The other VHF job is an old TV antenna, a phased array of two H's vertical, stacked side by side, in the frame. The forward elements are shorterr than the back ones all 4 are made from 3mm thick extruded / solid tubing.
For AM, I use a random long-wire about 60 ft long up high, to a neighbour's chimney. the down lead is 300 ohm ribbon one side uncinnected at the antenna end but to ground at the other. The wire is is tuned in with a tapped coil/rod and a vane cap on top of the Kenwood.
There are piccies at the FM Yahoo group or the antennas site.
It is NOT impossible to have an external antenn in the USA the FCC will even help you. Depends who runs your home, too, I suppose. ;-)!
Warmest,
Timbo in Oz
The Skyptical Mensurer and Audio Scrounger
Peace
