I just tried to scan the AM radio band

[Bill in NC]

As a kid my boombox had the SW bands.

Used to listen to Radio Moscow extolling how many metric tons of wheat were harvested that month.

Les Nessman's farm reports must have been more exciting.

[cbelt3]

Ooh…. Night time clear channel AM and pirate radio stations….

[Bixby]

Telescopic antennas are typically only used for FM. If it's helping reception at all it's likely due to induction.

Most portables use a small ferrite rod for AM, which are usually only decent for local reception during the day.

[Tiangou]

I get a kick out of the AM radio in my car.

With the right conditions, I can listen to radio stations up to about 400 miles away. Some of them are familiar and comforting voices from home.

[Lux Interior]

I was driving home early Sunday morning through Bakersfield
Listening to gospel music on the AM radio station
And the preacher said, you know you always have the Lord by your side
And I was so pleased to be informed of this that I ran
Twenty red lights in his honor
Thank you Jesus, thank you Lord

Well the preacher kept right on saying that all I had to do was send
Ten dollars to the church of the Sacred Bleeding Heart Of Jesus
Located somewhere in Los Angeles, California
And next week they'd say my prayer on the radio
And all my dreams would come true
So I did, the next week, I got a prayer with a girl
Well, you know what kind of eyes she got, well I'll tell ya

[btfc]

So if you’re down on your luck…

[JoeH]

Tiangou wrote:
I get a kick out of the AM radio in my car.

With the right conditions, I can listen to radio stations up to about 400 miles away. Some of them are familiar and comforting voices from home.

I recall listening to WTOP out of DC 20 or so years ago as I drove home from work late at night here in W. MA. At some point their format was changed and I stopped tuning in. Looking it up now apparently the AM station changed call signs and later was dropped by the current WTOP owners.