AM aerial - I need a simple plan to build one (for NZ conditions)

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geekIT

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#205044 27-Oct-2016 17:58

Guys, I'm in Northern Southland. 50k north of Invercargill.

I have a shed at back of my section.

It has tin (galv iron) cladding.

In the shed I have an elderly amplifier (Vector Research VRX-2700) on which I want to pick up AM broadcasts.

So I need a decent AM aerial.

I can build this thing - I just need to know how to do it.

Help, please :-)

PS: I don't need FM. All I want is to get AM working properly.

'Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.' Voltaire

'A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.' Edward Abbey

Rikkitic

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#1659235 27-Oct-2016 18:41

If you just want AM reception, almost any long piece of wire at a decent height will do. The longer the wire, the better. Technically, it should be about a quarter wavelength at the middle of the band, but at that frequency it doesn't really matter. Just a long piece of wire tied to a tree or other support through an insulator. Don't let the wire contact your tin roof on the way in.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

robjg63

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#1659245 27-Oct-2016 19:28

http://www.instructables.com/id/A-Dynamite-Antenna-for-an-AM-Radio/
Or
http://www.instructables.com/id/Medium-Wave-AM-broadcast-band-resonant-loop-antenn/

Built something like this when I was a kid and there was no fm radio.
http://www.mtmscientific.com/loop.html
It was amazing. Try and find the weakest signal you can get. Stick the transistor next to the loop aerial and twiddle the tuner. Wham! Vastly improved signal.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=51VcK3Ueq0o

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

SATTV

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#1659287 27-Oct-2016 21:07

Built something like this when I was a kid and there was no fm radio.
http://www.mtmscientific.com/loop.html
It was amazing. Try and find the weakest signal you can get. Stick the transistor next to the loop aerial and twiddle the tuner. Wham! Vastly improved signal.

I built one of those too, it was amazing.

Unfortunately it will not work in this case as the radio needs to have an internal ferrite antenna.

Looking at the back of the radio a long wire antenna is what it needs.

You could also try an old car aerial, cut off the plug, center to AM and braid to earth.

Regards

John

I know enough to be dangerous

geekIT

2420 posts

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#1659576 28-Oct-2016 11:13

SATTV: You said:

Unfortunately it will not work in this case as the radio needs to have an internal ferrite antenna.

Looking at the back of the radio a long wire antenna is what it needs.

You could also try an old car aerial, cut off the plug, center to AM and braid to earth.

Are you referring to my Vector Research amp\radio?

'Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.' Voltaire

'A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.' Edward Abbey