AM Signal Booster?

joeshmoe wrote:
Yeah, yeah, I know. AM radio. Why? Because I'm a knuckle dragging, stone age dweller, that's why.

Anyway, I enjoy talk radio and eveywhere we go, it seems ALL of our aftermarket head units (camper, honda, truck) all seem to to not pick up the AM band well enough to use it. I understand the limitations of AM, but is there any kind of signal booster or amplifier I can install?
It's really evident since I removed the stock units from both vehicles My wife complains that she cannot get her favorite stations where before, with the factory unit, it all came in clear. Same with my truck. Now, I get barely anything.

I really don't want to go satellite although both radios are equipped for it. $120+ a year doesn't appeal to me when I should be able to listen for free.

Thanks

No.

Not much out there that is going to really help you short of stringing a long wire and even that will be hit or miss depending on the time of day and the atmospheric conditions..

Antenna boosters can not work magic if there is a lot of noise plus they ADD noise to the signal and AM has terrible noise rejection to start with.

Most if not all AM radio stations have certain restrictions on the antenna pattern and power levels.. Only the "clear channel" stations can transmit at full power with non directional antenna pattern 24/7..

Non clear channel stations must reduce power and or alter the station antenna pattern throughout the day and into the evening to avoid interfering with the clear channel stations.. Some non clear stations are required to cease transmitting after dark..

On your end, most car stereo manufacturers tend to ignore AM radio and not design and build it for max sensitivity on that band..

There is a tradeoff between max sensitivity and good selectivity, manufacturers sometimes will take a tradeoff in sensitivity in order to increase selectivity (good for city areas with a lot of high power stations that are close together in frequency and distance).

There are a few amplified AM/FM auto antennas but from what I have seen in the past those antennas are amplified in order to make up for the very short length and often do not really help over the standard car antenna.. In other words.. a waste of money.

Perhaps you could consider a portable radio that has a good quality tuner? Sangean, Grundig and perhaps a few others may still make AM radios that are geared for AM reception..

Easy answer: Get an HD radio receiver.

No subscription.
Most AM stations also have HD coverage.

Check here to see if the ones you listen to are on HD yet. Most are...

Try PANDORA INTERNET RADIO on the internet or CELL PHONE APP. Bet you can find exactly what you want to listen too. We use that all the time to listen to our LOCAL FM Station when we are on the road...

The only way to BOOST AM RADIO signals is put up a good 500-foot long wire Antenna... The camp ground might not like that haha...

Roy Ken

If you are looking for a great AM-FM radio I recommend you check C.Crane
Company they sell some great radios that have great reception, tone quality, etc.
http://www.ccrane.com/Radios

We have several of their CC Radios that we have had for years and great reception for AM Stations. I have a CCRadio-EP AM/FM Portable Radio that works great, as my wife and I like to listen to AM talk radio stations, especially when we travel.

sch911 wrote:
Easy answer: Get an HD radio receiver.

No subscription.
Most AM stations also have HD coverage.

Check here to see if the ones you listen to are on HD yet. Most are...

Umm.. I guess you don't have or used a "HD" radio?

Yes, HD (basically digital subcarriers) broadcasts in many areas will often have "sister" stations from AM radio on the FM HD channels BUT.. HD comes at a cost in DISTANCE (and not to mention cost).

HD subchannels are broadcast at a lower power level from the main analog frequency PLUS the digital transmission is extremely sensitive to noise (pretty much the same issue with ATSC OTA TV)..

The result is HD broadcasts typiclaly only get a bout 1/3 to 1/2 the distance of the main analog FM frequency..

I have SEVERAL "HD" radios and unless they are connected to a BIG antenna I have a hard time RELIABLY receiving HD channels from a major metro area that I am about 50 air miles from..

HD radios also have a very high cost to them, the company that holds the design patents CHARGES a pretty penny for licenses that allow other manufacturers to make HD radios.. That price is passed on to the consumer, HD radio tuners typically cost $99 MORE than a non HD model..

Many radio manufacturers have BACKED out of the HD market, there are very few HD radios available now days.. That is most likely due to upfront cost, limited radio markets, shortcomings of the loss of broadcast distance and streaming radio stations via internet..

If the OP really wants those AM radio stations they can often find pretty much any and all AM or FM stations as internet streams.. Yep, it will cost you some data but most can be found on the internet..

Gdetrailer wrote:

sch911 wrote:
Easy answer: Get an HD radio receiver.

No subscription.
Most AM stations also have HD coverage.

Check here to see if the ones you listen to are on HD yet. Most are...

Umm.. I guess you don't have or used a "HD" radio?

Yes, HD (basically digital subcarriers) broadcasts in many areas will often have "sister" stations from AM radio on the FM HD channels BUT.. HD comes at a cost in DISTANCE (and not to mention cost).

HD subchannels are broadcast at a lower power level from the main analog frequency PLUS the digital transmission is extremely sensitive to noise (pretty much the same issue with ATSC OTA TV)..

The result is HD broadcasts typiclaly only get a bout 1/3 to 1/2 the distance of the main analog FM frequency..

I have SEVERAL "HD" radios and unless they are connected to a BIG antenna I have a hard time RELIABLY receiving HD channels from a major metro area that I am about 50 air miles from..

HD radios also have a very high cost to them, the company that holds the design patents CHARGES a pretty penny for licenses that allow other manufacturers to make HD radios.. That price is passed on to the consumer, HD radio tuners typically cost $99 MORE than a non HD model..

Many radio manufacturers have BACKED out of the HD market, there are very few HD radios available now days.. That is most likely due to upfront cost, limited radio markets, shortcomings of the loss of broadcast distance and streaming radio stations via internet..

If the OP really wants those AM radio stations they can often find pretty much any and all AM or FM stations as internet streams.. Yep, it will cost you some data but most can be found on the internet..

I only use HD radio in my vehicles and have experienced NONE of the issues you raise. I think the better question is have you actually tried using it?

Pretty sure Pandora is music only. Besides, I own a flip phone. It makes phone calls. That's it. My wife does have an iPhone but we only have a 300 meg data plan. @64kbps, that works out to be right at 10 hrs of data usage and would use up most of it. Not to mention, I just spent $260 on these Pioneer units, and the Honda was kinda a PITA to do. So now I have to rip them out and buy all new radio's and lose money on these? I think I'll leave well enough alone.

sch911 wrote:
Easy answer: Get an HD radio receiver.

No subscription.
Most AM stations also have HD coverage.

Check here to see if the ones you listen to are on HD yet. Most are...

Thanks for the link. None of the stations I prefer are broadcasting in HD according to that guide. A couple are, but I don't frequent them.

sch911 wrote:

Gdetrailer wrote:

sch911 wrote:
Easy answer: Get an HD radio receiver.

No subscription.
Most AM stations also have HD coverage.

Check here to see if the ones you listen to are on HD yet. Most are...

Umm.. I guess you don't have or used a "HD" radio?

Yes, HD (basically digital subcarriers) broadcasts in many areas will often have "sister" stations from AM radio on the FM HD channels BUT.. HD comes at a cost in DISTANCE (and not to mention cost).

HD subchannels are broadcast at a lower power level from the main analog frequency PLUS the digital transmission is extremely sensitive to noise (pretty much the same issue with ATSC OTA TV)..

The result is HD broadcasts typiclaly only get a bout 1/3 to 1/2 the distance of the main analog FM frequency..

I have SEVERAL "HD" radios and unless they are connected to a BIG antenna I have a hard time RELIABLY receiving HD channels from a major metro area that I am about 50 air miles from..

HD radios also have a very high cost to them, the company that holds the design patents CHARGES a pretty penny for licenses that allow other manufacturers to make HD radios.. That price is passed on to the consumer, HD radio tuners typically cost $99 MORE than a non HD model..

Many radio manufacturers have BACKED out of the HD market, there are very few HD radios available now days.. That is most likely due to upfront cost, limited radio markets, shortcomings of the loss of broadcast distance and streaming radio stations via internet..

If the OP really wants those AM radio stations they can often find pretty much any and all AM or FM stations as internet streams.. Yep, it will cost you some data but most can be found on the internet..

I only use HD radio in my vehicles and have experienced NONE of the issues you raise. I think the better question is have you actually tried using it?

I have TWO "HD" radios, one is a Sony component add on tuner for my home stereo and the other is little portable radio made by Coby..

The Coby with the original FM antenna which was under 2ft long barely would get one or two HD subchannels until I added an additional three feet of wire to it.. Then it would work fairly good but only in the kitchen window which faces the stations.. Doesn't work at all in the interior rooms.

The Sony is hooked up to my 10ft long outdoor antenna with preamp.. Works fine on that but the dipole wire antenna it came with didn't work at all (IE NO HD broadcasts since the stereo is located in a room not facing the stations)..

In each case, the FM analog channel was full quieting..

HD might work better IF and only IF your are CLOSE to the stations, pretty much the SAME issue that you have with ATSC OTA TV..

Your car radio with HD may or may not work depending on terrain, noise, height of your vehicle.. For you it works, myself.. TOO FAR from radio stations to be of any value..

I also should add that my home is surrounded by TOWERING trees, many of those are a good 40-50ft ABOVE my homes roof line.. But I did check it out at my parents home and also got similar results and there home is only 1 mile away from mine..

I would not recommend anyone wasting their money on HD add ons unless you live close (25 miles or so) to the station AND you are on totally flat terrain (Hills, mountains, trees and buildings can and do affect HD distance)..

The days of listening to WSM and WCKY with a 100' outside wire and a crystal set made from a toilet paper tube and a set of WW2 headphones is long gone. It is missed!