Home radios?

Hence my exclusion of digital.
We are not in the boonies, car radios work fine. Merely looking for similar performance out of a bench job.

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Hi Rosco,

You say "car radios work fine" so why not follow Bob's suggestion above and simply set up a car radio maybe mounted in a small wooden or plastic enclosure. That is exactly what I have in my workshop powered from the mains by a 12v plugpak. The antenna is just outside a window.
A conventional desktop radio with built-in telescopic antenna was useless on FM as it went off-tune as I moved around...... and I live in suburbia on an elevated location!
Car radios and antennas can be had very cheaply from auto wreckers.

The average 'kitchen' or 'bedside' radios being marketed today are aimed at suburban users and are barely capable of pulling in local stations. World Band radios are available at higher prices (Jaycar have some) but can be less user friendly to select stations.

As Peter D has said, the general noise floor is getting progressively worse so an external antenna is possibly required for AM reception. A car radio will provide this.

Out from Imbil which is about 40Km from Gympie, about 180Km North from Brisbane

Thanks Michael

So far, bloody marvellous. We only have a 3 Ac block, but the rear boundary is a crystal clear little creek (a tad muddy at the mo due to a storm few days ago which topped our tank nicely)
Should have made the move years ago.

The only problem with internet is we are 4G Wireless broadband with limited download before becoming expensive so we have to watch this aspect.

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Very stylish indeed. Post-renaissance perhaps or maybe late Retro?

Certainly is Allan
I was going to follow your suggestion and plonk the old radio i ripped out of the dash of my last Landy on the kitchen bench with a plethora of wires running hither and yon (regardless of any protestations from herself),however after spotting this little number I'm sold .... :o)