AM radio set as part of your overall kit set.

[TACAIR]

When I'm out for an extended period - more than an overnighter, I like to carry a small portable AM radio. Good for weather reports and the odd bits of news that make it through the Corporate filtering process.

My go-to radio set is the SONY SRF-59. (H/T to SWL POST for this image)

 


The SRF-59 series (yes, a series - 39, 39FP, 49, 59 etc) is one of the most sensitive AM portables I've found. The genesis of the radio set was for use as a so-called "Prison Radio" (SRF-39/39FP). These will work inside of prison buildings! Originally sold with a clear case - required by most prisons to hinder smuggling of 'contraband, the radio quickly became popular with the AM DXing crowd.

This radio set runs from a single AA cell for many hours and is quite happy to use NiMH (1.2VDC) cells as well. The 'earbud o;y' setup also helps to extend the battery life.

The radio set using a unique to SONY circuitry layout. This site (The Sony SRF-59 Tech Page (earmark.net) ) has a compete teardown, parts list and alignment instructions! This is one of very few inexpensive AM radio sets with this kind of user support.

For more photos of the circuit board layout, see Sony SRF-59 (ukradio.info. Nice site BTW

Finally, the radio (SRF-59) can be tuned for better sensitivity with little effort by moving one of the oils on the ferrite bar antenna. (see AM Broadcast Band Dxing – With A $3.50 Radio! – Dave Richards AA7EE (wordpress.com) )

For more on AM DXing and the SRF-59 in particular - see main@UltralightDX.groups.io | Search
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Make that Am radio 'better' by using a loop antenna

For folks that car camp, that is - where weight is not an issue, you can use a passive loop to increase the 'range' of your radio.

It can be simple (A super-cheap, super-easy, very effective AM radio antenna - YouTube ) using nothing more than a length of wire. The loop is held at a 90-degree angle to the internal ferrite antenna. The wire can be wound on a flat piece of cardboard when not in use.

The next step up is a roll-your-own loop antenna. This does require a variable capacitor, something that can be salvaged from a defunct radio, wire and a carboard box.
(Improve AM Radio Reception with a DIY Loop Antenna! - YouTube )
Soldering is optional.

For those that don't want to be bothered, you can purchase a commercial loop at a very reasonable price point

There are multiple commercial products to be found:
The grandaddy of these all is the Select-a-tenna



still sold by CCrane
(instructions - SELANTIN.QXD (ccrane.com))

Other, Chinese made boosters, these look very much alike as form follows function- these are passive devices, no battery/power required to work.












The Trex is popular with the AM DXing crown. I personally use the AN-200.
***
"Active loop" antennas have an amplifier in line. These have an added cost and will raise the background noise level along with any desired AM station signal. Also, many of these are engineered for Shortwave bands, so read product descriptions carefully.

SHOP AROUND - prices vary wildly by vendor

My suggestion is to make your own.

AN-200 demo
Tecsun AM Radio Broadcast Band Loop Antenna Demo - YouTube

and

SV2CZF AM Ferrite Antenna Review And Comparison With Other AM Loop Antennas - YouTube
Note the use of the Lazy Susan to shift the direction of the passive loop.


Go have some fun!

[eugenenine]

I've noticed that around us most of the AM stations are closing down, not enough listeners to sustain them. I figure there won't be any left in a few years so it may be worthwhile to invest in AM/FM/Shortwave.

[TACAIR]

I've noticed that around us most of the AM stations are closing down, not enough listeners to sustain them. I figure there won't be any left in a few years so it may be worthwhile to invest in AM/FM/Shortwave.

Most AM station that bite the dust is owing to the land the antennas are sitting on is now worth $$$$ and either the taxes kill the station or they sell the land for big bucks and get out of the biz.