What's So Special About AM Radio?

Hi there, radioheads! Here's some semi-coherent chat about my affection for AM (or, more properly speaking, AM Broadcast Band, or Medium Wave) radio.
I created this video with the KZbin Video Editor ( / editor )

[@zacharydummpfiff9837]

Nice video. The thing I like about AM is that it's the 'easiest' way of modulation, very basic, you can listen to the radio with just a wire, a diode and a headphone. THIS is magic; looking up a 'radio' page on the Internet is not.

[@marcosmza1962]

I learned to love the AM for hundreds of trips from Mendoza to Cordoba ( Argentina ) where my grandparents lived . Night trips were the most interesting because I could hear very distant stations, even Brazilian , so I understand perfectly about the magic of listening to AM. When I listen to MW I become that little boy . Thank you for your video and your words

[@richartrod]

I didn't know it was called DXing, but as a teenager in Los Angeles in the 80's I was fascinated with picking up distant AM stations from across the country on my portable radio. I would pull in KBOI in Boise, KCBS in San Francisco, KXL in Portland, KOMO in Seattle, KSL in Salt Lake City, Radio Canon (XEROK) in Cuidad Juarez, Mexico across the border from El Paso, and once I even got WLS from Chicago. Today I live in Honolulu, Hawaii and it's a bit hard to pick up any stations from the mainland.

[@ck8420]

I first got interested when I was in high school in the 1950s. I had a little crystal set with a cat whisker to tune. It was amazing that this little device could pick up stations with clarity. No loud booming sound but very clear. It was a challenge to find stations but when you did there was immense satisfaction.

[@patrickwall8517]

I remember when cars only had AM radios. I also remember a time up until about the mid 70's when about the only music on FM was classical. Back then classical was the only music considered sophisticated enough to be played on FM and believe it or not at the time there were more talk Stations on FM than AM.

[@worldwide1376]

Ran across your channel, really enjoyed your commentary. You are so right about the romance for listening to an over-the-air setup vs. the Internet.

[@draff1662]

Great intro to AM listening. The band and content tends to get discounted these days but there are lots of stations with live, local programming. DXing remains good on AM and when the skip is good you can still get amazing catches. Yes there is something romantic about pulling in a faint signal.

[@cheezervvvvv]

Well spoken. You are a terrific ambassador for the hobby. Thanks from your newest subscriber...Steve

[@Radiodog]

Thanks for the kind words, and thanks for subscribing! Best 73, Tom

[@sarahpengilley5394]

I grew up in North London UK in the 1980s and used to listen to American Armed Forces radio broadcast from Luxembourg. It was the only way I could get live American Football and Country Music.

[@SevenFortyOne]

Interesting analogy comparing radio listening/DXing to fishing. Thanks for the video - 73's!

[@radiohobbyist13]

Yes, there is a certain charm to listening to AM radio stations at night, even if their programming is available crystal clear on the internet. 👍

[@jeffking4176]

I find that when I listen to one of my favorite stations on the internet, often it’s a totally different program than what is actually being broadcast. I started DXing when I was 10. ( got out of it for many decades but started again about 2 years ago- love it). It really is interesting to see what you can come up with. 📻👍🙂‼️

[@jeffking4176]

A neighbor had a huge radio in a wooden cabinet, had a bunch of dials and each one was a different color and had names of different countries. The two antennas crossed each other and touched the ceiling. I begged and whined . He said I would not like it. Only a lot of noise. He finally gave in. The first thing I came to-” This Is Radio Moscow World Service....” I was 10years old and I was HOOKED. Mom was finally talked in to buying me a radio.1 Lloyd’s N610 am/fm (Upright) portable. That was 1972 +/-. It is still a great hobby.

[@staticradiolistening6204]

Listening to distant stations or just the unusual sounds on AM radio is fascinating to me. Your last comment if I'm understanding correctly was similar for me too

[@DailyDoing]

Tom, I just found your channel. I love your smooth radio voice, and your ability to convey information. You have a gift for conveying technical information in a very easy to understand manner. Thanks

[@GP40Milepost72]

My introduction to DXing started in 1986 with an AM-only clock radio given to me that had the old “flip-type” digital clock on it and a lighted AM dial that lit up when the radio was powered on. From Kentucky I began picking up WLS Chicago listening to a Saturday night “oldies” show and this was when the “oldies” format was strictly 50s and early 60s Rock and Roll. That music had a very unique sound on the AM band that is impossible to duplicate on any kind of equipment playing the music directly and to say there is a “romance” about it is an understatement! I later discovered WWL New Orleans, WOWO Fort Wayne, WOGL Philadelphia, and WSM Nashville all music formats at the time with that unique AM sound particularly if the song being played had reverb on the vocals. The AM signal to me enhanced the sounds of these early records. The last long distance AM station to play music in the United States besides WSM was 1530 WSAI Cincinnati which finally flipped to a talk format in 2005. While WSAI was playing music they had a 50s DooWop show that featured obscure DooWop and R&B from the late 50s and hearing the faint sound of DooWop through the late night static would literally give me chills and make me imagine cruising down a lonely country road in a ‘57 Chevy with the factory AM radio fading the DooWop in and out as the headlights gleam upon the road ahead! So yes sir to say there is a romance to this struck a chord with me! Awesome video!

[@patrickwall8517]

I grew up in St. Louis and still live there. I got into AM DXing as a child when one night I came across the Cincinnati Reds game on WLW. I miss those days because now days most games are on FM or low power AM stations. Back then most games were on clear Channel. In addition to the Reds, I could listen to the Brewers, White Sox, Cubs, Braves, Tigers, Rangers-on 2 diff stations, Twins, Royals, Indians, Red Sox, Pirates, Astros, Rockies, and Phillies, and of course the Cardinals. Now the only teams I can get on AM are the Indians, Rockies, Brewers, Cardinals, Cubs and White Sox. The Cubs and White Sox have since swapped stations. I had a good enough antenna back then that I could hear stations in Arkansas, Chicago, Kansas City, Des Moines, and WSM in Nashville during the day.

[@chasbodaniels1744]

Baseball broadcasts and local DJ Rock shows were my two major lures to listen at night.

Superbe video. I was in patagonian Argentina radio stations and People recordad us in Norway when our Sun sets more 15000 km away. We love AM.

[@seethekarma]

Very cool video man. Really appreciate all the information. I learned a lot from you. Great explanation. 👍

[@gklinger]

Bravo! That's the best summation of what it is that drives us DXers that I've ever heard and your fishing analogy is brilliant. Thank you!

[@RGC198]

Very interesting video. My first experience with the DX hobby was AM radio, which I started way back in 1963. In those days, I lived in Sydney Australia. These days, I live in Melbourne and AM radio Dxing is still a big interest with me. The first mainland USA AM station that I ever heard from here in Australia was 1120 KPNE Eugene OR USA.

[@redforrori]

You have a great voice :) Super interesting video, thank you!

[@franktillman295]

I’ve been AM radio 📻 DX ing since the late 70’s!!

[@toonz9971]

In daytime I can barely get the local AM stations. At night I can regularly get AM stations from 600 miles away and the bands are crowded! It blows my mind that so many signals are just floating around and most people have no idea about them.

[@arthurletouriste5071]

So cool, thank you for sharing your love of AM waves. I have tuned this in my car for the first time tonight and that was kind of bizarre 😄 but really Nice.

[@maplewoodsp]

I used to listen to crystal radios. I have one shaped like a space capsule, and another like a rocket ship. I spent many hours in my youth repairing dangerous tube radios. Cheers

[@brushbros]

When I was growing-up in 50's-60's there was a plethora of AM stations, and ONE FM station! It was classical of course, which suited me just fine. I like your videos very much. Thanx.

[@Funk-DX]

dear DX collegue, thank you for every word, I can underwrite all your sentences. I do DXing since 52 years and still enjoy it. We have in Europe now less countries with AM transmitters for mediumwave, so we here now in a relatively good situation to receive sometimes US- and Canada-Stations. I say congratulations to the USA to have such a colourful scene of AM stations! best wishes, the Klaus

[@Radiodog]

Thank you for the comment, Klaus. Yes, things are a bit crowded on MW here in the States, so DX can be a bit of a challenge. But even finding not-too-DX "fringey" stations can be a bit of a sport. 73, Tom

[@Funk-DX]

@@Radiodog dear Tom, thank you for the kind reply. Best wishes from Klaus in Germany

[@adriancressy8363]

I see a few comments here remind me what I did during my pimply teenage years when AM was king of music. I would "DX" stations on the weekends because we could stay up late on the weekends and I loved hearing the music of the 60's from far-away AM stations with crazy DJ's. I AM a hobby AM broadcaster with a Hamilton AM1000C on a 25 foot mast on 1620khz. It sounds just like FM on an old REAL AM radio. And it goes about 2 miles. (It's an FCC Part 15 transmitter) I have automated software to play the REAL oldies and Pop music in between many live shows. What a trip. I would love to "inherit" a REAL broadcast AM station with 1,000Watts of power.

[@nyte_owlshortwavelistening9793]

Great video, thanks!

[@gblan]

You coulda been a late night FM DJ, perfect voice.

[@jeffking4176]

Dave Smith I third it.

[@simonjones7727]

Agree, beautiful deep chest resonances. Not a common voice at all.

[@Mikexception]

Radio means distance more than horizontal. Its permanent surprise to me that good radio can hear someone transmitting in other country. DIRECT Thousands kilometers. Can also choose someone else. And like tube radio it may be a pack of copper wires steel plates, glass...a yeah, must be few little heaters... Amazing.. That is why i use 5 radios in my place - 3 tube and 2 solid. All perfect and each for different reason. And total their age is... hmmm... 267 Years. It comforts me to listen noisy sound of AM.

[@toddbates5359]

Very nice! I am glad I "stumbled" upon this! I love "DXing" AM radio at night! This is what got me into Amateur Radio!

[@prof.hectorholbrook4692]

Good. Well done. (Hector Holbrook, UK).

[@PrepperStateofMind]

Everything you said is exactly how I feel. Started with a now Vintage Sears Com/Trek II stereo AM FM alarm clock from the the 70’s

[@FrancoDX]

Great video, I too grew up on MW and LW. have an old Sony ICF-S22 pocket radio and its great for MW. I'm sure the older radios perform better on that frequency. Although I do use my Tecsun PL-360 the same way you do.

[@donavonmacallister3101]

Awesome vid learned a lot

[@hamrad88]

Awesome and informative video. Shared and thumbs up. Tom

[@Radiodog]

+hamrad88 Thanks, Tom. I'm a big fan of your videos, so your comment means a lot. 73 and happy listening!

[@troytaylor1913]

I sold around 40 AM pocket radios at the flea market last year. I live in the center of a really desolate place one of the favorite stations is 70 miles away. The next nearest station they like is 180 miles away. There are people without electricity Internet or running water and they depend on solar chargers here so AM radio is not really a hobby, they have no other choice.

[@ahmedberol]

Thanks for your vedio and your ideas 💡

[@aunumero73]

Nice introduction to MW for newbies. Best regards from France.

[@mustafa9100]

aunumero73 Bonjour! les français sont toujours fans de la radio, n'est ce pas?!

[@aunumero73]

De moins en moins

[@solidaudioTV]

AM radio is a special technology that has provided many hours of interest and enjoyment over the years. To me, even the sound characteristics of AM seem to be better suited to voices and to me provide a more interesting listening experience than a straight digital signal - so long as reception is decent. However, in the last 10-15 years the content on AM seems to be progressively deteriorating as broadcasters are migrating everything to digital and internet platforms. While there is still something intriguing about scanning the nighttime dial, most of what I hear today is the same old network syndications and advertisements one can hear 29 different ways from nearly anywhere. So my radio doesn't get used as much as it used to. The exceptions of course are those oddball, 'mom & pop', or foreign stations that don't simply repeat what everyone else is playing. I think if the industry really paid attention to how many AM listeners are still out there (and there are probably millions), they would rethink a better line-up.

[@RaysGamingChannel2003]

I still listen to AM Radio And I’m one of those people who listen to it

[@QuaaludeCharlie]

Shared and thumbs up

[@bikemmm6167]

Great video

[@simonjones7727]

AM disappearing in the UK in 2023. Very sad, many happy listening hours on simple transistor radios. The "vinyl" of radio listening.

[@finn3102]

So what is the backstory there? Is the government/s in the U.K. obsoleting AM in 2023?

[@simonjones7727]

@@finn3102 I think so, they say they have other uses for the frequencies. The trouble is that in an emergency you need fallback technologies. AM radio is great for that. FM, DAB and internet are all much more vulnerable. We had power cuts in Scotland because of a storm in 2021. No electricity for two days and thank goodness for AM and LW which were the only thing I could receive.

[@kirstinetermansen2213]

I love am,,,,

[@stevejohnson1321]

I pick up 740 CFZM most every night, even though it's almost 600 miles away.

[@robertrockwell7581]

I know this is late but I bought a TECSUN R9700 DX a couple months back. and can not pick up the shortwave because of the bad RF noise. I spend 95% of my time on A.M. love all the stations I can pick up. if this channel name has been changed too todebert that is why I bought the R9700DX after your review and a few others. now thinking of the TECSUN 330 because of sideband. shows how much I missed radio. now getting back into it. Thanks

[@canadianpsycho1867]

I can hear WCBS in my Saint Andrews, New Brunswick home basement all through the day but the signal is very weak. WBZ is usually completely clear all through the day. WEEI, WXKS, WRKO are also stations that work all through the day.

[@bretthibbs6083]

I love am radio I grew up listening to am radio especially the twins baseball games am radio was pretty much all my mom and stepdad listened to and once in awhile i will turn on my am radio on a saturday night and listen to wsm radio in nashville and i live in minnesota so i'm getting a am station 900 miles away and it's not real late it's like 7pm central time it's little faint but I still get it. the radio that I have is a radio shack multi band radio cat. number is 12-795. When I listen to am radio I go back in time

[@miguelsalami]

I liked your outdoor antenna install. IF you can find one the GE Super Radio is an Awesome Analog Long distance AM/FM radio.

[@doramilitiakatiemelody1875]

I have a Portable Sony Walkman SRF-39 with a FM radio and AM radio and I have a Tecsun pl380 with a Shortwave and Longwave and FM and AM radio and I Definitely Listen to AM radio

[@frankedwardcurry]

Very interesting video. I also love Medium and Shortwave radio and now I can listen to Radio Caroline, The World famous pirate radio station on 648 KHz AM as it now has a legal license. Some broadcasts are made from their ship, The Ross Revenge, but it is transmitted from a transmitter site at Orfordness, Suffolk, UK - formally used by the BBC.I am a hundred miles from the transmitter but receive a strong signal.You can check this out at radiocaroline.co.uk -- 73 from Frank.Cheers.

[@edlightman6947]

am radio plays the music i like . wedo doo wop music ,kqv instrumental music , wavl oldies . i live in beaver county all 3 stations are located in westmorland county

[@tiffanytharp9078]

What wiuld you all say the best AM radio would be ?? Any suggestions

[@joeschizoid7762]

Michael Moore doing a mini-documentaty on AM radio. That's a change of pace...

[@Radiodog]

Thanks for the compliment...I think.

[@raulgongora5288]

Very interesting by friend is most emotional to captar far way on the air life that on the line old fashion is more interesting.

[@mariusmanas]

Radiodog, Hi i am impresst how you are tuning the am signals with the loop antennas. I am living in Germany, and like to hier AM outside stations. Can you please give me a tip, how can i tune the radio with the loop in my car, it will be a great to hier outside Germany. Thanks.

[@charleswendt4868]

Looks like you have a DX-440. Just got one today. Had on long time ago, If I remember right it worked better than today's Tecsuns, CCrane, and I have many others. The 440 is so much better.

[@tomjones239]

The Eton Elite (and Executive) Traveler radios have excellent AM reception.

[@Cgeese]

Please help I just purchased an Icom IC7300 and can't pick up any station from 520-1700. I have AM-D but not AM I am an avid listener for am radio and I can't get radio reception . Any advice?

[@mistydavis4746]

Hello Radiodog, I am looking for an am radio for a gift. When I started looking, I didn't think it would get so confusing. :) Anyhow, the gift is for someone who is not at all interested in technology. They would however like something that is reliable and durable. A radio they can tune into am stations for their listening pleasure. It would probably be kept inside most of the time, but they might take it out into the garden, garage or perhaps even on a fishing trip as well, so a plug in power source with battery power would be ideal. In this instance, fm is not important, but am surely is. Thank you, I'd very much appreciate any suggestions you might have.

[@Radiodog]

Hi Misty...are you looking for something new? What's your budget?

[@mistydavis4746]

@@Radiodog Hello yes, I am looking for new. I'd like to keep it under 100.00. Thank you!

[@Radiodog]

@@mistydavis4746 I hear the Sangean PR-D5 (or PR-D15, which is the same radio with a handle) is a wonderful AM performer.

[@mistydavis4746]

@@Radiodog Thank you so much. I was previously looking at the C. Crane CCRadio - EP PRO. In your opinion, which would you pick and why? I just want to make the right choice for this gift.

[@Radiodog]

I don't have a PR-D5...so you must have me confused with someone else. I have an older version of the C Crane EP, which I was thinking of recommending also. Again, a nice AM unit. The EP also has a switchable antenna connection, which is helpful if you have a outdoor antenna and want to switch off the internal one.

[@raulgongora5288]

My friend thaswyou

[@Ahmed_Eid_1985]

Hi How to make antenaa for radio fm and am beacause the signal bad

[@Psycho_Sped]

WOULD YOU LIKE AM OR FM

[@ntmdisco]

Theres not many MW stations left in the UK these days. Mostly BBC national and local with one commercial national station (Absolute Radio on 1215 khz - 247 meters). Our system is slightly different from the US. AM radio over here is in 9khz steps not 10 khz what you have. I suppose some of our frequencies look a bit strange to american listeners. Example BBC Radio 5 live - 693 & 909 or 433 & 330 meters BBC Radio 4 - 198 khz long wave or 1502 meters- i dont think you use this band in america. BBC Radio Wales - 828 or 362 meters Absolute Radio - 1197 &1215 or 247/249 meters Talk Sport - 1053 & 1089 or 275/285 meters BBC Radio Hereford & Worcester - 738 khz or 406 meters. Smooth Radio - 774 khz or 385 meters Capital Gold London - 1548 khz or 194 meters.

[@carmenneumann6162]

Should I buy a radio that has only AM, it’s a older model?

[@zackmerritt2408]

I bought a Sony SRF-39 today for $8 dollars on ebay. Any tips for maximizing my Dxing Capabilities or resources i should look into as a dip my toe into this hobby. I really don’t wanna spend much money on it as part of the entice for me is doing diy and budget mods and projects.

[@Radiodog]

Thanks for the comment, and nice job on your new radio. I'd probably start with getting (or building) a passive AM loop. Inexpensive, and easy to build. I made a video on how to make one a while back. kzbin.info/www/bejne/r52YpWOsbsyontE I'm sure you'll find others that are better.

[@david.tlrave3559]

I prefer AM, medium wave to Listen to music especially at night when signal might come in suddenly roaring. But, stations i Listened to where based on European mainland to Gb, an suddenly those from Fr an from northern neighbour stopped in 2015-16 broadcasting on medium, an t Dutch also before, so i went over to internet stations, bt quality of music aint so good, an when they ran-their medium wave next to their internet service, itwad behind medium wave.!! However, if a country wants to stop another countries internet radio coming thru, it means we have Lost that station,!!

[@letitrotfuckit]

Russian music on 1710 khz

[@nickv4073]

Internet radio really make your hobby kind of pointless. I can listen to AM radio stations from anywhere in the world with perfect clarity with just a simple wifi connection.

[@jeffking4176]

Nick V I’ve wanted to listen to a station on the internet, and it wasn’t what was being aired. The radio was playing one thing, internet something totally different.( and totally generic). So there can often be a big difference.

[@nickv4073]

@@jeffking4176 Yeah, the difference is you have thousands of choices from all over the world on the internet. How many choices are on your AM radio?

[@tomjones239]

@@nickv4073 Last night the electricity went off. No internet. I sat in the dark with a flashlight and listened to AM radio. My little portable also receives shortwave, ham radio and weather. Fuck your internet radio! I can hear lightning static and tell when storms are coming. Two AA batteries last a week. I can take it fishing and get away from the aggravating cell phone. I can rig up an outdoor antenna and get news reports from distant cities a couple hundred miles away during the day. When the electricity goes off you`ll be sitting outside in the car charging your cell phone and I`ll be inside listening to a radio with batteries that won`t go dead for days...and I can also listen to shortwave broadcasts from other countries and get news, music and weather. My radio has a much better speaker too...and fits in my shirt pocket. I also love the static on AM and sleep with the radio on using rechargeable batteries. I can actually get a weather report much quicker than booting up my laptop, clicking around and typing to get a weather map. I hit three buttons on my radio beside the bed and BAM...instant weather updates and forecast. You`ll never build a crystal set or string out 500 feet of wire and make a super antenna. This is our hobby. Fuck off!

[@nickv4073]

@@tomjones239 Dude, we all have portable radios to listen to radio during blackouts. You're not special.

[@efandmk3382]

We took a cross country road trip about 5 years ago. Even then, I was surprised at how few AM stations were still out there. Every little hole in the ground town now has an FM station. You can usually find one AM station on the dial, but it is usually a high power and/or clear channel station from the largest nearby metropolitan area. AM has lost it's charm because of the programming. It is usually Jesus, right wing propaganda, and foreign language programming.. Personally, I'd rather have screws drilled into my toes than listen to that.