AM radio reception

[Dom]

I live way out, about 50+ miles NW of Missoula Montana, at about 3000' elevation, east slope of the mountain. . I very much would like to listen to my favorite talk shows on the AM dial. Problem is , reception is terrible. Static is overwhelming.What can I do ? Is there a radio brand that will deliver decent reception ?

[JoeG52]

Reception will be very difficult.
They might stream their broadcast on the internet.

[MaryB]

I live way out, about 50+ miles NW of Missoula Montana, at about 3000' elevation, east slope of the mountain. . I very much would like to listen to my favorite talk shows on the AM dial. Problem is , reception is terrible. Static is overwhelming.What can I do ? Is there a radio brand that will deliver decent reception ?

AM reception in summer is always bad, all the thunderstorm static... in winter is when I listen to long distance AM...

As mentioned try streaming it online, most radio stations do it now.

[Kestrel4k]

Highway 200 ?
Drove thru there a few years ago, pretty sparse I must say. I liked the area.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I live way out, about 50+ miles NW of Missoula Montana, at about 3000' elevation, east slope of the mountain. . I very much would like to listen to my favorite talk shows on the AM dial. Problem is , reception is terrible. Static is overwhelming.What can I do ? Is there a radio brand that will deliver decent reception ?

I also love the AM talkers.
I have good luck with the Bose Wave radio.

Here are a couple other hints.
First, in case you didn't already know, the external antenna on your average radio is for FM and does nothing for AM reception. With rare exception, every AM radio has a internal antenna and the direction it is facing will effect reception, so try turning the radio in different directions. Some AM radio's get better reception due to having a better antenna. I've found the Terk antenna to do a great job at boosting AM reception, especially at night.

https://www.amazon.com/Terk-Indoor-A..._t3_B001KC579Q

[45DUDE]

If you have internet you can buy an echo dot and listen to over 60000 station for free. I have two control by voice.

[725]

Google up "Crane Radios". They have a wide variety of radios and antennas. I, too, live in an area with poor AM reception and I use round antennae booster that is about the size of a dinner plate. You tune it to the station you want to listen to while it is in proximity to your radio. It's very sensitive to tuning and positioning and there is a small learning curve to get it operational. It does work once you find out how to find the sweet spot. Still, AM reception is sensitive to time of day, weather, sun spots, etc. Good luck.

[Reg]

If you have internet, get a app called Radio Garden. It’s free. Basically it will let you listen to about any radio station in the world.

[trebor44]

The joy of being a RURAL! It's Montana! Get used to it!

[hiram]

World-wide radio

https://radio.garden/visit/murray-ia/jGSDp66H

[Dom]

Thanks so much to all the info. I will look into the advice given. I talked to some of the locals ( pictured ) but they could not help.Attachment 315523 Again thank you so much.Will check with someone more able to understand the info given.

[Shawlerbrook]

I also live in a very rural area. Internet streaming is the way to go.

[MT Gianni]

We are under a 50 foot hill and get no repeater traffic. If you're near Dixon then you have to get an antenna out of the river bottom. Internet is probably the way to go or wait until after dark.

[Outpost75]

Free app radiostationusa.fm they have am stations too. Select by city, state or market and whether you want news-talk, music, ethnic, or whatever.

[JimB..]

It’s amazing to me that there is broadband available in placed where there is poor AM radio reception.

[gc45]

I get perfect am reception using my cell phone; am radios are lousy for me...

[GhostHawk]

Radio Garden ROCKS! Thanks for the tip!

[DocSavage]

+1 on internet streaming. I♡Radio has an app that streams all their stations thru out the country. In my area they own most of the AM/FM stations. If you have an Alexa or similar device it can pick up the station as well.

[firefly1957]

I started listening to AM radio as a kid of 9 years old at night a little am radio I won at a church carnival . I never slept well so would put in the earpiece and go though the dial finding stations from all over at night .
Today I have several AM radio's one I use the most is a C. Crane pocket radio I have times of terrible interference L.E.D. lights is a big source but there is area wide static as well that usually but not always goes away during power outages . Just last week I was up and had terrible static mostly at the lower end on the AM dial I tracked it down a couple days later to the bug light on my from porch .

Like many have said the internet can be your friend listening to the radio I have a C. Crane internet radio I use day and night when my internet is on* and it works pretty well for me . I did have to get a second newer one because of changes and most stations went away using my first one . The thing I like about the internet radio is it does not put "JUNK" on my computer as some stations want to do . I have a few acres here and use a high power FM transmitter with it and also for TV sound . The transmitters have become more available in recent years this is a link to several types https://www.amazon.com/long-range-fm...fm+transmitter . I have the top $99 one for the TV and and older one for radio they transmit legally at .1 watt or depending on current politics not legally at a half watt . The one I use on radio when upstairs on low power travels 1 1/2 miles or further but only a 1/4 mile downstairs I have never put them at full power . They connect in two ways to any sound source some have bluetooth connection.
I have hearing loss so I can listen with headphones from any FM radio receiver or from stereo in my workshop or by the pool or in car nearby.

* I have satellite internet and turn it off at night so if I get up I just use C. Crane radio to listen to distant stations . I am "UP NORTH in Michigan so there are really no local AM stations that come in well I can get 760 Detroit and sometimes 1300 Grand Rapids . Longer range stations that come in well at night are 1210 Philly, 1040 Iowa , 840 Kentucky, 650& 1510 Nashville , and many more .

[waksupi]

Hook up an old car radio, and it gets better reception than regular radios. No idea why. Probably because you can rig a real serious antenna to it.