Better radio reception.....

[Ray-CA]

I've read the various threads on getting better FM reception in the garage and they have been extremely helpful. My concern now is the AM band. I remember back (WAY BACK) when transistor radios were popular, that if you had a fuzzy signal you just turned the radio a bit until the internal antenna aligned and you got better reception. With my receiver, I can't do that, so is there a way to pull in better AM signal? All I'm trying to do is listen to the ball games (baseball/football) while in the shop.

Thanks,

Ray

 

[aandpdan]

Does your radio have an external AM antenna jack?

 

[The Cobbler]

AM doesn't like noise from florescent, rfi etc.
I'm thinking if it was me, I'd look for a car radio and mount an antenna outside of the building. could even look for one that has aux out so you can run it through your receiver

 

[RAYJAY]

smart phone and a app, for the station you need plug the phone into the aux jack and you done

 

[Seppala]

Get a GE Superadio III. Has a connection for an external AM antenna.

 

[elav]

smart phone and a app, for the station you need plug the phone into the aux jack and you done

My experience is that most stations black out games when streaming (because it can be someone out of market listening).

 

[jkwilson]

The quality and performance of AM radios has gone downhill since FM has become the dominant medium. As was suggested, go with a specialty radio, or a salvaged car radio with an external antenna.

 

[frugalscotty]

Get a GE Superadio III. Has a connection for an external AM antenna.

The GE Superradio is a good choice if you can find one. Also, spend a little time at the C.Crane website. They specialize in all sorts of radios and long distance radio reception.

C.Crane

 

[ltusler]

C. Crane, their stuff works.

 

[motoretro]

Radio Shack use to make a AM Radio antenna kit with a couple ceramic insulators, lead wire and roll of copper wire plus instructions. I'm not sure if it's still available although worth looking into. My dad used something like this back in the 1930's and 40's in Kentucky to bring in stations over the mountains. I still have some of his old radios like Zenith Transoceanic, ect.
Good luck,
Motoretro

 

[egnorant]

I googled homemade AM antennas and built one from some 1" PVC and some old telephone wire. mounted it on the pole with my ancient TV antenna for FM and it works great!
Cost: about an hour and a half, but no money!

Bruce

 

[Riverside]

when transistor radios were popular, that if you had a fuzzy signal you just turned the radio a bit until the internal antenna aligned and you got better reception. With my receiver, I can't do that

Yeah, you'll need to turn the building a little bit at a time, until the station comes in clearly.

 

[Capt Chrysler]

Geez, I can't remember the last time I had the radio on AM? Maybe when Nascar was on years ago..............

Now I feel old......

Capt. Chrysler

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

My garage has foil backed insulation for most of it which makes for a nice environment, but also a great Faraday cage and kills reception. I'm ordering an antenna kit that I can put up in the loft space above the rafters where there is no metal in the way.

I might order a second one for the Bose radio in my home office / art studio. Some days FM comes in great, other days it's a staticky mess.

 

[BuickFarmer]

mounted it on the pole with my ancient TV antenna for FM and it works great!
Cost: about an hour and a half, but no money!

Bruce

Really? They work good for that?

 

[rlwhitetr3b]

The FM radio frequencies are in the VHF TV frequencies, I forget which channels they fall between. So a VHF TV antenna should work great.