[TriLUG] OT - AM reception

[Joel Ebel]

Finding alternative ways to listen, such as over the internet, is 
usually a good idea, but if the content you want to hear is only 
available over AM, I'd suggest a good loop antenna such as the Terk AM 
Advantage.  The Q or Pi models also work quite well and include FM 
capabilities.  I use an old Pi, but the Advantage or Q should get even 
better results.  Of course an external AM antenna would be best, and be 
resistant to interference from inside the house, but how much are you 
willing to do to get "good" AM?

Once you have a good antenna, if there's interference, move it around to 
see if you can get rid of the interference.  If not, or if it's 
difficult to clear it up, you should find the source.  It will usually 
be nearby.  I can't listen to AM well at all if the TV is on, but 
fortunately I don't usually listen to AM and watch TV simultaneously. 
Just turn off electronic devices one by one and see what's responsible. 
  Or better yet, turn them all off so you see how good it can be, and 
turn them on to see how each device affects it.

Good luck,
Joel

Rick DeNatale wrote:
> Since there's already an OT thread about reusing ethernet coax, I
> thought one of our esteemed members might have some insight on another
> non-computer problem.
> 
> This morning, my wife was upset because instead of running Imus, MSNBC
> was showing Bush's speech in Brussels, and she wanted to listen to
> Imus on 850 on our family room receiver.
> 
> The problem is I haven't worked out how to get any kind of decent AM
> reception on our AM receiver. I mostly get a buzz instead of The Buzz.
>   I think that the buzz we are getting is coming from other units in
> our "A/V stack, like the DirectTV receiver etc.
> 
> When we built our house a few years ago, I ran two RG6 cables and a
> 300 ohm twinlead from the cabinet where the AV equipment is housed up
> to the attic. The RG6 cables are used for OTA TV and OTA FM, and the
> twinlead was intended for AM.  The FM feed works well, even though we
> are less than a mile from the WCPE transmitter. The OTA TV works
> sporadically for digital TV, and the AM reception is useless.
> 
> Any suggestions on how to get better AM reception for the rare times we want it?