am/fm radio experts or amateurs

tomh.

I drive a delivery truck with no amenities.  So I have a portable radio stuffed in a channel above the door.
It's a Sangean digital little thing that runs on batteries.  I can pick up local stations fine, it's loud enough.
BUT, if I'm travelling North or South, it's pretty much silence.  Turn the corner and back to loud & clear.
 (And, no Don, driving East and West all day isn't an viable option.)
Does anybody have any experience with this phenomenon?  And more specifically, does anyone have a radio brand or model suggestion that will solve my dilemma/first world problem?
I don't want a giant boom box thing or one of those big contractor radios.  The smaller-the better.

love2shoot

Headphones?

montanajoe

Your truck is both an antenna and block for your  little radio.  You have figured out which direction does what.  You need to relocate the radio to get good reception in all directions.  Good luck.

nmyers

AM signals may work at great distance, depending upon atmospheric conditions & the orientation of your antenna; most radios have a bar antenna inside, which is why rotating the entire radio sometimes helps reception.  FM is basically line-of-sight.  If you had a more expensive radio, it would likely have an antenna jack (for an RCA antenna wire); they make an inexpensive antenna that will stick on the inside of your windshield.

I'm guessing that drilling a hole in a front fender for a permanent antenna isn't an option.

Neal

bustedknee

Mag mount antenna (87.5 - 108 mhz) on the center of the roof and a radio with an antenna connection.

The antenna placed anywhere else will be directional.

truthful

Are there railroad tracks nearby, or overhead high tension power lines? Either can wreck havoc with radio signals. When I head into town, as I approach the railroad crossing my Jeep's radio becomes impossible. But, as soon as I cross the tracks, it is crystal clear.

varian

most of those small radios have a small fairly directional radio on the inside.  i remember having to rotate them for best reception back when they first became popular.  having it inside your truck is like putting a candle under a garbage can for light.

Rocky Raab

I think you'd be better off to put it up on the dash. You still may have to rotate it to get the best signal, but at least glass is transparent to radio waves.

tomh.

I listen to both am and fm.  
FM is overall better, but still quiets North & South.
if I was sitting on the patio, I'd just turn the thing and no problems.
The radio doesn't have an antenna jack.  It wasn't the cheapest radio ever, but it's still just a little chinese transistor radio.
I can't modify the truck.  Although.  SHHH!  I tapped the light circuit so I don't have to buy Energizer stock.
That's one reason the radio is where it is.
I'll try moving it to the dash and see if that gets me anywhere.