Am radio static in my condo...every plug in unit.?

Question

How do I get clear reception...I cannot listen to the am stations. Now that baseball season began...I need clear ears.

Please help.

Answer 1

The single best thing you can do to improve your AM "reception"  is a better antenna, I have also used the select-a-tenna as mentioned by duh, it will improve your reception.  

If you are experencing interference, a humming or buzzing noise, there could be a number of causes. Many electrical devices  cause AM interfefance:

  -dimmer swicthes

  -fluoresent lights

  -"Touch lamp" type light fixture (even when turned off)

-Automatic on and off night lights.

-Outdoor yard lights which come on automatically.

-Electronic bug and pest controllers.

-A light bulb that is about to burn out.

-A faulty electrical switch of any kind.

-A nearby TV set.

-A store or public recreation room near you that has fluorescent lights.

-Blinking bulbs of all kinds such as Christmas lights.

-Scanners of all types.

-Electric blankets.

-Smoke detectors that run on AC (battery operated is OK)

-Dimmer switch in neighboring apartment.

-Dirty insulators on a nearby power pole causing arcing.

It is best to eliminate the interference at its source.  Here's a list of possible solutions:

-Turn off the offending device.

-Try a battery operated radio to see if the interference is coming in from the AC 120v line or through the air or both.

-Turn off the circuit breakers one at a time to see if the noise stops. If it does, than you know it is something in your house and you'll know which circuit it is on.

-Use a battery operated radio as a direction finder.  Turn it until the noise is loudest and the front or the back of the radio will be pointing toward the noise origin.

-Carry a radio around the neighborhood and see if you can find the origin of the noise.   Ask your neighbors if they have problems with AM radio noise.

-If a power pole is suspected, call the utility company and they will check the area and possibly clean the insulators.  Dirty power pole insulators are sometimes a cause of difficult to find radio interference.

-If you have a hum in your receiver from AC noise, sometimes grounding can reduce the hum greatly.

For stubborn radio noise problems, you may wish to consult a book published by the FCC, entitled "Interference Handbook".  It can be found in its online version http://www.arrl.org/fcc/tvibook.html

Answer 2

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 you are truly an avid baseball fan, then spend the money and get XM. They carry spring training and every game thru the playoffs and the series.

-a guy named duh