Magic Carpet ??

[pilotlight]

I have a small am / fm battery operated ( or alternatively wind up ) radio in my dining room. It has never provided good reception, even after re-siting it in various places. I have had to turn it to different angles every so often.
Recently, I had a new carpet fitted in this room. The following morning upon switching on the radio - Wonder upon wonders, the radio was blasting out perfect reception, and is now actually too loud on the lowest setting.
Is there some AB'er out there on this category that can provide an explanation, or would I need to go to the eggheads in Science.

[Togo]

It sounds to me as though the carpet is acting as a sort of screen to block whatever was causing the poor reception. Possibly electrics wiring or even plumbing pipework. Alternatively it could be acting as a giant reflector and rather than the radio waves passing through or being attenuated by the original flooring, your new carpet is containing them allowing the radio antenna to receive a stronger signal. I wonder what your new carpet or underlay is made from. Interesting.

[Hopkirk]

It might be pure coincidence that they turned on a new transmitter at the same time as the carpet was changed.

[pilotlight]

Thanks for that Togo. Only the carpet has been replaced, apparently it is 100 % polypropylene.

[Prudie]

Did you change the position or remove anything else from the room when you had the new carpet down? my kitchen radio is badly affected if other electrical items are near it - food mixers, phones charging etc

[Old_Geezer]

Perhaps they accidently knocked it to the floor while you were out of the room, and put it back before you noticed.

[Hopkirk]

Alternatively the radio has always had a dicky connection. The carpet fitter knocked it over accidentally, reconnecting it (or he knows a bit about radios and fixed it)

[Hopkirk]

Is there a switch to alternate between battery or wind up operation. If so, the fitter moved the switch. Alternatively he put some new batteries in it.

[Togo]

Polypropylene is a very low electrical conductivity material and will therefore act as a screen to reduce interference or a block on radio waves to reduce dissipation.

[Togo]

Ta Pilot. I will tuck that BA under the carpet. :))