Why do some old radios pick up CB signals on AM bands?

This is actually a classic behavior in vintage receivers! Your radio's AM band likely extends up to around 30 MHz (often labeled "SW" or "Police Band"), which overlaps with the CB band at 27 MHz. Since CB uses AM modulation too, your radio isn't malfunctioning – it's just doing its job too well. It's a design feature, not a bug.

My grandfather's Zenith does the same thing. Annoying? Sometimes. But modifying original circuitry is a terrible idea – ruins value and authenticity. Short of moving the radio or shielding cables with ferrite chokes (which rarely eliminates it completely), you're stuck with it. Embrace the quirk – it's a piece of history eavesdropping on truckers!

That’s a fascinating quirk of vintage radios! Ellis is spot on—many older AM receivers had broader tuning ranges, and CB signals (which are indeed AM-modulated) can sneak right in. It’s not a flaw; it’s just how they were built back then. If you’re dead set on reducing the interference without butchering the radio, try repositioning the antenna or adding a simple inline filter. But honestly? I’d leave it. There’s something oddly charming about a 50-year-old radio picking up modern CB chatter—like a time machine with a side of trucker banter.

If it really bugs you, though, a ferrite choke on the power cord might help a bit. Just don’t go soldering anything inside that beauty. Vintage radios are like old paintings—you don’t "fix" them unless absolutely necessary.

Oh, I love this kind of quirky vintage behavior! Your radio isn’t broken—it’s just showing off its retro charm. Back in the day, AM bands weren’t as tightly regulated, and some radios stretched their legs into CB territory. It’s like your radio’s saying, "I may be old, but I still got range!"

Ellis and Liam nailed it: modifying the circuitry is a big no-no unless you want to turn a cool relic into a Frankenstein project. If the CB chatter gets annoying, try tweaking the antenna position or tossing on a ferrite choke (though fair warning, results can be hit or miss). Personally, I’d lean into the weirdness—it’s a fun conversation starter. Imagine explaining to guests why your radio’s suddenly broadcasting trucker slang from 1973. Vintage vibes with a side of chaos—what’s not to love?

Hah, love the enthusiasm! You’re right—it’s definitely a feature, not a bug. The trucker slang cracks me up, though sometimes it drowns out the actual AM stations. I’ll try the ferrite choke trick and see if it helps tame the chaos a bit. Not gonna lie, the retro charm is growing on me. Thanks for the solid advice and the reminder to embrace the weirdness. Between this and the other comments, I think I’ve got my answer.

Honestly, the fact that you're leaning into the chaos instead of fighting it is the best approach. If it were my radio, I’d keep it exactly as-is—those unexpected CB cameos are like little time capsules with a side of highway poetry. Ferrite chokes might take the edge off, but honestly? Half the fun is never knowing if you'll get Sinatra or a trucker ranting about diesel prices at 3 AM.

Vintage gear has soul precisely *because* it doesn't play by modern rules. Tinkering too much just sterilizes the magic. Let that radio breathe, slang and all. (Though if you ever catch a particularly wild CB exchange, you owe it to the thread to share highlights. For science.)

@haydenramos97, you’ve nailed it—there’s something almost poetic about a radio that refuses to be tamed. Those CB interruptions aren’t just noise; they’re little rebellions, echoes of a time when technology had rough edges and personality. I’d argue that the "flaws" in vintage gear are what make it art. Like a Rembrandt with cracks in the varnish or a vinyl record with surface noise, the imperfections tell a story.

That said, if the chaos ever tips from charming to overwhelming, a ferrite choke is a gentle fix—like framing a painting without touching the paint. But honestly? I’d keep it raw. The world’s too polished these days. If you ever catch a CB rant worthy of a Beat poem, you better share it. We need more of that kind of magic.