THE UK’s LEADING VINTAGE RADIO REPAIR AND RESTORATION CENTRE
If you want to enjoy tuning around the short wave bands on your vintage radio, you will need an external aerial plugged into the back of your radio. A length of wire strung around the room will give you some results but, to pick up the far way DX stations, you will need an outside aerial. The diagram below shows an ideal arrangement, but any length of wire strung up outside the house will be pretty good.
For the best results, the wire should be as high as possible. Some radio manufacturers used to say that the wire should be no more than 50 feet long. This was because a longer aerial might overload the radio's front end when receiving strong stations, which might cause problems. There are many shortwave radio stations transmitting from all over the world, and tuning around the short wave bands can be fascinating. You will find that the 13 - 16 - 19 - 21 - 25 and 31 metre bands are usually good during daylight hours. At night, the 41 - 49 - 60 - 75 and 90 metres bands come alive. Medium wave is also good during darkness with stations coming in from far way places. |
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If I happen to be away or I don't answer immediately, I'll probably only be a few minutes. I'm usually in the workshop from 7am until early evening, except for weekends. |
READ THIS IMPORTANT WARNING NOTICE ONLY BUY A RESTORED RADIO FROM A COMPETENT RADIO ENGINEER Many early mains radios have a live chassis. That means that the metal work inside the radio may be LIVE (connected to the mains) and it can KILL YOU if you come into contact with it. Exposed screws or any other metal work on the outside of the cabinet or fascia of the radio must be checked for safety by a competent engineer. DO NOT CONNECT EXTERNAL WIRING TO SOCKETS ON YOUR RADIO UNLESS THE RADIO HAS BEEN CHECKED AND CERTIFIED AS SAFE BY A QUALIFIED ENGINEER |
