AM radio problem?

Question

i have an ihome. the am radio won't work!! (AM 1300 to be precise!) the station broudcast from chicago, IL and i live in Evanston, IL. i have the antena and that hooked up. FM works fine. any ideas on how to get it clear? i can barely hear it. it is fuzzy. i dunno if it the area or what. any one else having this problem? thanks!!

Answer 1

After checking the technical information and Broadcast Map for this station, WRDZ-AM 1300 kHz La Grange, Illinois "Radio Disney", I have found that you are within the main broadcast area for both the daytime and nighttime broadcast patterns. To be precise, you should get a stronger signal in the nighttime pattern than the daytime.

The broadcast towers are rated Daytime Transmitter Power  4500 Watts ; Nighttime Transmitter Power  4000 Watts. My suggestion is to replace your amplitude modulation receiver with a new unit and make sure that you have an open area to the south of the receiver.

In other words...

The station has plenty of power to reach your location in both the daytime and nighttime. (Most AM stations reduce power and change the coverage pattern at night to keep within their legal broadcast area that is issued by the FCC) If you want to be able to hear the station easier, make sure that the BACK of your radio is facing towards the SOUTH of your location, preferably by a window that has a clear view to the south. The reason for this is because the AM antenna that is inside most radios, is located towards the back of the radio. Facing the back of the radio towards the south of your location will point the AM antenna directly towards the direction of the tower that the station uses to broadcast the signal.

AM signals are not like FM signals. FM can pass through walls and most other objects, where AM cannot. AM signals like to "bounce" off stuff, kinda like throwing a tennis ball at a wall. Think of an AM signal like satellite TV, to get a good signal from Dish Network or Direct TV, you have to have a clear view of the southern sky so that the dish can pick up the signal broadcasted by the satellites revolving around the earth. If you put the dish behind a tree or something of the like, the dish cannot pick up the signal cause it is being blocked by the object in front of the dish. So, If you live in a metropolitan area and your on the north side of your building, or if all you can see to your south is a tall building right across the street, then you might just be out of luck.

Hope this helps....

Oh, and for the record, FM stands for Frequency Modulation NOT fortitude modulation like David above seems to think.

Answer 2

Try another radio. Try receiving the signal in another location. If it still doesn't work it's probably the station.

Answer 3

I have an interesting device that I bought years ago that really boosts the antenna power of your AM radio. It's a big, round plastic device called a "Select-A-Tenna." You put it next to your radio and - wow! What a difference. this would also be a good device for those kids who have written in about bad reception on Radio Disney. You can reach them at www.selectatenna.com

If there is a buzzing noise, and you live in an older house, try turning the plug around. Seriously, it may not fit (because newer appliances have plugs with one blade larger than the other) but if it does, you could have reversed the polarity. It's worth a try.

- a guy named duh

Answer 4

LMAO... fortitude modulation.

I noticed this in car audio a few years back.  AM radio is not that popular anymore, so in the manufacturing process, the AM station amplifier gets alot less attention than it used to.

You can buy a booster from almost anywhere.  Do a google search for "AM antenna booster"  THey are not that expensive, and as mentioned above, an exterior antenna will pick up AM stations alot better than inside your home.

Answer 5

Your signal from the station may be passing over you area. Amplitude modulation (AM) has a longer freaquence wavelength than does Fortitude modulation (FM). You have to tune to the carrier wave in am, your radio, at the 1300 mhz setting just might have a dirty potentiometer, thereby keeping your signal weak.

Answer 6

In Mexico I had the same problem...check this tips:

Use a Radio based on bateries (no AC, because the "buzz" don't let you listen the station).

Apart your radio from the sources of interferences, like computer, tv's, air units, fridgers, etc...

The station that you are looking don't transmite through yhe internet? i.e. www.1300amliteradio.com or www.b985.com