Is the reception comprised with the shortie antennas?
In a word, yes. Always.
Yeah, that was two words, but pick one.
Ideally, for EM signal transmission you need a good broadcast signal, through an antenna of the appropriate length to match the wavelength of the frequency you're broadcasting.
then you need propagation - signal goes through vacuum best, air second, rocks worst at most radio frequencies.
THEN you need a receiving antenna of the appropriate wavelength to match that of the transmitter. Or a fractional wavelength.
Say, you're transmitting FM at 100 mHz, you need a 3 meter antenna for best reception. a 3 meter antenna will give you CLOSE to a 1:1 correspondence of signal reception (SWR or Standing Wave Ratio). A HALF-wavelength antenna will work, with fewer decibels signal reception, a quarter-wavelength antenna will too, and so on. Mfrs frequently try and beat the physics of this fact with coils. Like taking a 3meter length of 16 gauge wire and coiling the first 2 meters into a single layer coil, or "choke." This too will work, and it's how most car antennas (and a lot of ham and CB radio antennas are made). When properly "tuned" (standing wave ratio is as close to 1:1 as possible), we put 'em on our trucks.
Sometimes, the shorty antennas WILL work, within a reasonable broadcast range and that's why most radio stations broadcast in the tens of thousands of watt range for best long-range signal reception (usually line-of-sight), so a pocket AM/FM radio will work just fine.
That's part of the story anyway.
Yeah, I'm a ham, been licensed most of ten years, grew up around it. May not be explaining it as well as I'm trying, but hopefully you're getting the idea.
Norm