Help with AM antenna, please

[HiBeam]

I can't get a good signal from all the local Portland AM radio stations.
Two stations come in OK but with all that background buzzing noise. Others barely come in.
Tell me about how to build a good antenna w/o major expense - no Ham antenna instructions, please.
I hear that a simple loop would work, but I'd like to have the stations come in as clear as possible. Would a loop do that?
Would the old TV dipole work as good as it can get w/o a major build?
There's a TV antenna on the roof with its coax still attached...what about that?
I don't want to spend $30 - $40 on a Radio Shack item that may or may not work.

FM antenna, too. 'Need a good FM antenna.

Thanks.

Regards,

[Palum6o]

Back in the '80's I kept hearing about the terk antennas. I ended up buying one, but didn't notice that much of a change from what I had, well I could get some stations I normally wouldn't hear but the quality was never that great. I bet the technology is way better now.

[Heel n Toe]

Improving AM Radio Reception:
C. Crane Company - Improving AM Radio Reception - Toll Free (800) 522-8863

Call them if you want some more ideas or to ask about hooking up to your TV roof antenna... great folks. 800-522-8863

More info on AM reception: http://www.ccrane.com/library/am-reception-tips.10.29.01.aspx

Also, check the websites of any of the stations you're interested in... they may have streaming broadcasts.

[por930ken]

What type of radio are you trying to get reception with? Is it all the radios in your house? Is there tall buildings, concrete structures? Do you live in a basement or are we talking about your car. If it's your car, most radios have a trim adjustment on the radio. Need more info.

[pwd72s]

Perhaps something in your home is causing the buzz...flourescent light, etc.

[red-beard]

Paul is right on this one. It isn't the anntenna, it is some sort of RFI.

For plain old AM radio reception, a beverage is usually best. Oh wait, you didn't want "HAM" help.

[HiBeam]

Thank you all for your responses.
No flourescent lights in the house...all other components in the room have been unplugged. I still get buzzing and general white noise - you know, all that background garbage that comes in with an AM signal.

I have 2 of the CC Crane Twin Coil Ferrite® AM Antennas. They are of no help. They don't work on my 2 Bose systems, also. I called CC Crane and they have special instructions for the Bose systems. Following their advice, the Twin Coil set-up is useless. 'Nuff said on that.

This current set-up is an older Sony Micro Component System, model HCD-NE3 - see photo. My guess is the tuning section is not inferior to most basic radios. I also have a Blaupunkt Derby Deluxe and a Grundig Satellit 700...I'd like to match as closely as possible the AM reception they render.
I'll look at CC Cranes "Tips" pages.
Thank you again.

Regards,

Becca

PS Suburban neighborhood - no tall buildings from which one could leap.

[targa911S]

here ya go....

[bell]

Just a thought, is the main power line into your house on the same wall as the radio is located? How about the electrical panel.....
I've been doing mobile audio for years and AM in cars has always been tricky since they use the chassis as the antenne, it was common to lose am while driving under power lines.......
Can you move the tuner/antenne to a different part of the house or outside to test?

[teenerted1]

most radios with the built in am antenne are directional too. can you rotate the device to get better reception?

[Lazarro]

Perhaps your dwelling has aluminum siding or something similar in which case you are in a virtual Faraday cage. You might just need a signal from an outside source. For AM a length of wire (few feet) should work fine. If not you have problems other than signal strength.

[pwd72s]

If power is supplied with overhead lines, could be a power line leak. We're on PP&L down here, Portland is PGE...I noticed severe RF after a good rain...(water seeps through cracks) so I walked my area with a cheap transistor radio. Then called PP&L. Turns out they have a guy who does just that, detects leaks. My transistor walking was spot on...able to point to the exact connection. A crew came out, fixed the problem.

If you get static on FM? Dunno what to tell you. It's generally RF immune.

[ths911]

I use a Terk - Amplified AM/FM Indoor Antenna from Best Buy. $35 and made a difference.

[Bill Douglas]

Being a kiwi I'm pretty rough. I just ran some thin gauge wire from the highest point on the roof to the radio and connected the antenna wire to it. Works well.

[Heel n Toe]

What did the folks at CCrane say about the results you could expect from hooking up to your roof antenna?

Background noise fluctuates on AM from day to day or night to night... a good bit of it is caused by sunspot activity... gamma rays, charged particles (ions), etc. Not much you can do about that (that I know of).

That's why I suggested checking the stations' websites to see if they offer streaming audio... that wouldn't be affected AFAIK.

[slodave]

If you have wire lying around, then a loop is worth a try, but you can't just wrap the wire around any old object.... A 4 foot loop would need 8 turns and a 2 foot loop would need 18 turns. The bigger the loop, the bigger the gain.

P.S. I make antennas mostly for the Ghz range, but have made a simply FM antenna as well, for a Bose radio. If you do want to try a loop and want help, send me a PM and I'll do what I can to make it easier for you.

[ForBell]

that little sony set has no internal antenna for either am or fm. i'd say to try the antenna on your roof and/or get info on how to fab simple antennas.

those two radios you have (Blaupunkt Derby Deluxe and a Grundig Satellit 700) are super fine instruments - both rare these days and collectible. i can see why you don't want to settle for just any old reception with that sony.

cc crane sold a big roll of wire (235.1') years ago; you'd set it behind the radio and enjoy better reception. you might call them and see if they still sell that.

good luck.

Forrest

[HiBeam]

Thank you all for your help.
Yes, I've tried the coat hanger, etc.

I'll just keep looking/trying.

Thanks again. Great forum!

Becca

[Joe Bob]

Does the AM band still broadcast in English?

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by HiBeam

I'll just keep looking/trying.

I'm still interested in what CCrane said when you asked them about hooking up to your old roof-mounted TV antenna.