Rural radio recepton on tractors

I've been experimenting with radios trying to pull in at least one weak AM station. Radios and TVs are rarely built with rural reception in mind. Seems since most people do not live rural, and/or have cable - it's not worth the bother. AM travels over hills better then FM, and subsequently FM reception here is even worse then the weak AM.

Here at home (rural central NY) my best radio in the house is a 1938 tube-powered Crosley with a Zenith Wave-Magnet antenna. I've tried many other new radios that are obcure and sold WITH rural reception in mind.

Yet, my 1985 Ford F250 diesel truck with factory radio outdoes them all. Not very portable though. I guess all that rusty Ford metal makes a great ground-plane for the antenna.

I've tried . . . Grundig SL350DL, Tecsun BCL-2000, GE Super Radio III, RCA Super Radio III, Sony WorldRadio, and several older Halicrafters. None worked well enough and all were tried with several antennas.

I also tried several if not all makes of "earphone" radios. The AO Saftey "Worktunes" analog sometimes works on AM and never works on FM. The 3M "Worktunes" digital model never works in AM and sometimes works with FM.

I then tried a new Katio KA1103 digital AM/FM/shortwave/longwave radio. Cost $90 but this thing is amazing! Small too - only 6.5" X 4"
Fits in the top pocket of my coveralls. I run a mini-jack extension cord from the radio up to my earphone radio (left turned off). Hop on a tractor and so far this thing works anywhere; even deep woods. Also works great at home and outdoes the old Crosley.

Only odd glitch is . . . will not work on weak AM when plugged into an AC outlet. Only works well on battery power. It seems the AC to DC conversion inside the radio ruins weak AM signals.

Darn, JD, you like about allllllll the same fun toys n things I do lol

My best AM receiver is my 40's vintage Zenith 11 tube console with that big wave trap antenna you rotate but thats kinda big for the tractor dont ya know. Second best is my Crosley Super 11 tube console with an external long wire antenna. Then my 1936 7 tube Grunow console then my 6 tube Grubnow Tombstone. My Hammarlund HQ 110 or Hallicrafters SX 110 are not very good for AM nor my old home built Knight Kit Star Roamer NONE OF THEM CAN PACK WATER to my Zenith or Crosley

MODERN RADIOS for AM: MY CC Radio (Sangean) Plus works well and my older GE Super radio

HOWEVER the absloute best thing I found to reallllyyyyyyyy make those or any other modern AM radioS work well on distant AM is the big circular antenna I got from C Crane, mines like the one in the middle. Im telling you there may be an AM station you cant get at all but hook up that big circular C Crane wave trap AND BOOM THERE THEY ARE WOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO

PS Id kinda like to have a Zenith "Waltons" 7 or 9 tube radio, got one cheap lol better yet a Zenith Stratosphere 25 tube or a Scott 30 tube NOW IM TALKIN RADIOS HERE

John T
AM Antennas

I've got over a hundred tube radios here. Big and small. They are very hard to store since when NOT in heated storage, the old wax-paper caps goe bad along with the woodwork.

My oldest is a 1928 Majestic battery powered "farm" radio. It is really heavy and still has the huge original battery pack in it. It is also my largest and is 4' tall with beautiful woodwork.

My old Crosley seems to get the best reception when hooked to the old Zenith "Wave Magnet" antenna.

This is the Crosley buried in the corner next to my wax-cylinder Edison Dictaphone (and old shotgun).

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This is the 1928 Majestic battery farm radio.

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This is a rare "hat-box" radio. The insides were stolen and all I have left is the wood case.

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That Sangean antenna was next in the line of things I want to try.

I have the same problem here in Sherburne with AM radio reception. I solved the problem in the shop with an older computer. I can get stations from all over the world on the computer. WSYR in the mornings, at 3pm after Rush there's Heartland Public Radio, or Moose radio from EauClaire Wi or the Texas Car Doctor. On sat AM it's the car show on Wsyr then Click and Clack on WSKG. $99 for a computer from Computer Warehouse in South New Berlin. AS FAR as Am radio in the vehicles my only solution is Books on CD from the Library until you get near Chicago then you can listen to Rush on FM.
WGY Schenectady

I couldn't hear nothing anyway,my tractors are way to loud for a radio.

When driving through your area I've tried AM and it seemed I could get more than on FM. It seemed also like the low end of FM came in better than mid to upper.

Bought a brand new Case IH tractor a few years ago. Spent big bucks on this tractor, nearly 200K. Couldn't get decent reception. Static. No local weather band at all. Went to check the antenna connections and couldn't find an antenna at all. My worthless salesman informed me I had to order and purchase an antenna as its no longer standard equipment. Its amazing how its the stupid little things that can pizz a guy off. Whats next? Doors on the cab optional? Yet there's more buttons and gizmos wired into the cab than I'll ever use but no antenna!
I still fume just thinking about it.

Interesting post. Got me to wondering if I've kept a sharp mind. I remember some talk about tube radios would fare better after an atomic blast. Did I remember right?I also remember the litle crystal radio my BIL built for me wayyyyyyyyyy back when. Little piece of plywood, coil windings, piece of Crystal, a scribe affair to get reception. etc. worked great with the head phones that came with the kit. Your radio pictures brought back memories. Thanks Regards LOU.

About a week ago I was taking a trip north and was listening to a AM public radio station that is 28 miles dew East of Cincinnati OH. I was driving strait up SR 68 dew north and had a good signal till I was about to I-70 then I lost it. Now that's about 90 miles from the station in Batavia OH. Company I worked for sent me up to the island (Middle Bass) to help out. They had a 4000 Ford with a radio on it and while I was bush hogging I got to hear Earl Pitts on the Big One. Cant say much for the tractor but it sure had a good radio. Bandit

Dont need a radio on my tractor.I like the sound of the engine and sound of the mower cutting grass.In any case AM radio goes dead here during day light.Theres nothing on the radio worth listening to.