01-10-2010, 02:36 PM
A TV antenna does not make a good, efficient antenna for AM signals. Old radios such as the Model 111 were designed for use with a long wire antenna, erected outdoors, 50 to 100 feet in length and built as high as possible and as far from outside utility wires as possible.
In this day of neighborhood associations and such, however, erecting an outdoor longwire is not always possible. An acceptable substitute is to run a piece of thin wire, 25 feet or so in length, around the baseboard of the room the radio is in. One end connects to the ANT terminal on the radio; the other end does not connect to anything.
As for a ground, I suggest you find the main water line coming into your home. If it is metal, connect a clamp to the pipe and a wire to this clamp (being careful to not damage the pipe in any way). This will serve as a ground. If the water line is not metal, though, this will not work. Others will chime in with suggestions, I am sure. The utility ground may be OK.
In this day of neighborhood associations and such, however, erecting an outdoor longwire is not always possible. An acceptable substitute is to run a piece of thin wire, 25 feet or so in length, around the baseboard of the room the radio is in. One end connects to the ANT terminal on the radio; the other end does not connect to anything.
As for a ground, I suggest you find the main water line coming into your home. If it is metal, connect a clamp to the pipe and a wire to this clamp (being careful to not damage the pipe in any way). This will serve as a ground. If the water line is not metal, though, this will not work. Others will chime in with suggestions, I am sure. The utility ground may be OK.
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Ron Ramirez
Ferdinand IN
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