Strenghten radio signals?

I have had a little success with extra wire onto the antenna but find the loose end is sometimes better if the wire is bared and wound round something metal leading into the ground like an earth. Gas pipe. Or depending on wavelengths an outside long wire for medium (am) down the garden high up or round the loft. The old transistor portables had to be turned to strengthen the signal or put against anything metal (like the wire on a pipe)If this has an earth socket in the back, fasten a wire from it onto an earth pipe outside if poss or any metal going to earth,can sometimes work better next to a window.
Hope any of these ideas work for you

andre
September 2007