AM / FM Tuner for home use in Rural Areas

[123rover50]

OK, not car related but did not know where else to ask.
We have had a Denon FM/AM Tuner for the last 18 years gave good reception of our nearest AM stations (within 100 klicks) especially since fitting a AM rotating loop antenna to the roof.
The Tuner died and as my wife likes listening to daytime radio we had to find a replacement. No one in our nearest town but the Good Guys and H.N.
Good Guys had no stock but H.N sold us another Denon with all sorts of bells and whistles we dont need.
Short story it could not receive any signals at all. Nothing, just scan right past them.
Rang the agents in Melbourne and they said very few modern receivers will get a signal outside major metro areas nowdays.
Took it back for a refund.
Now the question. What do you people out there in regional ares use for an AM/FM receiver?
Anyone found one that works in picking up an AM signal over 100 Kays?

Keith

[Homestar]

I’ve got a cracking little AM/FM radio I take everywhere with me and it seems to pick up AM at quite a long distance - no bells and whistles, old school dial tuner and may not be what you’re looking for - Target have them - https://www.target.com.au/p/target-am-fm-retro-style-radio-dr7-r/59823780 - and you can order them online too if you don’t have a store near you.

Ive actually bought 4 of these now - One stays in the Caravan, one stays on my computer desk at home (listening to it right now), one in the garage and SWMBO has one at work - which works when a lot of others don’t as her work building is a tilt slab concrete bunker type thing and not many radios work in her office, but this one does. Runs off the mains or batteries - best bit of electronics I’ve bought in years.

[austastar]

Hi,
Check out jaycar, judging by their catalogue, they have a range of radios designed to work at the edges of reception,
Cheers

[p38arover]

What about an old car radio?

[gavinwibrow]

What about an old car radio?


Not such a crazy idea, although maybe a bit bulky if you have to add speakers and/or powerpack? All of my old cars had/needed good AM reception.

The only newish one I've tried recently with reasonable AM reception is SWAMBOs Volvo C70 which is now about 7 human years old - don't know what that is in car years, especially as Volvos used to be long living.[bigwhistle]

[123rover50]

Ended up buying a new Yamaha AM/FM tuner amp on Ebay and a pre-owned Marantz Am/FM tuner.
The Yamaha as expected did not pick up any signals on AM but I got it for the amp.
The Marantz is very good , picks up AM just with the supplied indoor loop.
Everyone is happy now.
Just need to buy an optical cable so I can connect the TV to the amp to get the sound from my main speakers. Those little TV speakers are not much good.

[Bigbjorn]

What about an old car radio?

I was about to suggest that when I saw your post. A good old car radio from the 60's-70's on a 12 v. power supply. I acquired an Astor valve job from an Austin A40 in a wrecking yard Vintage 1951. Bulky as all get out and in two large pieces but unequalled reception. I put it in an M-B 1418 truck and could get stations loud and clear from Melbourne to Brisbane. I bought an LJ Torana new in my GM-H days with a factory 13 transistor long range radio. It was too good a thing as it picked up everything for hundreds of miles. It could play 3KZ from Melbourne all the way up the New England Highway Sydney to Brisbane. 3KZ then had a great all night music programme.

[gavinwibrow]

I’ve got a cracking little AM/FM radio I take everywhere with me and it seems to pick up AM at quite a long distance - no bells and whistles, old school dial tuner and may not be what you’re looking for - Target have them - https://www.target.com.au/p/target-am-fm-retro-style-radio-dr7-r/59823780 - and you can order them online too if you don’t have a store near you.

Ive actually bought 4 of these now - One stays in the Caravan, one stays on my computer desk at home (listening to it right now), one in the garage and SWMBO has one at work - which works when a lot of others don’t as her work building is a tilt slab concrete bunker type thing and not many radios work in her office, but this one does. Runs off the mains or batteries - best bit of electronics I’ve bought in years.



Many thanks. Bought 3, tried 1 so far. Others destined as one for caravan and one on call for day trips. Being an old fart, I quite like the retro look.

AM works surprisingly well in the garden behind the limestone ridge line of sight from the transmitter to where I live in Freo irrespective of how high I take it up from the garden.

Doesn't like sitting in my upstairs study with ridge, house and me all blocking the transmitter, despite being higher up than in the garden.