• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

AM Receptuon

J

Joe Iannucci

I have a CC Skywave radio. Usually my AM reception is pretty good on 2 AA batteries. Problems arise when plugging in the radio to the AC outlet. Noisy reception on many stations including 50 KW 1210 WPHT which is literally only about 5 or so miles from me. Should I try a surge protector or noise filter or some kind? I really hope I don't need an electrician. I did notice more noise using a new tv in my room connected to a surge protector.
 
If a cheap china AC, A Surge Protecter won't work

I have a Phone Charger that came with my Phone, Everytime I charge it..Well pluging it in, I hear buzzing on AM
 
Could be one of two (maybe three) things...
If the wall-watt is a switched-mode power supply, it may be radiating harmonics of it's switching signal through the air and in to the radio's antenna, or it may be running down the wire and in to the radio.
Another possibility is that there is something else in the house making the interference, and it is being conducted through the house wiring, and in to the radio via the wall-watt...even though the source is not close enough or strong enough to override a signal to the antenna directly.
Try a separate battery powered radio next to the wall-wart and it's DC cord, maybe also with the affected radio unplugged from the cord and turned off. Then, try either one of the radio's, using battery power only, and see if you hear similar noise anywhere else in the house (which would be close to the noise source, probably another wall-wart).
 
kenglish said:
Could be one of two (maybe three) things...
If the wall-watt is a switched-mode power supply, it may be radiating harmonics of it's switching signal through the air and in to the radio's antenna, or it may be running down the wire and in to the radio.
Another possibility is that there is something else in the house making the interference, and it is being conducted through the house wiring, and in to the radio via the wall-watt...even though the source is not close enough or strong enough to override a signal to the antenna directly.
Try a separate battery powered radio next to the wall-wart and it's DC cord, maybe also with the affected radio unplugged from the cord and turned off. Then, try either one of the radio's, using battery power only, and see if you hear similar noise anywhere else in the house (which would be close to the noise source, probably another wall-wart).
Click to expand...

I think it it is something else in the house, but it is traveling through the wall wart to the radio. I will try again, but I believe when I unplug my tv the noise lessens. Might be best to listen to AM with the batteries. I'd rather not unplug the tv every single time I listen.
 
Switching power supplies wreak havoc on the AM band. Part of their design includes components that put out hash on the AM band. Probably on SW also.

Just use batteries.
 
I've heard recently that just about every device in the house contains some form of computer chip nowadays.... the computer (of course) the ethernet box, the refrigerators, the phone, the cat, the clocks .....

And they all generate noise that is not AM-friendly. I landed a Hammarlund HQ-180 not too long back. Fine rig. But in the day it's useless. And at night the wife and I are usually on .... what else? .... the computers, for Oldies and chat rooms.
 
So, it doesn't mean my AC adapter is actually damaged in any way? The adapter is from CCrane by the way. If it was the adapter, do you think I could make a case to CCrane about it?
 
It can also be something in your neighbors home that is connected to the same electric company transformer. Particularly bad are flatscreen TVs. I've found the noise goes way down after about 11PM. I've toyed around with the idea of putting ferrite toroids on my power line coming in to the house. They're the clamp together style and will clamp onto a 1/2 inch conductor. I've seen them on Ebay.
 
Joe Iannucci said:
So, it doesn't mean my AC adapter is actually damaged in any way? The adapter is from CCrane by the way. If it was the adapter, do you think I could make a case to CCrane about it?
Click to expand...

It may or may not be damaged. Probably your radio is still picking up hash from the AC adapter. CCrane says the one you probably got with your radio is a "Low Noise" AC adapter. How low noise they really are is a good guess.

But as the other posters said, your computer or your router can be putting out hash on the AM airwaves also.

EDITED after reading CCrane advert.
 
Last edited:
MarioMania said:
Now a day seems like everything causes interfernce on AM
Click to expand...
I have a mobile phone charger that hashes much of the FM band,
but only when a phone is plugged into it and not at all on AM.
 
The biggest noisemakers in my place on the AM band have been my router, and malfunctioning CFL bulbs. My LED bulbs only cause hash within a foot or so. My laptop computer causes hash within 2-3 feet (probably the charger). There is sometimes AC hash that comes in over the powerlines. One of the electric thermostats on a heater pops now and then.

My phone chargers put out a bit of hash, but it doesn't cover the entire house.

My rule of thumb is to run radios on batteries, unless I have a really good, old fashioned wall wart (like my PR-D5 has). Less chance of noise and hash that way.
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom