Or you might be having trouble with radio reception. Many low power AM radio stations cut their power at sundown because the FCC does not want them to interfere with other stations at night when AM signals can go farther. Even if the low power station does not cut their power the signal is often harder to get at night because of the interference of distant high power stations. You can record the station during the day and listen to the recording in the evening.

This web page covers several ways to do timed radio recording, you can use your VCR, or buy special equipment, but I will start with a method I invented.

Record Radio Programs With an Automatic Timer

You can probably figure out how to use the burglar timer yourself but as the how to series for dummies and idiots are so popular I will explain it.

1. Set the anti-burglar timer to the current time.
2. Set the on switch to the time the program begins and the off switch to the time the program ends.
3. Plug the anti-burglar timer into the wall socket.
4. Plug the power cord from your radio-tape recorder into the anti-burglar timer.
5. Place a cassette into the tape recorder.
6. Press the play and record buttons simultaneously.
7. At the proper time the anti-burglar timer will let the electricity through to the radio-tape recorder and it will record the program.

This idea will only allow you to record on one side of the tape on most radio tape recorders. You will need a two hour tape to record a one hour program, and a one hour tape to record a half hour program. Two hour tapes use a thinner tape which is more likely to jam in the machine, 90 minute tapes are the longest that is recommended by many producers of tape recorders. Catholic fans of EWTN can get along on one hour of recording for almost all their programs and many EWTN programs are a half an hour. Fans of secular talk shows will want a way to record a three hour talk show.

This burglar timer tip impressed the Pilot of the Airwaves so much that he included it on his web page. I am honored. Here is a link to the pilot's page on AM radio reception.

Radio Recording with a VCR

You can rig your VCR to your radio and use the VCR to do timed recordings. Here is is a long carefully written page on how to use a VCR to record programs by Mr. Gadget Mr. Gadget often appears on major TV networks and is apparently famous.

One advantage of my system is that the tapes can be played in your car's cassette player, while VCR tapes must be used at home.

It is often a good idea to try recording radio programs using the above tips which are free if you happen to have the equipment around the house, which many people do. But if you really get into recording programs you might want to buy equipment.

Timed Radio Recording Equipment you can buy

Radio Your Way sells portable equipment that will allow you to record radio programs. They offer two radios starting at 200 dollars. I have not tried any of them.

Hammacher Schlemmer are selling what appears to be the same equipment for 150 dollars, but they are sold out at this time January 17, 2007.

If you want to be able to do timed recordings of both AM, FM, and short-wave you might want to get the Sangean ATS 818 ACS or the Kaito KA1121.

There are no doubt many other good products out that I have not found, and more coming out all the time.

There are a number of similar products which appear to have gone off the market: Reel Talk, Radio Program Recorder, the Aiwa XRM-150, and the Aiwa CSD-EL300 CD Radio Cassette Recorder. You can read what I wrote about them and search for them on ebay, but I did not have much luck. I wonder if Aiwa has a current product in this category. Products in this category seem to become obsolete and go off the market rather quickly.