How good is the AM/FM reception? I got cable, but I need an antenna to pull radio signals. I know I'm too cheap to get XM Radio or Sirius, but seriously, I just want to advantage of what is free out there. How good is the AM/FM reception? I got cable, but I need an antenna to pull radio signals. I know I'm too cheap to get XM Radio or Sirius, but seriously, I just want to advantage of what is... » Read More How good is the AM/FM reception? I got cable, but I need an antenna to pull radio signals. I know I'm too cheap to get XM Radio or Sirius, but seriously, I just want to advantage of what is free out there. « Show Less
1413314
richard is right, wavelength is key, if the antenna happens to be mathematically close to to the correct wavelength you're trying to pick up, you may be in luck...the only way to know is to try it out.
1413315
This antenna will -not- work very well at all for AM/FM... size is the key... Shorter antenna beams (the wires forming the "bow tie") indicate higher frequencies.This is a UHF antenna (around 470 to 800 MHz), whereas FM is between VHF channels 6 and 7 (88 to 110 MHz) and AM is on the order of a megaHertz (0.59 MHz to 1.6 MHz).This antenna's beams are about 1/6th the length you'd want for FM, and about 1/500th the length you'd want for AM.For FM you could try a cheap set of TV rabbit ears (or two 30-inch pieces of bare wire).
1030329
a CB antenna CAN NOT be used for those other frequencies. It's designed for CB which goes from 26.965 Mhz to 27.405 Mhz. Depending on how broad banded the antenna is, it will cover some frequencies above and below CB. So it may cover 10 meters as well as 12 meters. But given that it uses a loading coil, it may not work (or work VERY poorly) outside of the CB band. Generally speaking antennas are designed for working particular frequencies. So you would need separate antennas for working different bands. There are of course multi-band antennas on the market. They would list which bands they work on. But with the exception of 10/11 meter antennas like the A99, you aren't going to find CB antennas that cover other bands. All of that applies to transmitting. When receiving, the antenna isn't quite as critical. Antennas receive best on frequencies they are designed for; but they will receive other frequencies. For example the antenna on a car that lets you pick up the AM broadcast band and the FM broadcast band. So if all you are doing is receiving, this antenna should work ok. But a broad band receive antenna like a discone would be better.
2216563
This radio works well for AM and FM reception. I live in the country, and often tinker in a metal outbuilding where I have an old stereo receiver (the kind with large remote speakers and lots on inputs like you would have in a living room) from the 90's with a digital tuner using a wire inside the building for an antenna. That system will often loose reception when all doors are closed. This little radio works better on both AM and FM even though I don't bother to extend the antenna.
2030015
Well - this antenna won't help you at all. For AM reception a "long wire" style antenna is preferred. Simply try and string up as long as piece of wire as you can with the wire parallel to the station you want to pick up. Generally 20-30 feet of speaker type wire "unzipped" to make a single strand...buy 15 feet of wire, unzip it, twist the wires together in the middle and you have a 30' piece. Hook one end to the AM antenna jack on your receiver and try to get the remaining wire up as high and as straight as you can. But don't go nuts...I've run the wire out a window and along the eaves just under the house and its worked great. And you can't beat the price!Good luck! Well - this antenna won't help you at all. For AM reception a "long wire" style antenna is preferred. Simply try and string up as long as piece of wire as you can with the wire parallel to the station you want to pick up. Generally 20-30 feet of speaker type wire "unzipped" to make a single strand...buy 15 feet of wire, unzip it, twist the wires together in the middle and you have a 30' piece. Hook one end to the AM antenna jack on your receiver and try to get the remaining wire up as high and as straight as you can. But don't go nuts...I've run the wire out a window and... » Read More Well - this antenna won't help you at all. For AM reception a "long wire" style antenna is preferred. Simply try and string up as long as piece of wire as you can with the wire parallel to the station you want to pick up. Generally 20-30 feet of speaker type wire "unzipped" to make a single strand...buy 15 feet of wire, unzip it, twist the wires together in the middle and you have a 30' piece. Hook one end to the AM antenna jack on your receiver and try to get the remaining wire up as high and as straight as you can. But don't go nuts...I've run the wire out a window and along the eaves just under the house and its worked great. And you can't beat the price!Good luck! « Show Less
1892756
FM reception depends on tower locations in a rural area. My husband says AM talk radio holds a better reception from building to building compared to FM reception. But in the open fields reception for both is about the same depending on radio towers in your area. I've been purchasing 2 sony walkmans a year for my husband these past 15 Christmases and he uses the radio everyday (10- 12 hrs daily) 7 days a week 365 days a year. It takes a licking & keeps on sounding Awesome! Enjoy!
1147044
I don't use AM, only FM and the reception is excellent. I use it on my desk at my house, that is on the 5th floor.
1107605
This type of antenna is for FM reception only....look for an antenna specifically for AM reception.
2040911
My understanding is that the antenna is designed specifically to capture broadcasts within the FM band. I have not noticed any improvement (nor increase) in the number of AM stations I receive with this antenna. I believe the indoor-type antennas are more ligned with the AM band. I hope that helps.
395914
I talked to RCA about that and did not get any useable response. According to their website description of those antennas (they have 3 similar ones, amplifier/not amplified/superior reception). I would think that an amplified would allow you to get good reception when having a weak signal, but that would be the only benefit.We know have the antenna sitting in a bookshelf at the bottom, behind some pictures, hardly noticeable. Reception is the same, flawless. And no external power supply needed. Keep in mind that thanks to Amazon's great business policies, you can return the item within 30 days in case you are dissatisfied. I talked to RCA about that and did not get any useable response. According to their website description of those antennas (they have 3 similar ones, amplifier/not amplified/superior reception). I would think that an amplified would allow you to get good reception when having a weak signal, but that would be the only benefit.We know have the antenna sitting in a bookshelf at the bottom, behind some pictures, hardly noticeable. Reception is the same, flawless. And no external power supply needed. Keep in mind that thanks to Amazon's great business policies, you can return the item... » Read More I talked to RCA about that and did not get any useable response. According to their website description of those antennas (they have 3 similar ones, amplifier/not amplified/superior reception). I would think that an amplified would allow you to get good reception when having a weak signal, but that would be the only benefit.We know have the antenna sitting in a bookshelf at the bottom, behind some pictures, hardly noticeable. Reception is the same, flawless. And no external power supply needed. Keep in mind that thanks to Amazon's great business policies, you can return the item within 30 days in case you are dissatisfied. « Show Less
1783503
You can listen to AM/FM if they transmit over the internet in addition to over the air. It is not a regular radio with wifi capabilities. The only stations it gets are internet radio stations. The reception is fantastic. We love it!
1001620
Yes it's a great AM/FM radio but make sure you use an antenna. Hope this helps :)
1785358
I listen to AM talk radio so its not to bad with AM. But when listening to FM music you will loose a lot of stereo quality. I do anyway here in Lou,Ky. We are not on flat ground around here. I put my factory antenna back on. I personally don't recommend it.
1335857
AM/FM reception on my stock antenna (Ram 1500) was fine on all channels. Switched to the stubby and the only channel I had reception on was a local LI station and even that had a significant amount of static. Left the radio tuned to that station, switched back the the regular antenna and the signal was crystal clear.
394438
It's good. Not especially great, but definitely good. It comes with a 4-5 foot FM antenna cable (and similar AM antenna) and what appears to be a standard connection port, so you could possibly attach a 3rd-party antenna.
1993005
Does nothing for AM reception (most radios have a built in ferrite bar antenna for AM). It does improve weather radio frequency reception and FM reception depending on placement of the antenna.
2071664
it depends on how long you want to experiment with the FM antenna. I live in a poor reception signal in the mountains of NC and at first I could not receive more than 1 or 2 FM stations. Ihad several antennas to try out and believe it or not, I got the best result with a cheap, simple T shape vertical antenna for less than $10.00 !But the placement is critical . After several tries I hit the jack pot and was able to teceive 11 stations loud and clearr !To this day I still can tune in any of those 11 frequencies on any time of the day or night So, do mot dispair, it's not the receiver, it's the antenna !
1157964
I don't know what it will pick up, up there. You will need to get an inline booster. My channel 7.1 through 7.4 comes in good all the time. My channel 21.1 through 21.4 don't come in to good all the time, at night better. But I did not get any channel 21 before. I think I probably get couple other channels that I don't watch. I went on another site to see what channels, antennas would be out there, and how far away they are. And then pointed my antenna in that direction. Had to play with the ears, and antenna direction to get to work better. I hope this will help you make up your mind. I have not done anything to my antenna, but I have been thinking about screwing a bigger base on it.