Improving AM radio reception?

[dragoneggs]

Okay, this topic was recently broached somewhere here but after a couple minutes of digging, I decided to start a thread on the subject.

I have an AM/FM/CD portable radio in my shop. The AM reception sucks. We live quite aways from the stations so lots of static.

Replaced the fluorescent fixtures with LED 4ft fixtures (not just the light bulbs). The RF issues are gone now, at least it is far better than before. Turning on/off the LEDs do not result in any change of static like the fluorescent fixtures.

I bought an AM antenna...

Amazon.com: Kaito AN-1 Tunable Passive AM Radio Loop Antenna for All Brands Like Kaito,Sony,Panasonic,Grundig and More: Home Audio & Theater

and that is not doing a bloody thing good or bad, but I am plugging into the FM antenna jack. No AM terminals on the back.



Any suggestions on how to McGyver it? Do I need to break into the radio case?

 

[user.69169]

You probably gotta get inside radio and find thing looks like carpenter pencil wid a coil of wire around it. Dat's de antenna. Den you screw around trying to hook onto one dem wires and see if it work.

 

[dragoneggs]

You probably gotta get inside radio and find thing looks like carpenter pencil wid a coil of wire around it. Dat's de antenna. Den you screw around trying to hook onto one dem wires and see if it work.

Yeah, that's plan B. I was hoping the procedure was going to resemble a simple prostate check, not open heart surgery.

 

[Industrial Toys]

It's possible that the AM part of that radio is the worst part.

Like buying a swiss arm knife. Some component is always worse than the rest.

Buy a C-Crane (sp?) Radio. Built as a good AM radio, end of story.

 

[dragoneggs]

It's possible that the AM part of that radio is the worst part.

Like buying a swiss arm knife. Some component is always worse than the rest.

Buy a C-Crane (sp?) Radio. Built as a good AM radio, end of story.

That's plan C. It is a Bose so was hoping to better it. At our last place, this radio reception and sound was awesome for a small unit.

 

[user.69169]

Maybe you just have de wife gently stroke de case and talk soothing to de radio while you look in de vents wid mini Mag Light de exam work better.

Worst case, grab sawzall and duct tape. Dat radio sing like a bird when you plug sawzall in.

 

[dragoneggs]

Just did a little reading on the C Crane CC3 radio. Reviews are glowing. Might need to go on my xmas list, and craigslist my Bose. I don't need the CD player anymore but I will miss the remote. I place my radio up high and out of the way. Space is a premium in my shop.

 

[k0ua]

Yeah, that's plan B. I was hoping the procedure was going to resemble a simple prostate check, not open heart surgery.

First thing is to send back that so called AM enhanced antenna thingy if you can.
Then break into the radio and see if you can find the ferrite loopstick antenna. Wrap a few turns of small diameter wire around the loopstick. and then hook to more wire you run either inside or preferably outside. Use insulated wire, and preferably and end insulator. Run as much wire as you can conveniently. Try 20 or 30 foot, but do't be afraid of 100 or 200 feet.

This will be inductive coupling, don't try to hook to any of them funny littel wires. ideally what I would do is bring out a machine screw to the back of the plastic radio case for my permanant connection and then would be free to try different lengths and positioning of the outside wire at will.

Call me on the phone if you need personal one on one assistance.

 

[k0ua]

Just did a little reading on the C Crane CC3 radio. Reviews are glowing. Might need to go on my xmas list, and craigslist my Bose. I don't need the CD player anymore but I will miss the remote. I place my radio up high and out of the way. Space is a premium in my shop.

Lets try to improve what you already have. give me a call.

 

[k0ua]

Also for that matter, any old "boat-anchor" tube type Amateur or general coverage receiver built in the last 50 or 60 years will have pretty good AM broadcast band reception. Also most Amateur transceiver built in the last 15 years or so will have coverage there also. If you could find a broken one that the transmitter is kaput, they would go pretty cheap on Ebay. They would all be superior to the quality of reciever that you have now, and would come with a convenient SO239 Antenna socket. All you need is the ubiquitous PL259 plug and a chunk of wire and you are in business.

 

[k0ua]

It is possible that the very small tuned loop you bought would offer some improvement if you inductively coupled it to built in ferrite loopstick antenna inside,but I am not a fan of such loops, and their very narrow tuning and small aperture.

 

[dragoneggs]

Thanks James... I knew you would come to the rescue. I will open up the box and run some wire. Seen a couple YouTube vids that showing a long wire does wonders. I have lots of insulated wire and various gauges.

Does it matter if it is stranded or solid? Figuring it doesn't. Hey I switched from electrical to mechanical engineering for a reason! :ashamed:

 

[user.69169]

Strikes me you just might be North of Line A out there, and de radio itself might not be de problem. Whole bunch of stations North of Line A was required to downpower transmission year or so back which meant lousey signal in lot of places.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Just adding signal strength to a poorly designed receiver isn't the answer. I learned that a long time ago, using twenty pound commercial Motorola Radios, good for only a few channels on a given band as opposed to the litle junky hammy-hamster rigs that could receive DC-Light, but had poor specs, and intermod rejection. I never owned a C-Crane, but it would be nice to play with one. In this country, pedestrian signs (probably the LED power supply) mess up AM car radio completely. Curious, if a C-Crane would be affected or not.

 

[ultrarunner]

"Select a Antenna 541" is something from the past used to tune in distant AM

Never used one but knew people in remote areas that did... no batteries required.

 

[k0ua]

Thanks James... I knew you would come to the rescue. I will open up the box and run some wire. Seen a couple YouTube vids that showing a long wire does wonders. I have lots of insulated wire and various gauges.

Does it matter if it is stranded or solid? Figuring it doesn't. Hey I switched from electrical to mechanical engineering for a reason! :ashamed:

It does not matter solid or stranded.

 

[PILOON]

How about winding the DC+ wire around a D cell lead acid carbon core?

 

[kenmbz]

When we used to make our own AM radios, used 100-200 feet of wire inductively coupled. However, that will not increase selectivity. If you have too long an antenna, could pick up two stations at the same/similar frequency. so trial and error on this one and make sure your wire is insulated so you don;t let out any smoke

 

[Xfaxman]

Well it worked great for my situation that was a weak signal inside a metal building.

Just point the loop toward the station and set the radio close to the loop no connection was used.

The tuning knob on the antenna is very sensitive. Move the radio around the loop for the best signal.

 

[Oaktree]

Also for that matter, any old "boat-anchor" tube type Amateur or general coverage receiver built in the last 50 or 60 years will have pretty good AM broadcast band reception.

Or you could just go to your local junkyard and get an old car radio. 90s vintage GM radios had very good AM sections. A 12V power supply, a couple speakers and a few feet of wire for an antenna and you're good.