AM car radio antenna upgrades

[Tallman]

I worked at Motorola and adjusting the trimmer for the antenna at 1400 Kc was necessary for good performance. Different models had different tune up points. Some were 800 kc and a few down at 600 kc. Depended on what car model it was to be installed in and also if it was for Ford, Chevrolet, or Chrysler.
A short FireStik might work really good for late night DX am.

 

[Shadetree Mechanic]

It has been literally decades since I installed and serviced car audio. Back then, every 'car radio' that had the AM band had a mica compression trimmer cap, usually accessed through either the cassette door, or the rear panel of the radio.

This served to "tune" the front end of the AM-band receiver to the vehicle's antenna and coax. You tuned in a weak station near the middle of the band and peaked it for max signal.

Could be the installer forgot this step in your car?

Could be that tweaking it for the station you want might improve it?

Cheapest thing to try first, anyway.

73

I never knew about the AM trimmer, now I have to dig up an old radio to play with.....

 

[Rwb]

It has been literally decades since I installed and serviced car audio. Back then, every 'car radio' that had the AM band had a mica compression trimmer cap, usually accessed through either the cassette door, or the rear panel of the radio.

This served to "tune" the front end of the AM-band receiver to the vehicle's antenna and coax. You tuned in a weak station near the middle of the band and peaked it for max signal.

Could be the installer forgot this step in your car?

Could be that tweaking it for the station you want might improve it?

Cheapest thing to try first, anyway.

73

ive adjusted several.i got a fairly new am fm cd in my shop have to look it over n see if its got that trimmer screw

 

[dave457]

A simple am/fm preamp works great in those fringe areas, thier about $10.0
All over eBay or Wal-Mart

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

A simple am/fm preamp works great in those fringe areas, thier about $10.0
All over eBay or Wal-Mart

Never saw a preamp for both AM and FM. Lots around for FM and TV however. Most of them have ZERO filtering however and will overload VERY easily if anywhere near a VHF transmitter. Been there and had one....or two.....or three and been there done that on the causing overload too. LOL

 

[dave457]

I never had any problems with over load and need with any filtering

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

I never had any problems with over load and need with any filtering

So you are the guy I heard about that never had an overload problem with them.

 

[dave457]

Probably not, just stating my use with them
But ymmv

 

[Rwb]

Never saw a preamp for both AM and FM. Lots around for FM and TV however. Most of them have ZERO filtering however and will overload VERY easily if anywhere near a VHF transmitter. Been there and had one....or two.....or three and been there done that on the causing overload too. LOL

remember those telescoping am car antennas with the coil on the top section,werent they about 48 inches fully extended?i put 1 on my 63 chevy pickup.it out performed the original.i adjusted the trimmer screw too.