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How to Build an AM Radio Antenna

If you are an avid AM radio listener, whether it be on a old fashioned radio, a new AM/FM radio or a shortwave radio, you know it is a bit of a challenge to pick up the radio signal from the AM frequency. There are a lot of things that can cause interference, but with the right radio and a good antenna you can listen to stations from a thousand miles away. There are several ideas for better antennas, but here is an easy one.

Things You'll Need

3 10-inch wooden dowels, 1/2 inch thick 4 pieces balsam wood, 1 inch by 4 inches Twine 4 thumbtacks 10 feet of insulated radio wire Hot glue gun Hot glue sticks

Instructions

Directions
- 1
  Build a wood frame by taking 3 half-inch wooden dowels, each about 10 inches long and fastening them together in the middle. Pull one down so that it is longer than the rest on one side but still secure in the middle. Tack a piece of balsam wood to each end, perpendicular to the framework with the thumbtack.
- 2
  Wind some insulated wire around the frame gently, using a little hot glue to attach it to each of the balsam wood pieces, winding it around four times, each time about an half an inch apart. Bring the wire into the center and wind it around the center intersection twice. Leave about 12 inches hanging down.
- 3
  Strip the insulation off the ends of the wires, about 1 inch long. Twist the ends together and either wire it to the existing antenna or into the hole for the antenna. Secure it with a bit of electrical tape.
- 4
  Sit the long end of the third stick in the frame into a holder. A simple holder could be as easy as filling a mug with sand and sinklng the wood into it, or a plastic bottle with a screw-top lid that you poke a suitable hole into. Fill it with sand and screw the cover back on.
- 5
  Face the antenna from side to side in the approximate direction of the radio tower. It will take a little adjusting, but your radio station should come in much clearer.

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