HD Radio Question

[Gene Howe]

We like to listen to AM at night. We're located in an area that sucks for reception, so maybe HD is the answer?
Does HD allow one to receive distant stations?
Where can I get info on which stations are HD?
Thanks, folks.

[Brian Elfert]

Digital transmissions generally travel less distance than analog transmissions. Digital will simply fail to work at some point instead of getting staticy like regular AM or FM radio.

[Lee Schierer]

Your answer is probably a longer length antenna for your receiver. Lower cost radios have a small antenna that will receive strong signals. Better radios will have a place for an external antenna. These ideally should be connected to a properly protected external antenna. The wire wrapped around the plastic hoop isn't much better than the internal antennas. What you need is a long wire antenna outside of the building for maximum signal pick up. Be aware that AM signals will drift as the ionosphere changes at night.

Or switch to satellite.

[del schisler]

here is how to find out how long the wire has to be. I am a ham radio operator . Here is a example of a station 1.590 mc . Don't forget to put the dot in after the 1. A follow up for a radio station with a freq. of 1.590 mc the footage is 299.33 feet. http://www.crompton.com/wa3dsp/hamradio/antcalc.html

[Lee Schierer]

here is how to find out how long the wire has to be. I am a ham radio operator . Here is a example of a station 1.590 mc . Don't forget to put the dot in after the 1. A follow up for a radio station with a freq. of 1.590 mc the footage is 299.33 feet. http://www.crompton.com/wa3dsp/hamradio/antcalc.html

Couldn't you also use the quarter wavelength which would be 147 feet, understanding that the half wave or full wave length would be better, but eve a 1/4 wavelength would be an improvement over the built in antennas?

[Gene Howe]

Thanks guys.
I used that calculator for AM 1100 and got .46 feet. Did I do it right?

[Rich Engelhardt]

1100 is Khz (kilohertz)
The calculator uses Mhz (megahertz)
Enter 1.1 -> 1.1Mhz = 1100 Khz

[Bill Cunningham]

We used to use 468/freq. in Mhz = length 1/2 wave dipole at that freq.. Simple, and you can practically do it in your head..
VE3HHW (not too active anymore though)