When I put my hand on my TV or radio antenna, I influence the reception. To answer this question, we got a clear signal from Dr. Kim Strong in the physics department at the University of Toronto . Basically, what you are doing is making your antenna longer - by becoming a part of it. What an antenna does is convert electromagnetic waves into a current or signal. Radio waves range between 10 centimetres and 10 metres long.
Most antennas are best at receiving and converting shorter wavelengths.
By extending the length of the antenna, you help it pick up a wider range of wavelengths, which results in a better signal. You can be on the other side of the room and still affect the signal. This strengthens the signal. Quirks and Quarks, CBC Radio To learn more about handedness, listen to Dr. Schwartz's interview with Quirks and Quarks Hear the full story in RealAudio here .