Improving AM Radio Reception w/ External Antenna and Loop Connection

Improving AM Radio Reception w/ External Antenna and Loop Connection

I can't recommend enough putting up a decent, outdoor antenna for your portable radio. There's so much more enjoyment to be had with nice, clear, low-noise signals. But how do you realize those effects on a radio without a provision for an external AM broadcast band antenna?

Here's a simple way to do it. Antenna is a 100 ft random wire, through a 9:1 transformer into about 60' of coax. This video describes a simple wire loop that effectively couples a portable radio to an external antenna.

[cdshull]

When I was a teen in the late 60s, I ran 50 ft of antenna wire (from Lafayette) in a spider configuration in the attic and down the stairs into my room. It connected to my elderly aunt's old 1940s era tube AM radio. From central PA, I could listen to NYC and Chicago stations with acceptable clarity in daytime and perfect reception at night.

[jameshochstetler]

Not much help when there are no details on how you did it

[tomjones]

For daytime DX on AM I used to make a 80 to 120 turn coil of 24-26 awg magnet wire on a paper towel tube connected to two 250 foot longwires. Place coil near radio. You could also use one longwire and ground the other side of coil but I always used two longwires. You'll get amazing daytime DX with a setup like this. I went from three stations to around fifty.

[superotterboy]

I'm an absolute novice to this hobby but I've just ordered a simple analog SW capable Tecsun!

I live in a rural area and can get fairly listenable AM signals through a 90s Sanyo hifi but it could be improved. I'm considering buying the Tecsun An-200 loop but then, I have lots of wire and electronics components here so I may just solder my own. Thank you for your video. The difference is astounding.

[joebert_]

you have such a nice voice, I started getting into radios over quarantine and your videos have helped alot, hope you are doing well

[altaylor]

Clear, Precis, Simple language, No Waffle, Inexpensive solution.. That is what I like.
Thanks Matey

[CARLiCON]

a great demo of inductive coupling, the signal coming through the outdoor antenna is concentrated slightly by the small diy loop & he puts that portable loop next to the MW antenna on the radio, which connects them via induction. This would work very well with a radio like this with the included MW antenna mounted outside of the cabinet. With other radios where the MW antenna is inside, it might be more difficult to get the loop close enough to couple that easily, or find the sweet spot. Bottom line is, you're always going to get more/better signals with an outdoor antenna, especially in a basement

[gklinger]

That’s a great video. You demonstrate both the value of an antenna and a way to interface that antenna to any radio a person might have. I’ve seen videos three times longer that aren’t half as clear.

Interesting side note: What you’ve made there is a tiny loop antenna. Build one the size of a hula hoop and you’ll be shocked at how well it will work (90+ % as effective as a Wellbrook loop for about 5% of the cost.) Turns out that the aspect of this hobby which interests me most is antenna design and making them on the cheap.

[jimmytowns]

Very impressive! I've tried several radios I own and am only able to receive one or two staitions (in daylight hours). I will definitely give this a try. Thank you!

[palgotzoona]

All I wanted was some extra info on using an external loop for MW DXing, so I watched this video. Seemed innocent enough.

WHY, I ask, do I now possess my very own Panasonic RF-2200 (or more accurately, a “National Panasonic Cougar 2200” b/c I’m in Japan)?? Probably going to have to get a full alignment done on it, maybe replace some caps to get it in full working order—who knows what rabbit hole I’ve opened up?

I just wanted to make some loops out of wire…

[cedarhillschoppers]

Good video, helpful, wish it had a quick shot of the outside antenna setup and the "9 to 1 transformer" for those of us unfamiliar with these things.

[DinkyDoughnut]

The outdoor antenna and 9 to 1 transformer should have been also in the video.

[elden]

Makes me wish that I could throw a 100 foot long wire outside my condo. What a difference in reception.

[crawfish]

Beginner here. Where did you connect the far end of the black wire? I must have missed that. I would like to listen to AM more. I have a C Crane Skywave with external antenna.

[jcxme]

Wow, wow, I did not imagine what simple and good it is!

[robertmcfadyen]

I did a test like this in a caravan while holidaying in 1989 at Forster N.S.W., Australia with very good results with a National RF B 20L .

[RuneTheFirst]

I see in the background a couple of my favorite GE portables - P-780 and Super Radio. I also have a couple Zeniths and a Philco I use to listen to music late at night from a Canadian station. I use an antenna booster coil that was available a couple decades ago. (Round, sealed, with a tuning dial to zero in on the station desired. There were 2 versions - one just plain for loop and ferrite antennas and one with a jack on the front that could do that plus be connected to really old radios that just used a wire lead.)

It's great that you demonstrated this as many younger hobbyists are not aware of this idea.

[flyurway]

Nice but still don't understand where the 2 ends of the coax go. A schematic would be nice. is one pole grounded? Does the other just extend outside to anywhere? If there's a straight length, how is it oriented?

[rickvia]

Thanks, man. Inductive coupling from the outside random-wire to the internal ferrite AM antenna. I've done it dozens of times.

[nor]

I bought a Tucson loop antenna with a built in tunning knob and on some radios it can be hard wired with supplied connector which I dont use It just set it next to my radio when I get a weak signal I can tune it to make it better but your loop works well.