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AM Antennas

I think Cox has FM on their line. Just unplug from your TV and connect it to your receiver to find out. If so, get a splitter and some more cable, you have it done.

For the AM, try the one from the link above, just hook it up with twinlead to your receiver's Ground and AM terminals.
 
This is why I love AK

I have been wondering if there was a better mouse trap (a.k.a. AM antenna) for a while now and decided to search the fora here. Found a thread about AM antennas with little trouble.

I asked a couple of questions about these thingamajigs and got to meet Paul C. who just happens to live within an hour drive. He offered advice and all kinds of help. Genuinely interested advice and help, too. Not the "I know all so bow down to my superior knowlege" stuff either. After a few emails, I discovered exactly what I needed. No fancy amplified, motorized, $1,500 gadget (although those are also fun), but a $30 do-it-yourself kit was what I needed. Then, and here is the kicker, Paul contacted me and sent me one he had already made for $3.00 plus postage.

Paul, I hope you read this. I sent you a private thank you, but you deserve more credit than that. You are a Prince of a guy and a credit to this site. If there is ever anything I can do for you, well, you know the rest...

This is why I love AK. Guys like Paul.
 
Anytime... just some leftover bits and pieces from making others. Since you were putting it in your attic I didn't stain and varnish, so it was no effort, really. Glad to help.

Besides, we both like the same radio station! What's not to like about "All Blues Friday" on "Classic Soul AM 1260"?

Well, now the real question... can you pick them up? They are only 5000 watts daytime, and drop to a measly 127 watts at night. (I listen to their FM sister station "Smooth Jazz 90.3 FM" )
 
Paul C said:
I have mentioned this before... I found this article:

http://members.cox.net/rwagoner/columns/am_antenna.html

and as I was about to gather parts for it I found both a kit version and assembled version on eBay.

These "Ultimate Loop Antennas" are made by Jeff Burns. He has them on eBay quite often. They sell for $22 plus $7 shipping for the kit, and $33 plus $20 shipping for the assembled version. This antenna is 17" wide x 21" tall.

There is also a smaller assembled version for $26 plus $12.50 shipping. These prices are US Dollars. 9" wide x 11" tall. These are assembled.

I ordered the kit version. It just arrived today. All the wood was cut to size, edge of the base attractively routed, all holes drilled, and the wood nicely sanded. Screws and other hardware have an attractive bright brass or gold colored finish. Also included is wire for the loop, a terminal strip for connecting wiring, and a piece of 300 ohm twinlead to connect to your tuner or receiver. There are some clear plastic feet to go on the bottom of the base. There is even an instructional DVD.

All you need for the kit version is to stain and varnish. I checked the fit of the parts, and they fit perfectly. Right now the stain is drying overnight (I used Minwax stain). In the morning I will use a spraycan type poly acrylic varnish to seal it. This stuff dries in 30 minutes between coats.

After the poly coating dries it won't take 15 minutes to assemble. I'll be listening to AM by the time I finish my second cup of coffee. If it works as well (and should work better) than my "Jug-tenna" I will be a VERY happy camper!

UPDATE - Completed the kit, have it hooked up to my main system. Wow! I am picking up even more stations during the day. Can't wait until tonight, see what happens.

Here is a picture of MY completed Ultimate AM Loop kit:
Click to expand...

IT WORKS!!!! THANKS PAUL FOR THE HELP. GETTING STATIONS ABOUT 90 MILES AWAY.:banana:
 
Just wanted to add that in my experience the Select-A-Tenna didn't do a whole lot for my GE Superadios, both II and III. On other radios it performs well, on the Superadios - not a lot of improvement.

- Dave
 
This thread was very informative, as I'm in the market for an AM antenna myself (Yamaha TX-1000U tuner). That "Ultimate" antenna that Paul built would probably be just the ticket, but I'm not looking forward to the conversation with my girlfriend when I plug it in (she hates the Godar FM antenna I already have enough as it is). I could probably fight my way through it, but...other options are always welcome. :) Does anyone have a spare, it-came-in-the-box loop with bare wire leads they don't want? I'll gladly pay P&P for one. Though, every such loop I've seen/used had very short leads, and I'll need a few feet, at least...am I kinda stuck?
 
Yes, I too found this thread very informative and helpful. A special thanks to Paul C for all the info and insights.

I came across these antennas last year while poking around. Very expensive so I'll have to add them to my toys wish list. A good read anyways.

http://www.dxtools.com/index.htm
 
Here's how I've built AM antennas for AM/FM stereo receivers:
Using about 15 feet (not critical length) of RG59 coax (the cable used for TV sets), strip and attach the shield braid to the receiver's AM antenna ground, and the center conductor to the AM antenna input post. Strip the far end's center conductor, and peel back the braid shield back say a half inch, so it doesn't short to anything. At the far end, make two loops approx 2 1/2 to 3 feet diameter. Tune in a weak station at the low end of the AM band you know is currently broadcasting in town. Right now you wont hear much if anything. Take a pin from the wife's sewing supplies, temperally connect it to the center conductor at the coax far end, and poke it thru the plastic coax outer jacket, where it's two loops from the far end. Don't hit the center conductor at the sweet spot's coax area. The plane of the coil must be vertical, and should (if you stretch the plane, but not the coil itself, far enough to intercept the station's broadcast tower (aiming isn't that critical, just don't be broadside to the station's tower). You should hear that station now. Now try a few spots either closer to the end, or closer to the receiver, to find a sweet spot with max signal strength. You're tuning the inductance of the coil of coax. Once you find this sweet spot, strip a bit of the plastic jacket off that point, and carefully and quickly solder the far end center conductor to the jacket at the sweet spot. The braid at the far end must be "open circuit", do not connect it to anything.

This type of loop antenna perferrs the magnetic portion of the radio station's electromagnetic radiation ("light") over the electrostatic part. Noise tends to be electrostatic, so you should see better signal to noise.

You could make a bigger single turn loop antenna, but if you live say ten miles from several 50 thousand watt flamethrowers, you'll overload (but not burn out) the AM front end and get lots of intermod and no listenable reception.

Sometimes you can reposition the coil plane to null out a strong station nearby the dial position of a desired weaker station.
 
stewby said:
I just ordered the C.Crane twin coil AM antenna. I like the fact that it's tunable. I'll report how it works.
Click to expand...

I was looking at that one too...but I almost dont' like the tunable aspect...I like to keep things as streamlined as possible. But, I suppose this 'double tune' system has advantages, so...I dunno. :scratch2:
 
mhardy6647 said:
You'd be giving up something significant with any antenna that wasn't tunable, y'know?
Click to expand...

Don't forget that the receiver itself will tune the antenna inductance with an internal capacitence (varactor diode or old fashioned variable tuning cap). That's why I have you adjust the inductance if you make my above antenna.
 
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