Strange this came up . I bought two radios off eBay for $18 each . Yes from China . Mainly to use as bedside clock / radio . I connected the area to outside motorhome areal and it works fine .. Admitedly the motorhome is 2:5m high with arial in top . Shortwave etc too . This time cheap payed off !!

There are some radio stations near that frequency that are community run and transmit on low power, for example in Toowoomba PowerFM transmits on 88.0Mhz whilst 10km to the north the same station now called Highfields PowerFM transmits on 87.8Mhz. Both are low power stations only meant to be heard in Toowoomba OR Highfields. The low power means you cannot hear the Highfields station in Toowoomba and vice-versa. Possibly this is the problem.

Good Luck.

thanks all for the help
cheers snap

Is your radio hard-wired snap1946 ? If so, check it's earth.