Alfa Radio with poor reception

["Graham Hilder" <graham.hilder@domain.elided>]

Re Jim's posting in No.1478, Jim is right that most radios do have an =
antenna trim screw.  Usually accessed either through a small hole in the =
back or side as Jim described, but quite often with a long thin screwdriver=
 through the front once you open the cassette-door and shine in a slim =
torch.

But note that trimming this only improves your AM reception, i.e. MW band. =
(Do they still have AM in America?  AM =3D Ancient Modulaton..... no only =
kidding).  This trimmer won't help your FM reception at all.
It can make a really dramatic improvement to your AM reception though..... =
extra stations start appearing as if by magic when a misadjusted trim is =
corrected.    Set it by tuning the radio to a weak AM station up near the =
top of the dial, about 1400kHz, and trimming for maximum smoke, as the =
saying goes. Use the weakest station you can hear, as too strong a one =
will prevent the volume from changing as you trim (the AGC will just hold =
it constant).=20

If you're really concerned about getting the optimum distant-station AM =
reception your set can provide, there's an extra trimming detail to watch =
out for. You need to be sure the trim range available is enough to cope =
with your particular antenna and coax. Otherwise, even when you peak it =
up, you still won't be getting the best from the radio because the input =
still isn't optimally trimmed. To identify if you have that problem, turn =
the trimmer slowly through an entire revolution, and see if the volume =
peaks at two points on the circle, not at just one. If it peaks at two, =
you're fine. If at one only, then the trimmer has run out of range, and to =
optimise the trim you need to open up the set and add or remove some caps =
from the area of the trim cap, to offset its range. It's a bit fiddly and =
only worth while if you're a really dedicated long-range AM listener !

Best regards,=20
Graham in NZ.=20
GTV, Alfetta GT, 3 x Alfa Sud=20

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