My transistor radio has an antenna but whenever I remove my hand from it, I hear a lot of static.?

Question

Why is it and how can it be remedied? Also, how can I get am stations in a room that won't let me?

Answer 1

Your body acts as an antenna. Ever notice how sometimes the signal will be perfect as you're tuning it, then, when you move away, it gets static-y again?

Sometimes repositioning or turning the radio in a different direction will help. Your signal is also affected by the strength of the radio station. Stations come in several different sizes according to their license. A 25KW, 50KW or 100KW obviously will be easier to receive and keep steady than a 3KW station.

There's no real cure, except to make sure you have a good antenna (sometimes just a piece of wire coming out of the back of the set - to which you can add more wire to make it longer). You might want to get an inexpensive antenna that's a loop - actually a circular piece of metal that will attach to the wire coming our of the back of your set - Radio Shack and other stores have them.

Make sure that it's as close to a window as possible. Sometimes I'll run the wire outside the window and close the window on top of it. Anything to get it away from any metal or other deflectors.

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/

Hope this helps

-a guy named Duh