BBC Long wave reception in Europe

[Guest Chris]

We use a small Roberts multiwave radio while we are away in Europe which works fine in N. France. Without drilling holes in the body work is there a way of improving the reception as we go further south? Will the body of the Mhome screen the radio signal? We have tried trailing a bit of wire attached to the telescopic aerial out of the window but it does not seem to have much effect. Any ideas welcome! Chris

[Guest Clive]

I would be tempted to meddle! Most radio,s of this type use the telescopic whip for VHF FM reception but will have a Ferrite rod with several coils on it inside for medium and long wave reception. This is why your bits of wire don't work on long wave. Take the back off the radio and wrap say a dozen turns of thin insulated wire around the ferrite rod. Bring the two ends of this "winding" out through a gap in the case. Now, when you park up connect one end of the winding to the Vehicle chassis and the other end to as much wire you can sling up a tree. This has a fighting chance! Lets us know how the experiments go. Good luck Clive

[Guest bb]

We have the same problem, so will try that too. Should this also improve the MW reception? Just thinking ahead to June, the World Cup, and persuading OH we can go abroad and pick up Radio5. We can pick up R5 some of the way through France, usually better on the van radio than the Roberts. Would a similar system work on the external fixed cab radio aerial, or would we need to get inside the works? Thanks for the advice.

[Guest Mel E]

I picked up TMS (Test Match Special for the unitiated) on Radio4 LW perfectly throughout France last summer as far south as Cap D'Agde. How? On the standard manufacturer fitted car radio in our Renault Master. But, I accept that may be a slightly expensive solution!