AM radio w/External Antenna connection?

[Omega Supreme]

I’m looking for a small cheap AM radio that has an external antenna connection. I work in a metal/stucco building and I cannot pickup any AM stations even though I am pretty close to the radio tower. If I can find a radio with an ext. ant. then I can run the coax through the ceiling tile to a near by window. Thanks for any help.

 

[Midcow2]

AM Radios

I’m looking for a small cheap AM radio that has an external antenna connection. I work in a metal/stucco building and I cannot pickup any AM stations even though I am pretty close to the radio tower. If I can find a radio with an ext. ant. then I can run the coax through the ceiling tile to a near by window. Thanks for any help.

The only good AM antenna I have found , FWIW, is the Terk AM Advantage 1000. ( however it retails for about $50 and it costs at least $37) Most AM antennas are two wire and FM is external Co-ax. The best cheap radios ( around $10) I have found are Sony. Example: http://www.warehousedeals.com/Sony-ICFC218-Automatic-Time-Set-Clock/A/B000MXWSWI.htm This a pretty good for AM with ferrite coil internal antnenna.

This might work better: http://www.amazon.com/RCA-7-2887-Superadio-Portable-Radio/dp/B00000J061 but it is probably more than you want to pay at $45.


Good Luck!

MidCow2

P.S. - I can tell you a fairly expensive "radio" that has terrible AM ... the SR8002

 

[Omega Supreme]

Thanks for the quick reply MidCow2. I have an old GE 4 band radio TV,WB,AM,FM that will pull in AM pretty well when I place it in the near by window. But my cubicle is in the middle of my office and it will not pick up any AM stations. I was trying to find a radio that had an antenna out plug so that I could put the antenna in the widow and run the coax through the ceiling tile to my cubicle and plug it into the radio. I’m willing to spend $50 or so. Do you think the RCA from Amazon would work better than my old GE?

P.S. Nice speakers you have there

 

[Midcow2]

Thanks for the quick reply MidCow2. I have an old GE 4 band radio TV,WB,AM,FM that will pull in AM pretty well when I place it in the near by window. But my cubicle is in the middle of my office and it will not pick up any AM stations. I was trying to find a radio that had an antenna out plug so that I could put the antenna in the widow and run the coax through the ceiling tile to my cubicle and plug it into the radio. I’m willing to spend $50 or so. Do you think the RCA from Amazon would work better than my old GE?

P.S. Nice speakers you have there

Thanks for the comment about nice speakers; yours are nice also.

I am not sure if any radio would work better in your situation. I have found through trying a lot of different antennas on AM ( I like this AM station about 100 miles away) that the Terk AM advantage antenna is about the only one that works and it works very well. It has a loop about 9 1/2" in diameter though. I even tried the CCRadio twin coil ferrite AM antenna for $99. It made some stations better and increased the noise/static level on others.

If your current radio has external connections for an antenna and you can have a 9 1/2" antenna somewhere, the AM advantage would p obalby be your best bet. Here is the best price I found on a quick search: $27.34
http://yhst-38616620066226.stores.yahoo.net/dbadvantage.html

Another possibility. I bought this clock radio recently and found it picks up excellent AM. http://www.americaninnovative.com/products/neverlate-exec.php "Nevelate Executive" $59.95 It makes a great alarm clock blue background mutiple alarms for each day, 20 preset stations.

Anyway Good luck!

MidCow2

 

[Omega Supreme]

No, my old radio doesn't have a ext. antenna input but I did check out that RCA on there website and noticed that it does have one so I may give it a try. Let me ask you another question. Even with my old radio in the window there was still a little bit of AM buzz to it. Have you tried HD radio? Supposedly it is supposed to be like digital tv, either you get a good clear signal with no static or you get nothing at all.

 

[Midcow2]

No, my old radio doesn't have a ext. antenna input but I did check out that RCA on there website and noticed that it does have one so I may give it a try. Let me ask you another question. Even with my old radio in the window there was still a little bit of AM buzz to it. Have you tried HD radio? Supposedly it is supposed to be like digital tv, either you get a good clear signal with no static or you get nothing at all.

yes, I have tried HD radio, FM is great , AM is about the same maybe a litlle better and maybe less static if it comes in. I have the Sony XDR-S3HD ( actually have two ) It is a very good radio and has external connections; It comes with AM and FM antennas. However, I found I needed the Terk AM advatage 1000 to get the AM radio station I wanted. The Executive Neverlate and the Bose Wave radio pick up the station as well without and external AM antenna.

When I say FM is great a lot of FM stations actually have 4 or 5 sub broadcasts on the same FM station and RSID also shows up.

Another problem with AM , especially at night, is that stations are required by FCC to reduce their evening transmission Power.

Concerning the Sony XDR-S3HD; you need to price shop. The retail is $199. The ppopularity seems to go up and down. The first one I bought was at $188. Then Fry's Eletronics had a sepacial advertised $50 rebate on their normal low price of $99 ffro a net cost $50. Trouble is they didn't have any in stoack and said they were discontinuing them; whuich apaprently they did. With a little negotiation and letter writing I purchased a sceond Sony XDR-S3Hd from them for $50. The best price right now appears to be about $123
directly from Sony Style $129.95 no shipping cost and no tax.
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&XID=O:xdr-s3hd:dg_ggldf&productId=8198552921665260588 (only downside it is refurbished).

Good Luck!

MidCow2

 

[m_vanmeter]

the RCA/GE Superadio III is reputed to be one of the more sensative AM receivers - dated in style and analog tuning, and it's a little large due to the emphasis on better sound reproduction, therefore a much larger speaker than most portable radios.

It does have external antenna connections.

 

[Omega Supreme]

Thans for all of your help. Now I just have to decide between the RCA Superadio and a HD radio. Midcow, is there much difference in the HD AM and the analog AM? I have read on a few websites that HD AM is actually worse than analog AM. Let me know what you think.

 

[m_vanmeter]

are you sure you have local AM HD broadcasts ? HD (hybrid digital) is an "all or nothing" type reception. Either the signal is strong enough to be above the reception threshhold, or you get nothing. Very different from analog AM where you can hear the signal, even if it is crappy.

 

[Midcow2]

Thans for all of your help. Now I just have to decide between the RCA Superadio and a HD radio. Midcow, is there much difference in the HD AM and the analog AM? I have read on a few websites that HD AM is actually worse than analog AM. Let me know what you think.

I haven't noticed much difference in the HD AM; I am not sure it is worse, but it doesn't sound significantly better. The HD FM does sound better.

I had a older GE radio the predecessor Superradio II and it was pretty good. That was my office set-up until I changed to my old (actually ancient) stereo system. Now I have, Fisher AM/FM stereo synthesized tuner ( iIbought the demo model because at the time it was all I could afford and it was the first digital tuner I had seen... in the very early 70s), Marantz 1060 amplifier, Cambridge Audio S30 speakers and a Terk AM Advantage 1000 antenna. ( still can't pick up my favorite long distant AM station int hte office, but i also have my PC connected to the system as AUX and can digital stream the station ) And I tried the CC radio Twin Coil Ferrite AM Antenna but in an office environemtn with metal windows and fluorescent light ballasts it just made static louder.

Between your choices above I would probably Choose the RCA Superradio III. The Sony HD radio has very nice speakers and a nice sound, but doesn't improve the AM reception that much if any.

Now, to throw a kink in your decision CC Radio has a radio they tout as being the best AM talk radio. I haven't personally tried it so I can't state from actaul experince and it is a little pricey, normally $139 (sometimes they have it on sale for $109) But CC Radio has great customer service and you could try it and if you didn't like it you could easily return.

Here is the CC Radio Plus:
http://www.ccrane.com/radios/am-fm-radios/ccradio-plus/index.aspx

The CCRadio plus is the perfect tool for listening to news, advice, entertainment and sports. It's a reflection of C. Crane's commitment to the significance of radio in America and the special role radio plays in our homes and in our lives. When you turn on your radio, it should pull in all the information from the airwaves and deliver it to your ears with the highest quality reception and audio possible. That's why we design and build our own radios, and why we'll continue the legacy that started with the CCRadio, and grew into the CCRadio plus.

When you turn on your CCRadio plus, you may notice the speaker sounds different from other radios you've used before. We use a speaker and audio amplifier that are specially tuned to the human voice. When you tune to your favorite station, the signal meter and fine-tuning knob verify that your reception is always at its best. With today's updated NOAA radio service, the built-in Weather Radio works as an "all hazards" information radio. So, in addition to your local weather forecasts, you can use the weather band and weather alert feature to track any significant events that affect your area.

Other features include: Display light, and 5-memory preset buttons with 5 memories per band — AM, FM, Weather and TV (see news about TV band!) Audio for channels 2-13, adjustable bass and treble, clock alarm, sleep timer, auto scan, stereo headphone jack. Weight: 4 lbs (without optional batteries) Size: 11" W x 6.5" H x 4" D.
Note: The CCRadio plus, when coupled with our Twin Coil Ferrite AM Antenna, offers the best possible AM reception of anything we've ever found.

Again, in your case if it is good AM you are looking for I and I were you, I would probably get the RCA Superadio and a Terk AM Advantage 1000 antenna.

Good Luck!

MidCow2

 

[Omega Supreme]

It looks like there are about 5 HD AM stations and 14 HD FM stations. I wish more stores carried HD radios that way I could try one out and if I thought it wasn't worth it then I could take it back. Everey website that I go to says "internet only""not sold in store". I may run by Best Buy this weekend and see if they actually have any in there store. I have noticed that the Terk AM Advantage 1000 antenna does not require a wired connection so I think I will try it with my old GE radio and if that doesn't work then I will go with either the Superadio III or the Sony HD. Thanks again Midcow & vanmeter.