Am Radio Antenna

I'm a truck driver and move my AM/FM/CB antennas alot and am having trouble picking up AM stations. At present I'm using a 48" francis AM/FM antenna. Would I make out better with a steel whip or a signal booster? I'm wide open for suggestions. I like to listen to talk radio when I'm driving at night.
Thanks in advance for any help!

Any antenna that is small enough to fit on a moving vehicle will be less than ideal for the AM radio band. Most mobile radio antennas are actually cut to a length of around 30 inches to match the FM radio band. An equivalent antenna to match the AM band would be approximately 224 feet long.

However, many AM car radios do have a tuning adjustment to compensate for AM antenna length. This is sometimes accessible from a hole in the front of the radio so it can be adjusted without removing the radio. Ask a car audio tech for help in optimizing this adjustment.

WK

2006-10-21 15:21:42 by Greg H.

www.radiofunstuff.com To see my ham radio and radio related T-Shirt online shop click here for my personal designs: www.cafepress.com Now, about ...

I have a loop AM antenna for my radio, but I want to make the wire longer, to maybe get better reception. But I don't know if this will either help my reception or make it worse.

My initial reaction was to agree, but if this is a copper wire wound tight around itself, and you cut it. I don't know what may happen.

Usually when i receommend a long piece of wire, it's sort of a lt resort.

If you can afford it, read on:

I have an interesting device that I bought years ago that really boosts the antenna power of your AM radio. It's a big, round plastic device called a "Select-A-Tenna." You put it next to your radio and - wow! What a difference. this would also be a good device for those kids who have written in about bad reception on Radio Disney. You can reach them at www.selectatenna.com/

The lowest priced model is about $100, but wellworth the investment if AM is your thing.

Good luck & Good listening
-a guy named duh

2008-05-22 16:26:12 by insulinman313

Price: $19.99

Omnidirectional AM/FM antenna for capturing crisp, high-end radio signals
Mounts adjacent to component or on nearby wall; 5 x 5 x 1 inch (W x H x D)
Includes 75 and 300 ohm transformers for connecting to most radios and receivers
Receives signals equally from all directions to ensure topnotch reception
Noise-reducing elements minimize static; adaptable to almost any décor

just bought this one:
http://www.jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs/stor es/servlet/Product?storeId=10101&Pr= p_Product.CATENTRY_ID%3A2001196&prod uctId=2001196&catalogId=10101

Instructions: Simply plug booster into radio and antenna into booster. Connect power lead to switched 12-volt power source and your done. For radios with motorola style antenna plug only

I managed to get the red cable connected to the car battery, but I still does not get good signal, I still hear a lot of static when i am listening to the radio.
could it be something that i did wrong?
I bought it so i wouldn't need my antenna extended to high on my 1999 honda CRV.

Usually all it will amply what ever signal comes into it. (I've had some and in rural areas it boosted some stations but not to the level people are exclaiming in the ads because average limit for a FM station is 25 miles (even though reality is 10-100 miles)

If the antenna is extended, does your reception get better?

IF no, or the same, check the power lead or you may have a defective unit

Swap out and make sure it's put in... the unit catches the ground thru the motorola plug (standard plug used for many years, but has gone by wayside in the last 10 years or so) and if you had to add an adapter of any sort it may not allow it to work correctly also ...


So try what I wrote and if not, take a piece of wire and touch it from the adapter to ground and see if it works also.....

other than that all I can suggest is JC whitney

2008-05-15 08:06:43 by Richie

Price: $39.99 $24.99

Tuning dial to adjust reception for each station
Light and compact design
Passive antenna, no need for batteries.
Can be used with wire connection or wirelessly for use with radios lacking an AM input
1-year manufacturer's warranty

I want to install my scanner into my truck. My question is if i can use the existing radio antenna on my truck as the scanner antenna as well. Can i just get a Y adapter and have one go into the radio and then adapt one to go into the scanner? If yes, would I be able to use them both at the same time? My goal is to not have a big antenna showing all the time. I am open to other suggestions as well.

the answer is yes & no

it is do able but you'll limit the area doing it that way
heres something that will help in-dish antenna booster hook one up to ur scanner u can also hook it in to the out going antenna & have a good but hiden scanner. sometime it can mess up radio single tho not if it does just get another booster & hook ur radio in to it which will work great

2009-06-29 15:46:16 by Ford Truck Man

antenna is rear fender mount...FM reception is OK...with motor off and ignition on, AM reception is OK

A logical next step would be to replace the capacitor/suppressors associated with the
1. Spark ignition system,
and also, the
2. Electrical generation system, alternator.

I am quite sure, listening to the problems you listed, that these replacements will solve your AM reception difficulties

These suppressor/capacitors can normally be bought for, less than 3 dollars, each.

2006-05-13 10:57:43 by e+d n