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Long Range AM Radio Reception

allen griggs
I have a CCrane radio. I paid $165 for it. In fact I have two of them, one for the living room and one for the bedroom.
I like to listen to Coast to Coast late at night.

I am getting all kinds of static and it is hard to listen.
Does anybody know of a good am antenna? Or, perhaps, another radio that is better than the CCrane?
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Comments

5 comments

Date Votes
  • buschmaster
    it may not be your antenna, it may be excessive static. because last night I got out the shortwave and couldn't get anything. I have had that radio for 20 years and always got something at night.

    sounds like you have external AM antenna connectors. of course you can buy one, but if you really want to have an AM antenna you can use speaker wire to connect to an extension cord. I did that with a AA powered AM radio and 100 ft cord, was listening to a station in Denver.

    one thing to be aware of is there is always more hash 'n' trash during the day so AM stations generally increase power output then reduce it at night. so day/night does make a difference especially if the station doesn't adjust for it. (also why you have to listen to SW at night)

    CC Crane radios are ok, and 165$ really doesn't tell me much because you could be talking about a superduper portable or just a nice wooden table radio. what I can say is there is a better brand. if you like CC Crane you'll love Sangean. they do have table radios but mostly portables. ok robustnness, good design, excellent tuners. battery powered. if that's not what you have already you might be interested. note that the digital ones are battery hogs and the analog gets more power to the tuner so they pull in stations a little better.

    I did see some Sangeans at wall mart, or there is a more complete selection at https://www.universal-radio.com
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  • mrmike08075
    Growing up my dad had a Sears console table audio cabinet - a record player and radio that slid in and out - tubes and quite an elaborate AM band chart or tuning system...

    Late at night - with full moons or with odd weather you could get reception from all over the place - strong transmitter signals from Chicago or Boston or Detroit or Quebec would come in - I always found it fascinating as a kid...

    There are specific antenna materials and geometries and architecture that when placed or positioned right will get amazing reception - but since the implosion of radio shack I would not know where to locally source such items.

    I imagine that many AM transmitters and stations and antenna arrays are no longer active or even exist today - I would think the airways are less crowded but I could be horribly wrong and out of touch.

    And I know it's not to the point of the thread but if there is a specific station or genre you are looking for many outlets now have online streaming feeds with no pay barrier and can be accessed from you phone or computer.

    Mike
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  • buschmaster
    barz, do you suppose there is a way to use a long random-wire to pull in the signal but with some sort of squelch to cut out the extra static you would pick up?
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  • bpost
    If you live near power lines you are screwed getting AM radio. :cry:
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  • buschmaster
    would be done to get DX. sounds like what you are saying is it would have to rely on sensitivity and selectivity of the radio's circuitry. I guess I was asking about something like that simple that you just connect inline between the radio & antenna, like a capacitor or ?? doesn't sound like there would be then. oh well
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