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Help: AM antenna and AM reception

Hello all: I would like some suggestions and advice on AM reception. I know this may not be a popular format but a couple of the stations I enjoy broadcast in AM only.
My experience with AM reception using the "mainstream" FM/AM tuners has been very dissapointing (said tuners being JVC FX1010, SONY SA5ES and Denon TU-800). I tehn bought the Denon TU-680NAB (supposedly optimized for AM performance) but still no luck. OTOH, a pre-wired whole house intercom system with am/fm radio does a FAR better job with the AM stations! This creates a problem with my spouse who says that I spend so much on tuners which are unable to compete with much cheaper syatems! So, what gives? Why does a $300-$600 tuner fail miserably while an "el cheapo" combo am/fm/intercom does so much better? I should say that the antenna used for separate tuners has been the Terk AM indoor type. How do I improve upon this? My location is central NJ. Thanks.
PS: Do let me know if I need to provide additional info.
upgrade1394

Showing 4 responses by sugarbrie

sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
AM in most new audio gear is an afterthought. Not sure why they even bother.

The short wave band is AM of sorts. The short wave frequencies start right where AM leave off (on the high side of the AM dial). I don't see why AM would really be any different.

For short wave a long thin wire makes a great antenna. And I mean long; can be 10 feet up to 30 feet long depending on the frequencies desired. I use one that I just run along the edge of the wall basically out of site.

Experiment with a piece of regular thin speaker wire, if you have some left over typical 18 AWG or thinner wire hanging around.
See what happens. Can't hurt trying..
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
The vintage analog tuners from the 60's and 70's have much better AM reception than today's digital tuners.
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
My mom has an old tube Sylvania table AM radio that easily picks up the clear channel stations hundreds of miles away with just the internal antenna. They do still built good AM tuners in car radios..
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
They actually still do make good AM radios. If you buy a decent portable short wave radio, they include the AM band. Even the better ones at Radio Shack work well. Popular professional brands are Grundig and Sangean.
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