RV / Boat = Improving Radio Reception?

I'm a radio listener, too, and know little about the technical side- but here's my experience: My old dial-tuner radio is far superior to the new top-of-the-line digital radio my hubby bought me a couple of years ago. I didn't realize how well the old one worked until I took the new one camping in a place I'd been before and found that it simply would not catch the signal I'd been able to get before. Next trip I brought old reliable and- bingo! Back in business. It's the only radio I've used ever since, and I camp in some pretty remote places.

I have no idea why the old works while the new doesn't, but my Husband the Engineer says it's due to extra copper in the insides or something.