Best Long Range AM Radio for DXing: My CCRadio 2E Review
After several years of using the C. Crane CCRadio 2E in a rural area far from most AM transmitters, it remains my top choice for long-range AM reception and DXing. Its 8-inch Twin-Coil Ferrite antenna is especially effective at pulling in weak and distant stations, and the external AM antenna terminals provide another way to improve reception.
The CCRadio 2E is larger and more expensive than an ordinary portable radio, but it also offers clear spoken-word audio, FM, NOAA Weather Radio, the 2-meter amateur band, and excellent D-cell battery life. For listeners whose first priority is AM reception, it is the radio I would buy again.
CCRadio 2E Quick Verdict
Best for: Long-range AM reception, DXing, rural listening, talk radio, weather information, and emergency preparedness
Why I recommend it: Excellent internal AM antenna, external antenna terminals, strong spoken-word audio, and long battery life
Main drawbacks: Relatively expensive and large for a portable radio.
Bottom line: If AM reception is your priority, the CCRadio 2E remains my top pick.
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CCRadio 2E Pros and Cons
Pros
- Excellent long-range reception
- 8-inch Twin-Coil Ferrite AM antenna
- 1 kHz tuning resolution for weak or crowded stations
- External AM antenna terminals
- FM, NOAA Weather Radio, and 2-meter amateur reception
- Clear spoke-word audio
- Long battery life from four D cells
- AC operation included
Cons
- More expensive than most portable AM/FM radios
- Large and fairly heavy
- Only five presets per band
- No Bluetooth; the CCRadio 3 adds that feature
- No shortwave reception
Why the CCRadio 2E Has Such Good AM Reception
Superior AM Radio Band Antenna for DXing
Its 8-inch twin-coil ferrite antenna.
One of the most important factors in good AM reception is the antenna. The C. Crane CCRadio 2E has an internal 8-inch ferrite bar antenna and uses C. Crane’s Twin-Coil Ferrite technology. Based on my experience, it is exceptionally effective at pulling in weak and distant AM stations.
This antenna is one of the main reasons I consider it an excellent radio for long-range AM DXing. It is exceptional at pulling in distant stations.
There are also terminals for an external AM antenna. This enables connection to other antennas, such as the ‘TERK AM Advantage’, which I wrote about in the following article:
👉 TERK AM Advantage Antenna Review
Superior Audio Quality
The audio circuitry and hardware have been tuned for the human voice, which makes a big difference in how it sounds.
This AM radio has the best-sounding audio I’ve heard in this category. It has a 5-inch, 6-watt speaker and audio tuned for the spoken word.
Even on my older C. Crane radio, the audio quality was noticeably better than on most comparable portable radios.
The Bass and Treble controls allow you to equalize the sound to your liking. It sounds very solid. Given my previous career in the audio industry, I especially appreciate the radio’s clear spoken-word audio and adjustable bass and treble controls.
Additional Bands and Features
FM and NOAA Weather Radio
The telescoping antenna is used for FM, NOAA Weather Radio, and the 2-meter amateur band. The CCRadio 2E receives all seven NOAA Weather Radio channels and includes an alert function for emergency broadcasts.
2-Meter Amateur Band
The radio also receives the 144–148 MHz 2-meter amateur band. This band is widely used by ham radio operators, including trained emergency-communications volunteers who may assist public-safety and relief organizations during disasters.
I have programmed several local repeater frequencies into mine and verified that the scanning and squelch functions work well.
Tip: To begin scanning the saved 2-meter frequencies, press the ‘Up’ and ‘Down’ tuning buttons at the same time.
Tip: To adjust the squelch setting, press and hold the main tuning knob for 3 seconds until the display changes. Then slowly turn knob clockwise through 12 (increasing squelch settings).
Additional Features
It is battery-powered (four D-cells) and AC-powered. The radio will run approximately 170 hours at a moderate volume level with the display light and weather alert feature off.
Other features include memory presets for each band, a clock, a sleep timer, a headphone jack, line input and line output, and an adjustable display light.
Let me expand on the display light. This is a nice touch and something I’ve not seen in other similar-class radios. The green LED-backlit display has several brightness settings. Its dimmest setting works especially well for nighttime listening.
CCRadio 2E Controls and Connections
The following photos show the CCRadio 2E controls and connection points.
I have owned my CCRadio 2E for several years, and it is still working well. My opinion of its AM reception has not changed. It is likely the best or one of the best long range AM radios in its class for DXing in the AM Radio band.
How Far Can an AM Radio Receive?
During the day, AM reception mainly relies on ground-wave propagation. Depending on transmitter power, frequency, terrain, ground conductivity, interference, and receiver quality, reception is generally local or regional.
After sunset, AM signals can also travel by skywave propagation, reflecting from the ionosphere and reaching listeners hundreds of miles away. Under favorable nighttime conditions, powerful AM stations can sometimes be heard 500 miles away or farther.
This nighttime propagation is where a sensitive radio such as the CCRadio 2E becomes especially useful for DXing.
How to Improve Long-Range AM Reception
Rotate the entire radio slowly while listening. Its internal ferrite antenna is directional, and a small change in orientation can strengthen one station while reducing interference from another.
Place the radio near a window and away from LED lights, battery chargers, computers, televisions, inverters, and other electronics that can generate AM interference.
For the greatest listening range, try after sunset. An external tuned loop antenna, such as the TERK AM Advantage, can also improve weak-signal reception.
Tuning note: When tuning a very weak station, I sometimes hear the apparent signal level rise and fall briefly before it settles. This appears to be the receiver’s automatic gain control responding to the weak signal and is normal operation.
Is the CCRadio 2E Worth It?
The CCRadio 2E costs more than an ordinary portable AM/FM radio, but it is designed for listeners who place a high priority on reception quality. After several years of ownership, mine is still working well, and my opinion of its AM performance has not changed.
I live in a rural area far from many AM transmitters, and the CCRadio 2E does an impressive job of receiving distant stations, especially after sunset. Its clear spoken-word audio, NOAA Weather Radio, long D-cell battery life, and external antenna terminals also make it useful for emergency preparedness.
For someone mainly interested in strong long-range AM reception, it remains the radio I would buy again.
→ Check Price & Availability of the C. Crane CCRadio 2E
Tip: An article about an inexpensive but decent little AM pocket radio:
I’ve added several AM Radio Station lists you can download (PDF). Sorted it in various ways…
50,000-Watt AM Radio Station Lists
I created several printable lists of 50,000-watt AM radio stations for DX listening. The stations are sorted by call sign, frequency, state, and city.
The frequency-sorted list is particularly useful when trying to identify an unfamiliar station. Most AM stations announce their call letters near the top or bottom of the hour.
(Right-click, then ‘Save as’ if you want to save the PDFs)
50 Thousand Watt AM Radio Stations sorted by call-sign, frequency, state, and city.
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