Showing posts with label am. Show all posts
Showing posts with label am. Show all posts

AM-1 Ultimate AM Broadcast Band Antenna Review

AM-1 Ultimate AM Broadcast Band AntennaI live in an area with very poor AM reception. My home is located in the mountains west of Denver. And for years from time to time I have tried every external AM antenna available and several different types of AM radios with no good results. The antennas included all of the TERK'sand CC Crane'sferrite loops both active and passive, dipoles, "long wire" antennas used by HAMS and a variety of active antennas with built in amplifiers with nogood results . My problem seems to stem from local inference radiated by my household and neighbor's AC wiring (noise from florescent lamps, computers, LANs, plasma TV's, motors, and light dimmers, etc) and generally weak AM signals shielded by the local terrain. My home does not have any line- of- sight to the AM transmitters I'm trying to receive from Denver 50 miles away.

When I tried this antenna it was like magic. This puppy was the answer to all my problems.In the daytime it pulls in stations reliably from up to 90 miles with no static or noise and even farther if you don't mind a little static.I tried it in different locations outdoors and indoors, at ground level, in my garage, in my attic and on a pole above my roof. The performance was always excellent. At night I also received many of the 50,000 watt "clear channel" AM's from locations such as Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Minneapolis, Chicago, Omaha and Dallas with surprising reliability.I couldn't be happier with its performance.

The Negatives:It's kind of large (38 inches in diameter) but I was easily able to hide it in my garage mounting it to a wall. It's somewhatdirectional and needs to be pointedgenerally in the direction of the stations you want to receive, but the instructions that came with it were very clear on how to do that so it was really no problem to set up ( it comes completely assembled).And of course the price is high, but given the amazing performance and all the money I had previously spent on inferior antennas that didn't work, it's well worth the investment. If you want the best, this is it.


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Product Description:
This design has long been recognized by professional broadcast engineers, the military and serious amateur radio operators as the ideal solution for Medium Wave radio reception with a relatively small antenna. It takes advantage of the fact that radio waves consist of two components, an electrostatic field (E-wave) and a weaker magnetic field (or H-wave). Unlike standard ferrite loops, dipoles and long-wire antennas, it's optimized to respond to the magnetic H-field component of the received signals and shielded from the electrostatic E-wave component of the received electromagnetic wave. Since most local interference (particularly AC power line radiated noise) has a large electrostatic E-wave component, it's exceptionally effective at reducing this kind of interference and making it possible to receive signals obscured by local man-made noise sources.-Wide Dynamic Range Low-Noise Preamplifier-The internal low-noise preamplifier is an extremely wide dynamic range differential type with exceptionally low inter-modulation distortion in the presence of high level signals. This is particularly important when trying to receive distant signals when the antenna is located near much higher power transmitters. The amplifier is powered via an included 12 VDC power supply and is optimized for maximum gain in the 500 kHz - 1700 kHz AM broadcast band. Unlike other loop antennas available, no special tuning is required for reception of the entire band.-"Figure Eight" Reception Pattern-This antenna is directional and has a "Figure Eight" reception pattern with deep nulls located at right angles to the open loop. This characteristic can also be used to help minimize interference that can be localized to a particular direction.-Location/ Mounting-It can be located at ground level outdoors or indoors in a garage or attic. Included is all required hardware for pole or wall mounting.

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Terk - AM Advantage Antenna Review

Terk - AM Advantage AntennaI love this thing and am thinking of getting another for my cabin.I've had powered/amplified antennas in the past that don't work as well as the TERK does.it really pulls in the a.m stations and the ability to tune the antenna to the station helps temendously.

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Product Description:
AM Advantage antenna (AM-1000) dramatically improves the AM reception from any receiver, tuner or portable radio. Its unique passive wireless technology eliminates the need for connectors, batteries, and power cords - simply place the AM Advantage near the receiver or radio.AM Advantage combines wireless convenience with advanced tuning technologies such as TERK's exclusive Pin-dot pre-tuning that zeroes in on even hard-to-get stations by tuning the antenna to the station's frequency. Compact design of the antenna allows easy placement; non-skid base keeps antenna in place during adjustment.

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Terk AM/FM+ Indoor passive AM/FM antenna Review

Terk AM/FM+ Indoor passive AM/FM antennaAt work, in order to receive AM signals, you need to either have your radio in a window, or use an external antenna that can reach to the window, and connect to your radio.
I have a Grundig s350 radio, which has decent reception anyway, but I needed an external antenna to receive the AM for sports broadcasts. This hooked right up both AM and FM right to the radio. FM was improved nicely. AM was improved, but not to the extent I had hoped. There is still static, albeit, a low level that is not bad enough to not use it.
I wanted something that could reach to the window, yet allow the radio to sit next to me so I could the volume low, and turn it on/off as the needs required. That would be about 5-6 feet. Not sure how long they say the wires are, but I could use another foot or two for sure. The FM wire is larger, and the kinks from shipping/packing cause you to lose about 10 inches of the length. The antenna is so light, it pulls it over.
On the up side, it works even when it is not in the window, but not as well. So it does improve things. It is a passive device with no adjustments. My radio has antenna gain, which also helps.
It looks much nicer than what others have, pretty much theirs is a round/oval shaped piece of plastic, this is a nice square solid thing. I would say it's AM performance is mediocre, FM not to bad.

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Product Description:
A very affordable non-powered AM/FM antenna

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Kaito KA35 Solar Rechargeable AM/SW/LW Active Radio Antenna Review

Kaito KA35 Solar Rechargeable AM/SW/LW Active Radio AntennaI live in SE Wisc. and listen to Chicago AM on Sangean ATS-909. On some stations,I get 1/2 bar signal strength without the Kaito ant.When I plug it in and turn it on, I get full signal strength.I haven't tried SW yet but will just to see how it works and some night time AM dxing. This item works very good. CONS: it only runs on batteries. It has two states; ON or CHARGING.

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Product Description:
The newly released Kaito KA35 portable active antenna is a sister product of widely praised shortwave antenna KA31 & KA33.Combined with a 3-foot telescopic antenna and a ferrite coupler unit, this antenna covers a wide frequency range from 100KHz to 3.0MHz. A unique of this antenna is its internal rechargeable battery, which can be charged by an AC adapter, USB port or direct sunlight. Frequency coverage: LW: 100KHz to 520KHz, MW: 520KHz to 1710KHz, SW:3.0MHz to 30.0MHz, Tropical broadcasting band: 1.8MHz to 3.0MHz,Package includes: Base unit, Ferrite unit, Telescopic unit, Ferrite coupler, Control unit, Charging cable, AC adapter.

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Kaito AN-200 Tunable Passive AM Antenna Review

Kaito AN-200 Tunable Passive AM AntennaI had a 100 foot long wire AM antenna previous to the Kaito, and it produced terrible interference and crosstalk on many stations. This Kaito antenna totally cured the problem. The stations come in without interference, and I am able to receive some stations that the long wire would not pull in. It's a minor inconvenience to have to rotate and tune the antenna for each station; the results are worth it. My only complaint is that the lead in wire is very short, about 3 feet. I extended it with a stereo headphone extension cable from Radio Shack, and it works fine, even with the extra length. If you're looking for an antenna to improve your AM radio reception, I would recommend that you try this one. It works better than I had hoped. Kaito AN-200 Tunable Passive AM Antenna

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Product Description:
The Kaito AN200 tunable indoor AM loop antenna can dramatically improve the reception on AM (Medium Wave) stations throughout the entire AM broadcasting band. This AM Antenna enhances reception as well as adds clarity to the ferrite AM antennas that are included with all home stereo receivers and portable radios. The AN200's loop design offers you the reception that normally would only be achieved with a very long wire hooked up directly to your radio. With the AN200, it will work on all portable radios without wires attached.The Kaito AN200 features a built-in tuning dial that allows precision tuning to the appropriate station and the selectivity to block out unwanted stations and noise; which without the antenna would crowd or "bleed" into the desired signal. The antenna can also be adjusted by physically turning the loop in the direction of the station's broadcasting and pointing it directly at the station. One of the best features of this antenna is the possibilities of using selective tuning, loop adjustment and radio dialing. The AN200 Loop Antenna will give you an added dimension to your AM radio by giving you better reception, clearer sound, better clarity of the stations you already get and enhancement of stations that would otherwise be drowned out.The Kaito AN200 AM Medium Wave Loop Antenna is a passive (NO power requirements) radiant device that works by either placing it next to the portable radio's internal AM rod antenna or by connecting it to larger desktop radios that have AM antenna terminals by using the included 1/8" to bare wire cable.

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Terk Indoor AM Antenna ADVANTAGE Review

Terk Indoor AM Antenna  ADVANTAGEI'm a stickler for performance, and have high expectations for electronic equipment... especially when I hear fellow users raving about a certain product.
After getting the Terk AM Advantage to use primarily with my CC Radio, I have to say I'm not dissappointed. Giving it 5 stars would be saying that it goes beyond my expectations. The 4 star rating means that it comes pretty damn close!
Anyway, it does a fine job. The great thing, is that it can be used with ANY radio with or without external antenna terminals. I find it seems to work better without the hookup. Tuning the stations can be a bit tricky at times. The dial is slightly off and registers a station a few kHz higher than it is, and must be turned various ways near the radio to accurately do its job. It even seems to do quite well at being able to resist stronger signals that are adjecent to weaker ones.
For the AM DX'er, or lover of good `ol AM radio in general, it's an answer to a prayer!

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Product Description:
TERK AM antennas fit the needs of every household by providing simple, practical solutions together with high quality radio reception. Enjoy your favorite news, sports and talk radio with this premium indoor AM antenna with the pin-dot pre- tuning which allows you to tune the antenna to the desired frequency. There are no wires needed this antenna works right next to or on top of the radio.

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C. Crane Twin Coil Ferrite AM Antenna Review

C. Crane Twin Coil Ferrite AM AntennaTo be honest, I tried an "orphaned" TCF antenna and returned it, though not due to any fault in the unit itself. The extra tweaking needed was just not justified given the area I listen in, which already has pretty decent AM reception.

If your radio is in the free and clear, like the top of a wood-structure house, the TCF might not be for you. Bear in mind that there's no magic with radio antennas, and a powered device especially will amplify signal and noise equally, often yielding little or no audible improvement in listening quality.

Where a unit like this really shines is in an environment with compromised AM reception - like a basement or a steel-framed building - where you are able to put the antenna head out in the clear and run a cable to it. In such cases the TCF is an excellent solution to an old problem, and because it was designed by Chris Justice of C. Crane Co., it actually works as advertised, not like those photo-op pieces of plastic injection-molded junk from Terk and Radio Shack.

ONE CAVEAT - bear in mind that if you tune around a lot, you'll always be tweaking this thing, so decide ahead of time if that's for you. For extended program listening it's not really an issue.

And by all means go to CCrane's website and read up on AM reception. Those people are on the level.

I'd give you my opinion of Terk, but I just ate.

Hope that helps.

Postscript, May 26, 2008 : I just re-read my own review and think it was potentially misleading of me to suggest that the TCF is primarily useful when the antenna head is located remotely from a radio-frequency-shielded listening spot. The antenna is better than that and can work wonders with many radios, from small portables coupled "inductively", all the way up to expensive communications receivers with direct connections for external antennas. The TCF is highly directional, and having the antenna head close enough at hand to manually turn it is a great advantage. I probably should have been less stingy and given 5 stars.

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Product Description:
If you have a favorite AM radio station, but experience poor reception, the Twin Coil Ferrite ® AM Antenna may be just what you're looking for. This patented AM antenna doubles daytime reception, dramatically reduces nighttime fade out, and can even eliminate heavy static and distortion-it's a radio accelerator! Connect to your radio to hear distant low-power stations with amazing clarity. Works with any radio, from portables to home stereos, and includes a unique wireless ferrite stick for use with receivers without antenna connectors. Also includes a wire patch cord for radios with antenna connectors. The basic package comes with five feet of cable to connect the antenna to the tuner, but we also offer 25-foot and 50-foot extension cable kits. Ideal for boosting AM radio reception in brick, stucco, or metal-sided homes. Runs on included AC adapter or optional 9 Volt battery. Tuner Size: 3.3" W x 4.3" H x 2" D. Antenna Size: 8.5" W x 2.5" H x 1.3" D. (Pat. #US 6,529,169 B2)

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Terk Hdr-I High-Definition Indoor Radio Antenna Review

Terk Hdr-I High-Definition Indoor Radio AntennaMy HD radio is a Sony XDR-S3HD. So this comparison is only true for this radio and my location (just north of Washington DC). I tried the accompanying wire and dipole antennas first, and then tried this Terk HDRI Antenna and a Philips Magnavox MANT-110 Indoor Passive Antenna. The Terk box says it is specifically for HD radio. The Philips box says it is for VHF/UHF/FM/HDTV.

The dipole worked best overall of the two included with the Sony but I experienced a number of drops when there was movement, either by myself or even my cats, on the far side of the antenna relative to the general direction of the station's tower that I was tuned into. The Terk (with the gain set to the maximum) and the Philips both worked better in this regard resulting in practically no drops in the same scenarios.

The Terk costs 36.14 on sale; the Philips costs 9.99. So the Philips wins on price. Here's the shocking thing. When I tried to tune into WAMU-HD3 or WTOP-HD3 or WCPS-HD3, the Terk had trouble picking up the signal unless I was positioned just right in the room (for example, if I was 5 feet from the antenna but not 3 feet, or if my TV was on, or...). The Philips has no problem picking up these stations regardless! This makes the Terk very much a disappointment. The Terk did not pick up any additional HD channel 2 stations compared with the Philips (the ones I can't pick up currently on a regular basis are WWWT, WPGC, WBIG and WPRS). So if you're having problems with the wire or dipole antenna, then my suggestion is to pick up the Philips or some other cheap indoor FM antenna and forgo spending money on this overpriced Terk.

Magnavox MANT-110 Indoor Passive Antenna

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Product Description:
Terk HDR-1 HD radio antennas are optimized for HD radio reception. Their high-gain, ultra low noise amplifiers and high band separation will ensure the best possible customer satisfaction with digital radio receivers as well as help minimize returns. Today, many local radio stations broadcast digital streams known as HD radio (Hybrid Digital Radio), allowing your to enjoy your favorite FM and AM stations with unprecedented audio quality and with track titles and artist names displayed on your receiver. Stations also have the ability to multi-cast giving you access to more channels than ever before. Best of all is HD is completely free, no subscriptions fees.

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Terk Technology AM/FM+ Radio Antenna Review

Terk Technology AM/FM+ Radio AntennaI bought a wonderful Grundig s35 radio, which works wonderfully in my Los Angeles home, but which suffers in performance at work, a college, because of so much interference in the building. I bought the Terk antenna to see if I could get KPCC, a Pasadena station about thirty miles away. The Terk succeeded. Whereas without the Terk antenna I could barely get KPCC, about 10% clarity, with the antenna this often tough-to-get FM station now comes in with over 90% clarity. Also all the other stations, both FM and AM, are now much stronger and clearer. So I'm glad I bought the Terk. Finally, let me add that the hook up is easy. You just snap the attachment to the back of the radio. Finished.

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Product Description:
Based on the common-sense notion that stereo owners want to listen to music, not static, Terk Technology's AM/FM+ antenna is an ideal fit for casual and intense music fans alike. The antenna, which connects to virtually any radio or receiver, captures a crisp, high-end signal that far surpasses those of in-the-box competitors. Most receivers and rack systems come with "T" wire dipole antennas for FM reception, which provide marginal reception at best and are highly susceptible to noise and interference. The AM/FM+, by contrast, is omnidirectional, meaning it receives signals equally from all directions to ensure topnotch reception wherever your equipment is located. In addition, the device incorporates specialized noise-reducing elements to trim static to an absolute minimum, so listeners can enjoy clear signals from as many stations as are within range.
The AM/FM+ is simple to connect and use--just plug it into your radio or receiver and you're set. The device comes complete with matching transformers for 75 ohm and 300 ohm antenna inputs. In addition, the AM/FM+'s compact design blends with almost any decor. Listeners have the option of placing the antenna on or next to a component or mounting it on the wall. The latter option not only offers a unique look, but it may improve reception as well. It also separates the antenna from other audio components and electronics, which may reduce noise and interference.
What's in the Box
AM/FM+ antenna, 75 ohm transformer, 75 ohm to 300 ohm matching transformer, user's manual.

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