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How to Add an External Antenna to an Am Broadcast Band Radio

AM radio has hundreds of licensed stations broadcasting a wide variety of entertainment, music and news. The antenna that comes with many receivers is of very poor quality. An external antenna will make an inexpensive receiver perform better than an expensive receiver with a poor antenna. Antennas come in many shapes and sizes, from towers that rise above the ground hundreds of feet to the simplest forms, including tinfoil taped to a wall.

Things You'll Need

AM radio
External antenna with single connection lead
Wire strippers
Screwdriver
Alligator clip

Instructions

Radio with Antenna Connection
- 1
  Strip the insulation back from the wire end that will connect to the radio receiver. Remove about one inch of insulation using the wire strippers.
- 2
  Unscrew the antenna connection on the radio with a screwdriver. This screw might be either a straight or Phillips type of screw.
- 3
  Wrap the stripped end of the wire under the head of the screw, using your hand, in a clockwise manner.
- 4
  Tighten the screw with the screwdriver until the wire is firmly held by the screw.
- 5
  Turn on the antenna and tune the radio to a station that is weak. Move the antenna around to determine the best antenna configuration by monitoring the volume of the station.
Radio without Antenna Connection
- 6
  Remove half an inch of insulation from the end of the wire that will connect to the radio.
- 7
  Insert the bare end of the wire into the alligator clip and wind the metal end around the clip's screw in a clockwise manner.
- 8
  Tighten the alligator clip screw down until the wire is firmly held in place.
- 9
  Attach the alligator clip to the metal antenna coming out of the radio.
- 10
  Turn on the antenna and tune the radio to a station that is weak. Move the antenna around to determine the best antenna configuration by monitoring the volume of the station.

Ham Radio