[RegulatorCountry]

Aren’t there auxiliary antenna kits for poor reception areas? I attended a university that was fairly remote and in a mountain valley. Without help, the only radio reception was the campus station. I’m recalling a flexible setup in a “T” shape; we tacked it to the dorm wall, and reception was greatly improved.

[Jonty30]

You could get an attenna booster.

[COBOL2Java]

A very good radio company is C. Crane www.ccrane.com. Their radios are pricey, but high quality.

[B.O. Plenty]

look at C Crane radio...

[I-ambush]

Get an online radio ap like Stitcher and tune in to one of the conservative stations. Youcaneven tune in WABC, Rushes mother ship.

[proxy_user]

Most guys in your situation would use a roof antenna and a component-type FM tuner.

I would suggest you read the tuner forum on audiokarma.org, the guys there are experts at this.

[evad]

I've found this to be excellent

http://www.wabcradio.com/article.asp?id=531472

[mountainlion]

Radio might be best over the Internet. I lost 90% of my reception due to the Digital change over on radio and TV. Never had much for cell phone either. Radio almost disappears at night. Daytime is poor. Some units use the AC power system as an antenna which uses house wiring to the transformer as an antenna. Kinda looks like the government wants us uninformed.

[Gator113]

I can’t help with the radio.

But for Rush and several other talk shows.... go here... it’s free.

http://www.wabcradio.com/article.asp?id=531472

[Lazlo in PA]

I find that old radios have the best AM performance and I generally use them for listening to talk radio. I have vintage Panasonics and Grundigs that really pick up everything

[Vinnie]

Straight AM-FM radio. GE Super Radio. Noted for their AM section but FM is also wonderful. The analog version used to be around $60.
Sensitivity/selectivity excellent. Sound excellent.
No CD/MP3 player.
AM section beats my Sony 2010 hands down.

I’m not sure they are made anymore.

[NoPrisoners]

The right antenna will make any radio sound great (within the limits of the speakers). I suggest investigating this before spending $$$ on a radio which won't do any better without a good antenna.

Several posters have suggested C. Crane and I agree. They have good antennas. Also, if you're handy, there are instructions on the web for building your own.

[Dysart]

I have one of these: Logitech Squeezebox™ Radio in the kitchen/ bar area, and I get Rush on a local frequency plus all the other local AM/FM stations clear as bell....not to mention thousands of stations from all over the world and it's networked with my media server, so it streams all me music. Also links up with Pandora, Slacker, etc music services. No need for a CD player. I have an external powered sub connected and it will really play. Would this work for you? What's it gonna take to get this little jewel in your home, so you can start enjoying classics like "Trees," "New World Man," and "Tom Sawyer???" ;)

[NoPrisoners]

My brother built something similar to this and it really works well:

Build your own indoor FM antenna

[Vinnie]

Straight AM-FM radio. GE Super Radio. Noted for their AM section but FM is also wonderful.
Sensitivity/selectivity excellent. Sound excellent.
No CD/MP3 player.
AM section beats my Sony 2010 hands down.

I’m not sure they are made anymore.

found one
http://www.amazon.com/GE-72887-Superadio-Portable-Radio/dp/B00000J061

[Varda]

How about attaching an FM transmitter to your computer? You can listen to anything over the radios you already have.

[steve86]

Degen DE1103 for FM (stereo), shortwave and longwave. Professional-level sensitivity in all bands for $50.

[hoosierham]

FM?

Most talk radio seems to be on AM .

Radio shack (and others) have the Grundig Field Radio for around $99.

You can also buy booster antennas.For AM or FM.

I have a FM booster from Radio Shack bought a decade ago that makes a huge difference in my little valley.

For AM put up a long wire or buy/build a loop.Again Radio Shack (and others) have batteryless booster AM antennad:one is a neat plastic hoop on a stand and when tuned to the AM station you want ,can boost the signal even without direct wire connection,although direct connection is best.

Check with Universal Radio of Ohio.

Some older FM portables(multiband) sold in the !970s were quite sensitive but are prone to overload in the cities since the FCC has reduced the channel spacing from that era.

You can also buy or build FM band antenna much like the older TV antennas.Note many TV antennas deliberately block FM because of interference issues with some TV channels.

[ml/nj]

I have had several that are poor FM performers because of our location relative to hills, mountains and distance.

Unless things have really changed since I used to use my (relatively expensive) tuner, you're not likely to get good reception without a highly directional antenna. The hills and mountains create multipath conditions that are difficult to beat. Reception via the internet is pretty good now and only promises to get better.

ML/NJ

[bigbob]

http://www.amazon.com/GE-72887-Superadio-Portable-Radio/dp/B00000J061

Now GE hasn’t made radios in decades, this is a licensed product but they are well accepted amongst BC DX-ers as being outstanding for the price. AM sensitivity and sound quality are excellent too.

Otherwise, the CCrane company has a number of very good products, including AM Antennas that will boost your AM signal reception without even being connected through inductive coupling, if you’re going for that out-of-town Rush affiliate. The CC Radios are legendary performers and are around $150. http://www.ccrane.com/

Most “stereo” receivers will perform well but definitely are dependent on outside antennas. While an outside antenna will help ANY receiver, I recommend the above self-contained units for one you can move around, and that is designed for high performance without an external antenna.