“AM reception Hi..all I am looking for is a small AM radio that I can use to listen to sports talk radio while I ride the train to and from work. Sounds simple, but everything I try fails. I assume the train interferes with the reception, but this is absurd. Help!”
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Hello. Welcome to the Best Buy community. Thank you for your excellent question. You have multiple options available to you for this type of AM reception application. Please note that the quality of AM and FM reception depends on multiple factors such as atmospheric conditions and the distance that you are located from the broadcast tower of your favorite radio station(s). The location that you use a portable radio is just one factor that determines the quality of the broadcast signal that you receive. It is my personal experience that positioning a portable radio closer to a window dramatically improves radio reception. With that in mind, you have multiple options available to you from Best Buy. It is my opinion that Sony offers the best portable radios in terms of features, class leading audio performance, value, battery life, and AM reception quality for the U.S. market. Sony is just the best consumer electronics company in the world. The Sony SRF-M37W |SKU:8692471 Portable Digital Radio is the best choice for your needs. This Sony portable radio features and lcd display, exceptional battery life, digital tuner for accurate, drift-free radio reception, exceptional long distance or DX AM radio reception, super comfortable headphones, and the ability to program up to 5 AM station presets to quickly select and return to your favorite sports talk radio stations. Please note that the Sony SRF-M37W Portable Digital Radio does not feature a built-in speaker. The next best choice at Best Buy is the Sony SRF-M85W Walkman Radio. This Sony portable radio is sold as a sports model that is designed for rugged outdoor use and inclement weather situations. The Sony SRF-M85W |SKU:8692453 portable radio offers similar features and performance as the Sony SRF-M37W portable radio described above but includes a stopwatch and split/pitch timer for customers that participate in athletic endeavors. The Sony SRF-M85W portable radio does not feature a built-in speaker and you must listen to the unit through headphones. The last choice that I recommend for your train ride is the Panasonic RF-P50 |SKU:8590321 AM/FM Pocket Radio. This Panasonic AM/FM portable radio offers much better than average AM reception, good sound quality, features a built-in speaker, and an earphone jack for private listening on the train. Good Luck.
Sorry, there was a problem. Please try again later.I haven't used it on a train, but the reception inside a building and outside is very good.
Sorry, there was a problem. Please try again later.This radio has a pretty good digital tuner but the small size prevents having much of an antenna to pull in weak/blocked signals. I use this radio in a modern steel/brick/glass building and signal fades in and out depending on my body position and location. My recommendation would be to purchase a slightly larger but still portable short wave radio that will also cover the traditional AM frequencies. If you buy one with a jack for an external antenna, you could then run a short piece of wire to capture more signal. You might also try using this antenna jack with a short wire and an alligator clip to attach to anything metal on the train.
Sorry, there was a problem. Please try again later.I haven't taken this on the train, but works on BART.
Sorry, there was a problem. Please try again later.Well, I don't know about trains but I do know that I listen to AM and FM successfully on ferries and inside sporting arenas and it plays just fine. I am in the Seattle, WA area, if that helps you.
Sorry, there was a problem. Please try again later.It is not absurd. The metal in the train car absorbs the AM signal. Unless your AM receiver has an extendable antenna, it will not be able to pick up an AM signal consistently. OR, you could install an external antenna outside the train...like your road vehicle has.
Sorry, there was a problem. Please try again later.You may run into interference with this as well - AM is AM. You have 14 days to return to Best Buy, however.
Sorry, there was a problem. Please try again later.We use this at the gym, and the AM comes in pretty well, but we do get poor reception in certain areas, where there is a lot of overhead wiring.
Sorry, there was a problem. Please try again later.This Digital AM/FM radio is still a Terrestrial Radio Receiver. with 20 station presets (5 AM, 10 FM, 5 weather band). any Terrestrial Radio Receiver is susceptible to interference from man-made obstacles like your train, as well as land based obstacles such as mountains and tunnels. AM Radio has a stronger signal than FM and will carry farther.
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