Hi radio folk. Not sure if this is the right forum for this post, but here goes:

I have one of those white under-cabinet Sony kitchen radio / cd players. The radio uses a digital tuner. They have notoriously poor radio reception, and the internet is full of posts by people ranting about how Sony could sell such a poor radio.

Rather than rant, I thought I'd ask you experts if there's anything that can be done to improve the reception. I understand the power cord is used as the antenna. I've tried stringing-up an extension cord to the power cord, with no improved reception. Could I open it up and attach an external antenna? If so, how would I do this? Any ideas, or experience with this particular problem?

Regards,

"jeplett" wrote in message
...

Hi radio folk. Not sure if this is the right forum for this post, but
here goes:

I have one of those white under-cabinet Sony kitchen radio / cd
players. The radio uses a digital tuner. They have notoriously poor
radio reception, and the internet is full of posts by people ranting
about how Sony could sell such a poor radio.

Rather than rant, I thought I'd ask you experts if there's anything
that can be done to improve the reception. I understand the power cord
is used as the antenna. I've tried stringing-up an extension cord to
the power cord, with no improved reception. Could I open it up and
attach an external antenna? If so, how would I do this? Any ideas, or
experience with this particular problem?

Regards,


--
jeplett

One way to do this is fairly simple. wind a flat coil. Take a piece of hard
paper or cardboard and cut it into aabout a 6 inch circle. Cut notches all
along the outer edge. Now wind about 20 turns of small wire through these
outer edge notches. Place it on the bottom of your cupboard just above your
radio. Attach an antenna (the best you can manage) to one terminal and your
water pipe ground to the other terminal. This will do wonders for reception.
You can still stack dishes on top of it. It is a shame that sensitive am
radios are so rare these days.

Michael
W0EZI

On Sun, 14 Aug 2005 10:35:18 -0700, Michael wrote:

It is a shame that sensitive am radios are so rare these days.

Well, they're not. But you have to dig them out of the dashboards
of automobiles and rig up 12VDC power supplies for'em.

Jonesy
--
Marvin L Jones | jonz | W3DHJ | linux
Pueblo, Colorado | @ | Jonesy | OS/2 __
38.24N 104.55W | config.com | DM78rf | SK

"Allodoxaphobia" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 14 Aug 2005 10:35:18 -0700, Michael wrote:

It is a shame that sensitive am radios are so rare these days.

Well, they're not. But you have to dig them out of the dashboards
of automobiles and rig up 12VDC power supplies for'em.

Jonesy
--
Marvin L Jones | jonz | W3DHJ | linux
Pueblo, Colorado | @ | Jonesy | OS/2 __
38.24N 104.55W | config.com | DM78rf | SK

That is very true, but most people won't go to that kind of trouble. I have
a Honda radio I pulled out of my 98 CRV. It is the most sensitive am radio
I have ever seen. I am setting it up in my shop with an antenna because I
live 54 miles from the nearest town. It pulls in stations a couple of
hundred miles away in the daytime. I replaced it with an mp3 player. I
really like my own music on a trip.

Michael

Is a sensitive a.m. radio one that stays up for a half hour afterwards
talking to her and lets me roll over and go back to sleep?

Jim


It is a shame that sensitive am radios are so rare these days.