David,
Until the individual 'portable' AM / FM Shortwave Radio
Owner tries - The Four Tricks to Try for Better AM
{Medium Wave} Radio Reception - They Don't Know.
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...227b009aa19478
Until Then - One does not know whether their 'portable'
AM / FM Shortwave Radio "Wants" a Ground or an
Antenna or both or neither.
Sometimes What Works - WORKS ! - "IF" - You Give It A Try !
{ Remember 'if' at First You Don't Succeed :
try, Try and TRY ! again, Again. and AGAIN !

}
http://www.bartleby.com/59/3/ifatfirstyou.html
http://www.quotedb.com/quotes/1841
http://www.answers.com/topic/if-at-f...-try-try-again
overly redundantly yours - iane ~ RHF