# Can I make an AM radio antenna? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 9, 2008, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-an-am-radio-antenna/444647 "2008-04-09T19:10:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Amblydoper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@Amblydoper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amblydoper)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2008, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-an-am-radio-antenna/444647/1 "2008-04-09T19:10:28Z")
I lost the AM antenna that came with my stereo when I moved. The cheapest antenna I can find costs $20. I am strapped right now, and can’t afford any extravagant expenses. It seems that the AM antenna is just a loop of wires around a plastic frame. Can I make a DIY AM antenna? If so, how? ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2008, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-an-am-radio-antenna/444647/2 "2008-04-09T19:12:40Z")
Coat hanger? ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2008, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-an-am-radio-antenna/444647/3 "2008-04-09T19:17:27Z")
I love coathanger antennae on old cars (but you don’t see it much anymore). A few people here bend them into a map of Australia, and on my first car when I was young and (slightly more) silly, mine was a devil’s trident. They work a charm too. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2008, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-an-am-radio-antenna/444647/4 "2008-04-09T19:29:34Z")
A long wire draped from one of the antenna screws ought to work fairly well, the longer the better, but since it is so easy to try just play with it a bit. If the loop antenna was connected to two screws, you should put your wire on one or the other of them (try them) but probably not on both at the same time. And don’t worry, there’s no dangerous power on these. ---
**Author:** ![Amblydoper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@Amblydoper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amblydoper)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2008, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-an-am-radio-antenna/444647/5 "2008-04-09T23:03:40Z")
Thank you for the suggestion, **Napier** , I was curious if that might work. I thought that simple closing the circuit would be enough if the signal is strong, but I did not want to fry my $600 stereo! I will try connecting a wire to one terminal when I get home. Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![mks57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@mks57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mks57)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2008, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-an-am-radio-antenna/444647/6 "2008-04-09T23:14:57Z")
The problem is making an antenna that is long enough for the AM broadcast band frequencies. There are tricks to make an antenna electrically longer, like wrapping it around a ferrite rod. Ferrite rods cost money, so a better approach is the classic oatmeal box antenna. Get an empty Quaker Oats oatmeal box, a roll of magnet wire (thin wire coated with enamel), and a tuning capacitor scrounged from an old radio. Here is a good place to start for plans: [http://www.mindspring.com/~loop\_antenna/](http://www.mindspring.com/~loop_antenna/) ---
**Author:** ![Amblydoper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@Amblydoper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amblydoper)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2008, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-an-am-radio-antenna/444647/7 "2008-04-10T02:18:42Z")
A six foot length of wire connected to the antenna terminal works, although the reception is fuzzy. This will work for the moment. (need to listen to the Rockies’ Games) I saw that link on a google search yesterday, **mks57**. I might try to build one when I have time. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2008, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-an-am-radio-antenna/444647/8 "2008-04-10T13:00:22Z")
I’ve had stereos that came with a 10 foot wire for the AM antenna. Thats all I used on radios I made years ago too. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2008, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-an-am-radio-antenna/444647/9 "2008-04-10T14:32:41Z")
I have a radio in the kitchen that has no external AM antenna (at least none that I can see). I get _slightly_ better reception if I move its direction on the counter, and _much_ better reception if I stand next to it and waggle my arm in the air. While effective, it does make chopping veggies problematic. Is there anything I can build/install that will have the same effect? I have space on the top of the cabinets to put a loop or oatmeal box or jumble of wire, but it will have to amplify the signal without entering the radio. Is that possible?