AM antenna in my RV

[Bruce and Jenna]

I'm trying to pick up an AM station on the outskirts of Tucson. Can't get any FM (nor TV for that matter).

The AM antenna installed in the trailer is just a small square single wire cheapie, mounted on the inner wall of the stereo cabinet. Just read that "brick, cement block, stucco, aluminum, or metal-sided buildings almost always cause AM reception problems." My trailer has fiberglass exterior, so maybe that is part of the problem.What do you use for AM reception?

[Max Hubrich]

Bruce and Jenna,

It's funny that you mentioned that.

I just made a mostly, 600 mile night trip in my car. I tried to pull in a couple of old 50,000 watt stations I used to listen to. One in New Orleans and one in Cincinnati, and I was real close to N.O. "No Joy" on any AM station. I tried yesterday on my, daytime return trip, and only found one or two stations. I was thinking I had an antenna problem too. My car has had the windshield replaced twice now and I was thinking that could be the problem but I think my antenna is in the rear window glass ('06 Malibu).

I guess the AM stations are mostly gone now.

[wa8yxm]

I can give you one method if you have a few tall trees or other objects around and nobody minds stringing wire tree to tree at least 16 feet off the ground.

Let's see. the middle of the AM radio band is what 300 meteres so you need 75 meters of wire Possibly a bit more (76 meters) though the exact length is not all that critical (Best performance is with a quarter wave)

Start with a ground rod.. Driven in moist soil (Where your AC drips perhaps) now run it into the rig, wrap twice around the existing antenna or if it's mounted make a 2-turn coil and tape it over the existing antenna, then out of the rig and tree (support) to Tree (Support) till you run out of wire.

NOTE: there is no electrical connection at all.. but the 2-turn loop will couple to the existing antenna and improve reception.

[Bruce and Jenna]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max Hubrich Bruce and Jenna, It's funny that you mentioned that. I just made a mostly, 600 mile night trip in my car. I tried to pull in a couple of old 50,000 watt stations I used to listen to. One in New Orleans and one in Cincinnati, and I was real close to N.O. "No Joy" on any AM station. I tried yesterday on my, daytime return trip, and only found one or two stations. I was thinking I had an antenna problem too. My car has had the windshield replaced twice now and I was thinking that could be the problem but I think my antenna is in the rear window glass ('06 Malibu). I guess the AM stations are mostly gone now.

Gee, I dunno. Read this article about AM antennas C. Crane Company - Improving AM Radio Reception - Toll Free (800) 522-8863
Particularly the second paragraph
"most radios treat AM radio like an afterthought. Many radio manufacturers have relegated AM radio to the past, to the days before FM, and they aren't fully aware of AM's continued popularity across the country."

And I don't know really, since I listen to FM and internet radio.

[Bruce and Jenna]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa8yxm I can give you one method if you have a few tall trees or other objects around and nobody minds stringing wire tree to tree at least 16 feet off the ground. Let's see. the middle of the AM radio band is what 300 meteres so you need 75 meters of wire Possibly a bit more (76 meters) though the exact length is not all that critical (Best performance is with a quarter wave) Start with a ground rod.. Driven in moist soil (Where your AC drips perhaps) now run it into the rig, wrap twice around the existing antenna or if it's mounted make a 2-turn coil and tape it over the existing antenna, then out of the rig and tree (support) to Tree (Support) till you run out of wire. NOTE: there is no electrical connection at all.. but the 2-turn loop will couple to the existing antenna and improve reception.

Ha ha! Great stuff. But a bit too elaborate for some who moves every month or two.

And carrying around 75 meters of wire plus a grounding rod.

I was thinking more on the scale of AM rabbit ears.

[paz]

We have an antenna on the roof of the motorhome; but it isn't very effective for FM, and it's useless for AM. I know stations are there because we can get them in the car, but we get nothing in the motorhome.

Bruce, thanks for the link to the article about AM antennas. I'll have to contact them to see if they have any recommendations for use in a moving vehicle.

[wa8yxm]

Son. that is AM rabbit ears. And it's not that hard to do, The wire coils up to a package smaller than a quart milk carton, I use a 2 pound concrete weight on the end of it made from a Whyler's or Crystal light powder drink tube filled with concrete and a eye bolt (with nut) in it and allowed to set.. Some nylon line on the end of the wire connects to the weight,,,, Toss it over the tree like David tossed the rock at Goliath and that's about it

The "Ground rod" is not a 10' job but a 3' long screwdriver in my case Or just ground to the MH chassis if you like (not as good)

Now, that said, I don't do AM broadcast.. I do mostly SSB ham radio.. but it only takes me a few mintues to toss up the antenna


Actually you could use a lot less antenna

Plus if I recall. there were some commericial AM antennas you could buy as well that promised improved performance.. But I've never owned or tried one.

When I needed improved AM reception I used the "Wrap a wire around the radio" trick, very much like what I described above.

[hamguy]

Let me try to clarify some issues. First, AM Radio is alive and well (for now). However it is mostly talk/sports/news. Second, efficient radio antennas in RV is a laugh. As are decent radios in general and good AM radios in particular. Third, an adequate radio using a reasonable antenna will get you a plethora of AM stations if you are within 25 miles of a medium sized city.

Be aware that propagation (distance of usable transmission) varies with time of day. Daytime signals are only good for a short distance (25-100 miles). Nighttime distances increase dramatically (up to 3,000 miles or more). In fact. the frequency of the station will effect the distance also.

So, to the OP, If you are on the outskirts of Tucson, you either have a bad radio, a bad antenna or something. I listen to Tucson AM radio regularly from Mesa.

I listen to one specific talk network and have a print out of their stations all over the country. Easy to find them that way.

I replaced the Winne POS radio with a $140 special from an automotive sound system place. I get great reception all over the country. Not that there aren't dead zones. E.G., Central Montana and New Mexico away from ABQ. FM radio is another story and I rarely listen to it unless I have to. I have about 4000 MP3s on CDs that service my music needs well.

[hamguy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa8yxm Son. that is AM rabbit ears. And it's not that hard to do, The wire coils up to a package smaller than a quart milk carton, I use a 2 pound concrete weight on the end of it made from a Whyler's or Crystal light powder drink tube filled with concrete and a eye bolt (with nut) in it and allowed to set.. Some nylon line on the end of the wire connects to the weight,,,, Toss it over the tree like David tossed the rock at Goliath and that's about it The "Ground rod" is not a 10' job but a 3' long screwdriver in my case Or just ground to the MH chassis if you like (not as good) Now, that said, I don't do AM broadcast.. I do mostly SSB ham radio.. but it only takes me a few mintues to toss up the antenna Actually you could use a lot less antenna Plus if I recall. there were some commericial AM antennas you could buy as well that promised improved performance.. But I've never owned or tried one. When I needed improved AM reception I used the "Wrap a wire around the radio" trick, very much like what I described above.

I have an MFJ 35' fiberclass push up mast mounted to my ladder. I have a 33' piece of wire wrapped around it (at ~ 2 turns/foot) When moving I keep the mast down and when at a stop, I push it up to the 33' mark. It is connected to an Icom AH-4 tuner and thence to an IC-706. It works very well from 3.5-54MHz. And great on AM radio.

[Rick Long]

Geez guys.. your making it to hard! Think back to the days when thats ALL we had... The antenna's on cars pulled out to about 3' and I could listen to "Wolfman Jack" down in LA from clear up in Sacramento! Thats 400 miles! Of course that was at night.. nothing worked well during the day

[racer0624]

Max,
Were you trying to get WWL-870AM in New Orleans? I get them here in Destin about 225 miles+/- away in my Honda Pilot.

[skipwil]

Rick - We think of LA being Lower Alabama around here. In N.E. Tn or really the east coast area I listen to 750 WSB Atl.-870 WWL N.O.-1120 KMOX St. Louis-Chi WBBM. These are all after dark so daylight listening is useless. I've picked these stations up on the M/H also. I wouldn't go to any trouble to string an antenna. I'd DRIVE off with it attached.
Safe journeys...

[wa8yxm]

I use 100' of wire on my Kenwood TS-2000 via a tuner (normally) and I strongly suspect I can get WJR Detroit if I wish here in South Carolina (I think I'll try it this afternoon)

Seriously.. 75 meters is the ideal length, however even 10 meters (That's shorter than my motor home) will do..

If you have a rubber or fiberglass roof (NOT METAL and a rail along the edge.. Hook a wire to one end of the rail. wrap around the radio antenna, and hook the other end of the wire to the chassis.. That may do it.

your ladder (if your rig is not metal sided) may do it. Same idea as the luggage rail

If you are metal sided you could get an automotive antenna. One of the old pull 'em up kind, not the new FM type (Which are pre-cut to the FM Band, makes 'em about 75 cm long) and get a socket to match the antenna cable (or just solder a wire to the pin and outer connector or clip it on with an alagator clip) and wrap that around the radios antenna. Pull up for AM. push down for travel.

[Bruce and Jenna]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa8yxm [Snipped] Seriously.. 75 meters is the ideal length, however even 10 meters (That's shorter than my motor home) will do.. If you have a rubber or fiberglass roof (NOT METAL and a rail along the edge.. Hook a wire to one end of the rail. wrap around the radio antenna, and hook the other end of the wire to the chassis.. That may do it. your ladder (if your rig is not metal sided) may do it. Same idea as the luggage rail [Snipped]

Now yer talkin'!

How thin a gauge wire can I use?

Can I wrap it around the rail a few times to reduce the overall length, or should I maximize the 10 meters I'm using?

Man, you radio guys know everything! If I'm stranded on a desert island, I'll use one of my three wishes to get one of you. (Second wish for parts. Third for beer.)