Improving AM Reception Range?

Sooner Todd · 11-14-2008, 11:27 AM

What options are available to improve the reception range for AM in the car, be it a particular deck, an antenna or a modification?

I'm kinda boring stereo-wise, 99% of the time I listen to AM sports or talk radio, particularly on road trips. I live in Dallas, and on a rare occasion, I can tune into the Sports Animal in OKC. I'd like to devise a way to always be able to get those signals, and also be able to get Dallas stations when traveling.

I don't have an LSX car right now, but will within a few weeks, so answer as to what to do/buy for a 98-02 Fbody.

Thanks

Todd

samson_420 · 11-14-2008, 11:52 AM

Am . . . . ha, ha!

99FormulaM6 · 11-14-2008, 11:53 AM

A big whip antenna on the back of the car?

I have no clue really. I do listen to AM in the afternoon sometimes bc MJ from the MJ Morning Show has an afternoon show on 970am

Sooner Todd · 11-14-2008, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samson_420

Am . . . . ha, ha!

Would it be less nerdy if I said I also use my stereo to play audiobooks?

wssix99 · 11-15-2008, 10:04 AM

We all know that this fancy satellite radio and FM stuff will go the way of the 8-track eventually! Its only a matter of time.

Here's a good article on diagnosing AM reception issues in cars:
http://www.ccrane.com/library/car-ra....11.11.02.aspx

Sooner Todd · 11-20-2008, 10:57 AM

That's a good article wssix99, thanks.

However, it's not so much reception "issues", it's more how can I improve reception and distance beyond what is normal in a car?

wssix99 · 11-20-2008, 10:57 PM

A new antenna is probably the way to go if you really are experiencing poor local reception. (Under the weak reception section of the article.) However, distance/reception is also impacted to a greater extent by other factors with AM - like the power of the station, the time of day/atmospheric conditions.

For example - if you are in Dallas and listening to a station in Oklahoma City, you probably only get good reception at night or twilight and get nothing during other times? In this instance, there's nothing you can really do from Dallas except for tuning in at the right time of day. You are far away from the line of sight of the station and at night time, the waves bounce off of the atmosphere and back down to you in Dallas. Here's a good picture - http://apollo.lsc.vsc.edu/classes/me...ter1/ion2.html (During the day the atmospheric conditions probably make it impossible for you to hear the Oklahoma station.)

Later on at night, you may also have problems if the station has to cut its power as to not interfere with other stations due to the atmospheric effects. If your station is on this list, it does not have to cut its power and you should be good once the sun goes down. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clear-channel_station (On a clear night, I've been in my stock Firebird and have received some of these stations from over 800 miles away.)