest transmitter is.
As noted, the choice of antenna is dependent upon too many factors to make sweeping recommendations. Should you be using a tube tuner, you can easily overload the front end with too much gain from the antenna. If you live in the city, you will require an totally different model than if you live just over the ridge in the suburbs. How crowded the dial is with stations you want to tune and where the signals originate will affect the recommendation. Here in Dallas almost all channels come from SouthEast of the city at a location conveniently called Signal Hill. Most smaller cities don't have the same luxury of pointing an antenna in one direction to capture 95% of the channels. I've sold tuners to people who live too close to the broadcast antenna and the signal literally goes over their head.
One thing to consider is where you can place an antenna. Today many communities have zoning restrictions on where an antenna can be located within the property lines. You say you're considering an indoor antenna; would you be able to use a higher gain antenna mounted in the attic?
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Something must be better than the ribbon dipole I have at the moment (5 quid from Maplin)...I'm after an incremental improvement not a killer solution.I can't get near attics or the roof because I live in a flat in central london.
Neil,
You might find that the following website provides some helpful information. Scroll down until you see the discussion on "Antennas."
Tuner Information Center - Vintage Stereo Tuners
http://www.fmtunerinfo.com/
radish
Are you surrounded by tall buildings? Even those about a mile away? What brand and model tuner are you using?
The TERK FM-50 does an admirable job in urban areas. I have one in my attic and all local stations come in very well. Some stations in Minneapolis/St. Paul (85 miles away) come in well, some don't. WOJB-FM near Hayward, WI (72 miles) comes in pretty good too. For DX applications it should be mounted outside on a wall, roof peak or chimney.
It at some point you decide to go outside:
Winegard
audioadvisor antenna link
Yagi, highly directional, on a rotor is the only antenna to mean anything, those indoor things are useless. Antenna craft is a big OEM I have had good luck with two of em FM only highly irectional, works great on a rotor. They just fit in the attic and rotate one is like 10 element the other 6 I think. Magnum dynalab and Fanfare sell some from Antenna Specialtys or some such name, BIG ones. Like WATTS bigger is BETTER, more elements, more directivity, Mr. Yagi knew his directions
Well, it looks like most people didn't read the question. I believe that you said indoor. First it must be stated that indoor antennas are all a compromise. That having been said if you live in an apartment you have little choice. I'm in the same boat. I use the Magnum-Dynalab ST-2 to excellent results all things considered. The Fanfare FMG is similar. The Fanfare FMG-C might also be a good idea depending on which stations are of the most concern. These have bettered all of the Terk antennas that I have tried.
http://audioexplorer.blogspot.com/
I believe Neil has left the building.