How to Get Good AM Radio Reception in a Golf Cart

Getting good AM radio reception in a golf cart can be a tall order, since golf carts are typically run on electric batteries, and AM radios suffer from interference issues from most things electric. That said, there are a few ways to improve the quality of the AM reception in your golf cart. The good news is that buying a new radio is the last resort, since a good radio is likely to have the same problems as a cheap one.

Things You'll Need

  • 3-foot copper wire
  • AM antenna
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Instructions

    • 1

      Park the golf cart, when possible, away from buildings, trees, or other obstructions that may prevent the AM signal from reaching your radio. Even having your golf cart pointing in the wrong direction--such as north instead of south--can affect the reception, so test the best direction to have the golf cart parked in.

    • 2

      Wrap a copper wire completely around the radio. Stand the excess wire up so that it points upward. Turn the radio on and point it in various directions to determine the direction that gets the best reception. If this doesn't work, move on to the next step. If it is difficult to wrap the wire all the way around because the radio is installed in the dash, try just wrapping it around the face on the front of the radio.

    • 3

      Install an AM radio antennae on the top of the golf cart and connect it to the radio with the accompanying wires. To do this, you may have to remove the radio from the golf cart dash and plug in the antennae cord. As you go to buy the antennae, be sure to purchase a "directional" one that can be pointed in various directions to find the place with the best signal. An even better option is to buy a "tuneable" antennae to focus on the signal you want. These can be the most expensive, but often the only reliable option.