House Radio

[lakngulf]

Why is it that an auto radio will pick up and play all kinds of stations crystal clear but the typical in home radio is nothing but static. I enjoy some early morning jokesters, music and sports talk on the radio while working at home, in the greenhouse, garden etc. But I do not have a radio that brings in a signal nearly as good as a car radio.

Anyone have a good alternative? What type radio do construction workers use on site? Those seem to work very well.

 

[davesl708]

My house radio picks up more than. my vehicle. You might have interference in your house blocking the signal.

 

[/pine]

Home | C. Crane

 

[teejk]

I had to extend wire out from my new house to get a decent FM reception (plain old cheap speaker wire). AM...forget it...every radio seems to have a different connection and I haven't figured out how to get a proper antenna AM wire yet. My metal shop makes things difficult but I do have a Milwaukee shop radio that will give a decent AM signal from a station about 75 miles away (on a good day). Your vehicle radio on the other hand is designed to handle weak signals and has a "loaded" antenna...might not be a bad idea to build a box with one of those and buy a cheap 120/12 converter...got me thinking now...

 

[teejk]

Home | C. Crane

book marked that for further reading...thanks!

 

[Wagtail]

It's because your entire vehicle acts as an antenna whereas your house, varying locations due to building materials, tends to block the wavelengths. Sort of like having to adjust the old rabbit ears of a TV to 'bring in' a particular station.

My house interior is nearly a 'cold spot' for mobile phone reception... except for one spot. So my mobile isn't so mobile inside.

My inside beside-the-bed clock-radio is a BOSE and to get the full, rich sound I have to have its antenna attached.

 

[Soundguy]

Agreed. Indoor radio, limited antenna size, RF blocked by building materials, and an em cage. ( house wiring all the walls )

Vs

Your car with external antenna.

Also.. Look at car radio cost vs portable radio cost. Car radio usually more watts and cost more.

I dont expect a 15$ desktop radio to perform lil a 300$ car radio.

 

[Alien]

I spent $130 recently on a radio for my wife that I hoped would have better reception than a $30 one. Nope, dudded again. The receivers in these things are second rate.

Bit like my Samsung phone. My HTC phone leaves it for dead with reception.

 

[lennyzx11]

book marked that for further reading...thanks!

I have one of Cranes. It won't stay on station. I've had it with me in the Rv out in different states so it's not my location. You set it and it will drift away causing you to go back and retune.
Kinda disappointed in it for the price.

 

[k0ua]

My Icom 756 PROiii with my OCFD outside wire antenna works very well on the AM broadcast band, (and many other bands)

But seriously you cannot compare most simple AM tabletop radio's with a 3 inch ferrite loopstick antenna to the much more expensive and much better engineered mobile radios with tuned RF stages and an external antenna. Just like you cannot compare a car radio to my Icom 756 PROiii .

If you are serious about AM band long distance reception, you could get one of the many old fine Shortwave radios produced in the last 50 years and put up a good outside wire antenna. I am speaking about old Hammarlund, Hallicrafters and National receivers.