KGO uses a directional antenna. AM directional anntennas work by generating
interfering or re-inforcing waves in various directions.

KGO's system favors the north-south directions and disfavors east-west
transmission.

Your gold country home is in a "null" direction from the KGO transmitter
(at the eastern end of the Dumbarton bridge).

In such areas, the phase interference produced by the transmitting antenna
causes distortion in receivers.

KNBR has a non-directional antenna which is not subject to these effects.

The only way to improve your reception of KGO is to move.

As for your auto reception, the phase interference is a factor of postion.
If you drive around while listening to KGO you will find the area of
distortion is in a line between you and the KGO transmitter.

BTW, how is your reception of KCBS? Its situation is similar to KGO's

Norm Lehfeldt

"ldbk" wrotf:

I'm hoping someone can shed some light on why my AM radio doesn't come
in as clearly as my stock car radio. I am a KGO talk radio fan and
live in the bay area. I also have a home in the gold country that I
visit almost every weekend. I noticed that KGO didn't come in at all
on my regular, small radio so I invested in a CC Radio Plus with a
ferrite antenna. Much to my dismay it comes in very distorted,
although KNBR comes in very clearly.

What I don't understand is why my stock car radio tunes in KGO
perfectly. I'm wondering if it's because my CC Radio is inside and my
car is outside? Also, does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can
get better reception?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!