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..