Make sure that one of the selection buttons is pushed down all the way.

To improve your AM reception, ground the radio by attaching heavy wire from the ground screw on the back of the radio to a ground rod or cold water pipe. For further improvement, try an AM-LOOP antenna such as Radio Shack model 15-1853. To improve FM reception, first try an inexpensive basic 'dipole', such as Radio Shack model 42-2385 or one of their more sophisticated amplified antennas if needed.

Be sure to use the 23 foot, long wire antenna that came with the radio. Fully unroll it and string it up as high as you can safely reach. Run it along your curtain rods and across windows for best results. For further improvement, use an outdoor long-wire antenna such as Radio Shack model 278-758 or one of the many professionally engineered shortwave antennas available on the market (contact Grundig support for details on these).