AM aerial problem
 

Hi
Can someone help me with a solution to my AM radio problem. I have just
replaced a cheap clock radio with an expensive and much better sounding one.
The aim was to improve sound quality ( which it has done) and reduce the
interference from ADSL modem ( which it hasn't). This is a reasonably
expensive clock radio, with no external AM aerial connection. Being used
bedside, it needs to be oriented so that you can see the clock face. Of
course Murphy's law prevails, and the ideal orientation for seeing the
clock, dial etc is at almost exactly 90 degrees to the ideal orientation for
best reception. In the "best reception" orientation the ADSL interference
is minimal, and quite acceptable to the radio's owner.

Re-arranging the bedroom layout to suit the radio isn't an option, and the
radio's owner really likes the AM programming. So I'm looking for another
solution.

Is it possible to have some sort of external aerial ( I'll avoid even trying
to spell the ant..... word correctly ), feeding via co-ax to a coil or
perhaps ferrite rod, close to the clock radio? We are about 30 km from the
main transmitter of interest, ( 774 Melbourne 50kW ) so signal strength
outside house should not be a problem.

Suggestions welcome.

David

"David Flew" wrote in message
...
Hi
Can someone help me with a solution to my AM radio problem. I have
just
replaced a cheap clock radio with an expensive and much better
sounding one.
The aim was to improve sound quality ( which it has done) and reduce
the
interference from ADSL modem ( which it hasn't). This is a
reasonably
expensive clock radio, with no external AM aerial connection. Being
used
bedside, it needs to be oriented so that you can see the clock face.
Of
course Murphy's law prevails, and the ideal orientation for seeing
the
clock, dial etc is at almost exactly 90 degrees to the ideal
orientation for
best reception. In the "best reception" orientation the ADSL
interference
is minimal, and quite acceptable to the radio's owner.

Re-arranging the bedroom layout to suit the radio isn't an option,
and the
radio's owner really likes the AM programming. So I'm looking for
another
solution.

Is it possible to have some sort of external aerial ( I'll avoid
even trying
to spell the ant..... word correctly ), feeding via co-ax to a coil
or
perhaps ferrite rod, close to the clock radio? We are about 30 km
from the
main transmitter of interest, ( 774 Melbourne 50kW ) so signal
strength
outside house should not be a problem.

Suggestions welcome.

David





A bit of lateral thinking perhaps?

Why not either move your ADSL modem, or wrap it in cooking foil and
earth the foil?


--
Woody

harrogate2 at ntlworld dot com

"David Flew" wrote in message
...
Hi
Can someone help me with a solution to my AM radio problem. I have just
replaced a cheap clock radio with an expensive and much better sounding
one.
The aim was to improve sound quality ( which it has done) and reduce the
interference from ADSL modem ( which it hasn't). This is a reasonably
expensive clock radio, with no external AM aerial connection. Being used
bedside, it needs to be oriented so that you can see the clock face. Of
course Murphy's law prevails, and the ideal orientation for seeing the
clock, dial etc is at almost exactly 90 degrees to the ideal orientation
for
best reception. In the "best reception" orientation the ADSL interference
is minimal, and quite acceptable to the radio's owner.

Re-arranging the bedroom layout to suit the radio isn't an option, and the
radio's owner really likes the AM programming. So I'm looking for another
solution.

Is it possible to have some sort of external aerial ( I'll avoid even
trying
to spell the ant..... word correctly ), feeding via co-ax to a coil or
perhaps ferrite rod, close to the clock radio? We are about 30 km from
the
main transmitter of interest, ( 774 Melbourne 50kW ) so signal strength
outside house should not be a problem.

Suggestions welcome.

David





I say it is worth the try.

The interference may not be directly from the DSL modem itself, but leaking
from the cables. If I recall correctly, the DSL signal (at least here in
the USA) is a couple of watts somewhere aorund the AM broadcast band. So
you essentially have a 2 watt transmitter pumping out wide-band trash within
a few meters of your receiver.

There used to be a 'AM signal booster' available. All it consisted of was a
coil of wire about 8 inches in diameter witha variable capacitor for
tuning. You just placed it next to your AM radio and the coil coupled into
the built-in loopstick antenna.

Jim
N8EE

Do a Google search on CCrane. They sell a couple of antennas that should
help you out. One is the Select-A-Tenna. It is a loop such as Jim referred
to. It works quite well. Improves reception dramatically and is directional
with good nulls to kill the noise. The second mounts outside and runs into
the radio via cable. There is a ferrite bar that attaches to the radio so no
connection required.

"Jim" wrote in message
...
I say it is worth the try.

The interference may not be directly from the DSL modem itself, but
leaking
from the cables. If I recall correctly, the DSL signal (at least here in
the USA) is a couple of watts somewhere aorund the AM broadcast band. So
you essentially have a 2 watt transmitter pumping out wide-band trash
within
a few meters of your receiver.

There used to be a 'AM signal booster' available. All it consisted of was
a
coil of wire about 8 inches in diameter witha variable capacitor for
tuning. You just placed it next to your AM radio and the coil coupled
into
the built-in loopstick antenna.

Jim
N8EE

Jim and others. I've played around with ADSL modem location, orientation
etc, and whilst it's the cause of the noise, it's the low signal strength at
the radio which is what I have to fix. If the radio is right next to (
inches) the modem, and is oriented optimally, the interference is minimal.

I'd hoped for a home grown rather than a commercial solution - but my AM
aerial knowledge faded once I stopped playing with crystal sets and battery
powered valve radios some decades ago. Also CCrane isn't well represented
in the antipodes.

David

"CW" wrote in message
...
Do a Google search on CCrane. They sell a couple of antennas that should
help you out. One is the Select-A-Tenna. It is a loop such as Jim referred
to. It works quite well. Improves reception dramatically and is
directional
with good nulls to kill the noise. The second mounts outside and runs into
the radio via cable. There is a ferrite bar that attaches to the radio so
no
connection required.

"Jim" wrote in message
...
I say it is worth the try.

The interference may not be directly from the DSL modem itself, but
leaking
from the cables. If I recall correctly, the DSL signal (at least here
in
the USA) is a couple of watts somewhere aorund the AM broadcast band.
So
you essentially have a 2 watt transmitter pumping out wide-band trash
within
a few meters of your receiver.

There used to be a 'AM signal booster' available. All it consisted of
was
a
coil of wire about 8 inches in diameter witha variable capacitor for
tuning. You just placed it next to your AM radio and the coil coupled
into
the built-in loopstick antenna.

Jim
N8EE

OK. The Select-A-Tenna is nothing more than a coil of wire and a capacitor.
Do a Google search on medium wave loop. AM loop, ect. There are lots of
plans out there. Yes, they really do make a dramatic difference.

"David Flew" wrote in message
...
Jim and others. I've played around with ADSL modem location, orientation
etc, and whilst it's the cause of the noise, it's the low signal strength
at
the radio which is what I have to fix. If the radio is right next to (
inches) the modem, and is oriented optimally, the interference is minimal.

I'd hoped for a home grown rather than a commercial solution - but my AM
aerial knowledge faded once I stopped playing with crystal sets and
battery
powered valve radios some decades ago. Also CCrane isn't well represented
in the antipodes.

David

"CW" wrote in message
...
Do a Google search on CCrane. They sell a couple of antennas that should
help you out. One is the Select-A-Tenna. It is a loop such as Jim
referred
to. It works quite well. Improves reception dramatically and is
directional
with good nulls to kill the noise. The second mounts outside and runs
into
the radio via cable. There is a ferrite bar that attaches to the radio
so
no
connection required.

"Jim" wrote in message
...
I say it is worth the try.

The interference may not be directly from the DSL modem itself, but
leaking
from the cables. If I recall correctly, the DSL signal (at least here
in
the USA) is a couple of watts somewhere aorund the AM broadcast band.
So
you essentially have a 2 watt transmitter pumping out wide-band trash
within
a few meters of your receiver.

There used to be a 'AM signal booster' available. All it consisted of
was
a
coil of wire about 8 inches in diameter witha variable capacitor for
tuning. You just placed it next to your AM radio and the coil coupled
into
the built-in loopstick antenna.

Jim
N8EE