Hi all...This is a early 70's solid state am/fm/ radio.I bought it for my Mom over 30 years ago, and she told me it no longer gets FM. It always worked well without antenna. I had to hook up dipole, and adjust the tuner trimmer to get anything. When strong station is tuned in, and volume turned up, she breaks up, with intermittent sound...with lower volume its ok. I don't know much about solid state...has anyone worked on this before? AM works fine.
thanks AL

I guess My question is a bit cloudy. How does this set get FM reception...I don't see any type of dipole? I don't have schematic. And why would the reception on FM go south suddenly? Could it be transistor? thanks AL

Sometimes it best to post a picture since many people, like myself, don't remember most radios by just their model number. I found this picture on ebay.

I've had three of these models each found at yard sales. Nice radios to have in an office situation at work for example. Each of mine had seriously dirty bandswitches and controls. I'd start by cleaning them.

The radio has a connection in the back for a diplole antenna. Alternatively, you can use the built-in antenna which is a metal clip clamped around the line cord that attaches to one of the dipole connections.

Dave

Thanks...My radio does not have the clip you speak about. Is the clip supposed to connect to one side of the line cord? I have seen them used, but never investigated where they connect.
thanks AL

The "clip" I spoke of is a metal piece clamped around the line cord attached at about 8" from where the cord leaves the cabinet and connects to one of the screws of the antenna terminal with it's spade lug. I still have two of these radios but they are currently in storage. Otherwise I would take a picture.

If yours dosen't have this, maybe they just supplied a wire antenna. Alternatively, they may have just used a small cap going to one side of the line inside the cabinet. These radios were sold for quite a number of years so it is possible they changed the design several times.

Dave

When I link the two antenna connections together, it improves reception. Does this make sense? Connected on the other side of these screw connections is a small disc cap in series with coil... AL

There might be some markings by the screws. The capacitors you spotted might be a surrogate built-in antenna or possibly for AC/noise isolation or static dissipation if a wire is connected.

Got any TV "rabbit ears" or better yet, an outdoor antenna that uses the old-style flat twinlead for the wire? Try hooking either of those up, or try about a 3' piece of wire on each screw and maneuver them about for a good signal. You need to be broadside to the direction of the station you want. This is known as a "balanced" or "dipole" antenna if you want to google up on the subject.

To sort of duplicate the clamp-on type Dave mentioned, try a few inches of any wire off either antenna screw and just wrap it a few times around the outside of the AC cord. Note you do not ever connect an antenna directly to the copper in the AC wire. These types of antennas go on the outside of the insulation and don't connect electrically except only at the screw terminal on the back of the radio. Just trying to make that distinction clear!

You do have strip some wire insulation off your short wire to connect it to the screw. The clamp-on type has some cardboard to help protect the AC cord and has a built-in screw attachment lug. You'd call this type an "inductive" antenna.

A picture would probably describe it all quicker, but I'm lazy!

These "modern" desktop sets can sometimes be of very good quality.

-Ed

Since the radio already has a cap going to the AC line, I'm not sure if wrapping a wire around the line cord will be effective but the "rabbit ears" idea might be what it needs.

Dave

I'm not familiar with these sets, but he mentioned the caps went to a coil, not the AC line, so anything's possible, but I was sorta guessing there wasn't an internal linkup to a linecord antenna.

If it used to have a clamp-on type, there might still be a visible crimp or bend in the AC cord as a telltale clue.

For sure any decent external antenna will work as well or better unless you're next door to the station.
-Ed

Yes, you're probably right. I've seen arrangements where the antenna connection is permanently connected to the line with a cap and a coil, but they were on the PC board, not behind the terminals like he says. It's hard imagining what the set-up is without seeing the set in person.

Dave

Now when the volume is high, it skips ! You hear every other word, if someone is talking....Low volume is ok....AM is still fine...this only happens on FM.
Any ideas? thanks AL

Filter caps may be drying up. They may still filter the hum but when asked to smooth out current surges from the audio amp, the voltage might start to bounce around. These radios, like any older transistor set, should have all new electrolytics caps for best performance. Others may disagree.

Dave