2016 AM Radio Reception Sucks...

thanks all.

i'll add this item to the list come first oil service.

 

Is there a way to add a big-ass whip antenna on that would boost AM / FM radio signals?

Or is that for CB only...

 

I think that probably the biggest problem with AM radio reception, is created by all of those other guys who posted in this thread about not caring about AM radio. If there is a lack of demand, there will be a lack of supply due to cheapness of manufacturer.

Like you, I find AM radio to be particularly IMPORTANT. As a result, when looking at some aftermarket radios about 1-2 years ago, I found it particularly shocking when I found out that most of them didn't even HAVE an AM receiver in them! I figured that was just a function of cheap-O chinese manufacturing, since most smartphone RF chips include an FM receiver that can use the headphone wire as an antenna. So cheap out and give it a super-weak FM receiver and no AM at all.

Around here, AM radio is used heavily for news/traffic/talk. After all, the fidelity of AM stations is a lot lower than FM, but more than adequate for this type of data. On top of this, AM radio works at a *MUCH* greater distance than FM, so you can pick up that AM news station 200 km or more away from the broadcast tower.

I don't particularly care for music, it doesn't do anything at all for me. So I keep my radio always tuned to an AM station.

I can't particularly comment on the 2016 AM radio reception (since I don't have a 2016), but from what I gather, they switched from the full length antenna mounted in the front passenger fender, to something a little bit more... compact. The compact antennas work with an amplifier/booster, which still needs to have an adequate signal coming in for it to amplify. At the end of the day, your best reception will be with an antenna at a length that matches the wavelength of the station you're tuning in to. Failing that, a whole number division of that length, the longer, the better. You will *never* get as good of reception with a stubby amplified antenna, as you will with a proper antenna.

 

Thanks for teaching me something new today. I'd never heard of someone who doesn't like music. Just googled it.

 

I don't think its that we are not saying that AM is not important it's the industry that is saying that without coming out and actually saying it. Just look at the decline of the AM industry in the last say 20 years. How many stations do know of that don't exist anymore because there just isn't any funding/advertisement for further operation.

It's a dying phenomena just like the 8-track, cassettes, .45's, 5 1/2 floppies 3 1/4 disks. Sooner or later they won't even offer AM in the radio line-up.

With the introduction of Satellite radio that just takes more of the ammo the AM stations had for long distance sending.

 

I disagree with that entirely. While it may be true that there is less MUSIC broadcast in the AM stations, the reality is that FM is plugged up so badly that voice/speech based broadcast are being FORCED into AM. That means that there are more AM broadcasts now than there used to be. And I certainly haven't noticed any AM stations disappearing.

Satellite radio is no good because it demands a subscription.
Internet radio is no good because it demands a data connection.
While there is now HD radio, this is utilizing the same FM spectrum.
And DAB[+] doesn't even exist in north america since the L band is reserved by the US military.

 

This would bum me out! I am a AM radio nut... Coast to Coast AM... come on guys, you've not laughed until you hear that stuff!

 

Your AM is bad..??? Hell I can't get shit on AM (nada)... The FM around here is questionable also... Only the shitty very close stations come in clear... Distant FM...forget it..!
USB stick or nothing...
XM is a ripoff and old crappy stuff played over and over..!

 

AM is 4x as good as my '11 Explorer was ,, and partly the reason I bought the Taco.

 

I listen to am quite a bit too (sports radio) but mine has been great (JBL, sorry)
Been using iHeartRadio quite a bit... similar to sirious but FREE