AM Radio Question

[puffy]

I have a cheap radio in the room that I smoke in.It plays cds and fm stations good.It hardly picks up am stations at all though.Anyone here listen to am stations.If so what do you use?

 

[rcstan]

Car picks up AM just fine even in out of the way places here in Alaska unless surrounded by mountains. AFAIK any decent radio with an actual antenna, not just the little wire like the alarm clock radio, should pick up AM bands.

 

[martiniman]

I have a small portable sony that i use in my office for am sports.

under $10 at amazon

Sony am/fm

 

[cortezattic]

I just ordered this (click on image). I had a similar model that worked well for about 20 yrs.

I'll let you know how this one is -- but there are several reviews which should help to form an opinion.

 

[schmitzbitz]

not just the little wire like the alarm clock radio

That little wire is actually the FM antenna; AM receivers require a 'loop' antenna (a continuous ring of metal wire, often embedded in the body of the electronics; or in the case of an automobile, the entire body of the car). The cheapest way to boost your receiving power is to create a larger antenna - simply pop the back off of your radio, attach a length of speaker wire to it forming a closed circuit. This should be positioned on an exterior wall, to avoid as much electronic interference as possible (Coincidentally, you can increase FM reception by creating a 'T' antenna and attaching it the same way.)

If you get the right atmospheric conditions, a clock radio will pick up AM bounce from broadcasts originating half-way around the world (in fact, the only way I could get rugby coverage out of NZ in the days before real-time streaming audio was sitting on my roof on a clear night with an old crystal set). Back when I took 'Introduction to Radio Broadcasting' for extra credits, the instructor (Brian Antonson) would often play clips of himself recorded from various points around the world to demonstrate the effect.

 

[akpipe]

Excellent radio from a great company. Check out the Solar Observer as well as a possible choice to cover some additional bases.

 

[dochudson]

I have a cheap radio in the room that I smoke in.It plays cds and fm stations good.It hardly picks up am stations at all though.Anyone here listen to am stations.If so what do you use?

if you take it outside does it pickup AM? if so follow the above for an antenna. I live in Columbus (oh) and whn in HS would be able to pickup NYC and Chicago AM stations on a $2 plastic pocket radio. Even in a car stopped under an overpass or going through a car wash AM will go out. Even driving along som electrical lines the AM will turn to static.

 

[lankfordjl]

I listen to AM radio or Pandora radio everyday in my office. It's hard to beat listening to AM stations on the internet. Most stations have a website with a LISTEN NOW button; clarity is exceptional on the internet.

 

[ssjones]

I'll dial up a NFL game occasionally in the garage, but I have an antenna that helps a lot.

 

[philip]

Puffy, the orientation of an AM antenna is important. If it is not pointed to the station it may not pick up the signal well.
I sometimes use a little pocket AM radio on the boat. If I am down below, I have to place it so the antenna is parallel with the boat's wiring for it to work. Then it works fine.

 

[sjpipesmoker]

I was going to mention C.Crane , but cortez had a picture with a link to the webpage. That company makes some great radios and there known for their AM reception radios.

 

[colcolt]

I use to restore old tube radios from the 30's and 40's and while you may not be into that, haunt the antique shops and you can probably find one that won't break the bank. I restored a 1930 Philco "Cathedral" radio that of course was solely AM. The power tube looked like a light bulb and put out 160 watts of heat. There is two clamps in the back on the metal chassis you can use for grounding purposes. I just used alligator clips and hung the other end to a drape on the window close by and it picked up great.
So, you could have a great piece of nostalgic furniture and have AM as well. Just my two cents. Mine looks just like the one sold here on ebay but I got mine for $40 as it wouldn't play and the speaker cone was torn. I replaced all resistors, capacitors, wiring and tubes as well as repaired the speaker and got a new volume control knob and it works like new.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ANTIQUE-1930-PHILCO-WALNUT-CATHEDRAL-RADIO-MODEL-20-/370630752792

 

[cortezattic]

The thought had occurred to me, Yavuz. I just didn't want to push my luck with C.C. Crane's lawyers!

God only knows, I have a heck of a time dodging Kevin's legal eagles. :rofl:

 

[hobie1dog]

Sports talk radio is about the only thing left on AM isn't it?

 

[colcolt]

That and preaching. Some years back there was a station on AM here that played old songs from the 40's and 50's but it only lasted about a year and disappeared. I'd rather listen to that than most of the junk on radio today. I wish someone wold bring back the old programs I listened to as a kid like The Shadow, Gunsmoke, Inner Sanctum Mysteries and Boston Blackie.

 

[mcarnevale]

I have lots of old tube radios. Most of our stations are "talk" radio, which is fine because I'm a news junkie.

 

[colcolt]

AM has gone down hill over the years. There's a bluegrass station that's not half bad if you're into that we have here. I can take a little of it but don't care for the "new" bluegrass. If I'm going to listen to it I'd rather listen to Ralph Stanley and Bill Monroe.

 

[pstlpkr]

I had a friend that was a Disk Jockey on an AM station.

I couldn't hear him when we went under bridges. :nana:

 

[hobie1dog]

I tried listening to it today but cannot stand the shitty reception and the distortion levels, and it is so severely compressed, I convinced myself that's the last time in my life I'll listen to it.

 

[locopony]

News and events commentary on am radio. I love it. I hate sports, but the current events commentators are fun.