Setting Up Radio

If you just purchased a Media Center PC, and Radio is included in the main Media Center menu (see Figure 15.1), very little setup is involved. All you need to do is attach an external antenna and start cranking up the audio.

Figure 15.1. Close inspection of the animated radio icon reveals that it's tuned to the fictitious FM station KRAM 108.8.

However, Media Center PCs sold or configured before the introduction of the most recent upgrade to the Media Center software (code-named Harmony) did not include a radio-equipped tuner card. And not all manufacturers plan to offer the capability in their more current models, either.

If you do not see Radio in your Media Center menu, first make sure you have an FM radio antenna input connector on your tuner card. Typically, this will appear as a second male coax connector labeled "FM" protruding alongside the TV-Out connector on the back of your Media Center PC. If you have confirmed that you have a radio-equipped tuner card and still don't see the Radio menu choice in Media Center, try upgrading to the latest version of the Media Center software, and reboot your system. If this does not correct the problem, contact your PC manufacturer.

Connecting an External Antenna

If your Media Center PC has an FM tuner on board, but the manufacturer did not supply you with an external FM antenna, you're going to need one to get any reception at all. Fortunately, this doesn't need to be a big investment. You can find a serviceable external FM antenna for well under $10 at just about any electronics store. If you live in a remote area, or in a place that features rugged terrain, you may want to investigate a more sophisticated, powered antenna. Even a top-of-the-line model from a respected manufacturer such as Terk Technologies, maker of the FMPRO 50 antenna (see Figure 15.2), for example, should be available for well under $100.

Figure 15.2. Terk's FM Pro antenna, also called the FM50, is engineered to provide clear and powerful reception for both distant and nearby FM stations .