RadioBanter - View Single Post - How to add external AM/FM antenna to a radio

George Cornelius · March 7th 18, 12:22 PM posted to rec.radio.shortwave

In article , writes:
= I have a loop antenna from an home system and want to wire it to a boombox any thoughts?
In article , writes:
Stick a wire on your cell phone and wrap the wire around your radio. It might work.

Except it might block (or worse) at the RF input every time the cell phone
went into transmit mode to check in with the tower. And don't even try
to _talk_ on that phone.

Still likely a better idea than thinking a loop antenna works for both
AM and FM.

Larry's right, though. Get a real AM antenna and try magnetic coupling
by wrapping a loop around the case. Or build yourself a loop large
enough to completely enclose your (plastic) boombox and see if it will
self-couple. Maybe mount it on a rotating vertical axis - antenna and
all on a lazy Susan, the radio elevated, possibly on blocks, above the
lower part of the loop.

FM's different. Some cheap systems use the cord as an FM antenna, some
have whip antennas. Try a random length of wire taped to the power cord,
or to the whip, for a few inches. Better yet: get a decent boombox with
an FM input and get a real FM antenna.

George