Does the amount of voltage on the grid of the oscillator coil determine the sensitivey, or does something else make the set more or less sensitive? How about the antenna's? inductance or capacitance? Also when the set has an adjustable oscillator coil and/or adjustable padder why does changing the adjustment change the level of reception? Has it got something to do with the resonance? What can be done with the low end adjustments to make the stations track right & still have good sensitivity? If the set has good sensitivity, sometimes the tracking is WAY OFF! I've noticed that the dial is marked with 550 ALMOST at the end,(maybe a 1/6"). Then there is NO room for 540 K.C. Any ideas from someone----ED???? Here's a good one for you!

A negative voltage on the oscillator grid shows it's operating. This voltage varies when tuning and by type of circuit. It's usually either good or not there, seldom makes a difference in sensitivity.

Padder is used to peak up low end of the dial. Tune in a station around 550 adjust padder while rocking tuning back and forth. Set for strongest signal.

If tracking isn't correct IF Frequency is mot likely set wrong. It set high stations will be compressed on the dial, low spread too far.

Oscillator operates the IF frequency above a station being received. If the IF is set high the oscillator operates on higher frequencies. Higher frequencies require less capacity change to cover a range of frequencies.

May be hard to understand but look at a FM tuner. FM is much higher in frequency than AM broadcast. FM tuner only requires a few plates to cover the band.

Norm

: Does the amount of voltage on the grid of the oscillator coil determine the sensitivey, or does something else make the set more or less sensitive? How about the antenna's? inductance or capacitance? Also when the set has an adjustable oscillator coil and/or adjustable padder why does changing the adjustment change the level of reception? Has it got something to do with the resonance? What can be done with the low end adjustments to make the stations track right & still have good sensitivity? If the set has good sensitivity, sometimes the tracking is WAY OFF! I've noticed that the dial is marked with 550 ALMOST at the end,(maybe a 1/6"). Then there is NO room for 540 K.C. Any ideas from someone----ED???? Here's a good one for you!
:

:A negative voltage on the oscillator grid shows it's operating. This voltage varies when tuning and by type of circuit. It's usually either good or not there, seldom makes a difference in sensitivity.
:
:Padder is used to peak up low end of the dial. Tune in a station around 550 adjust padder while rocking tuning back and forth. Set for strongest signal.
:
:If tracking isn't correct IF Frequency is mot likely set wrong. It set high stations will be compressed on the dial, low spread too far.
:
:Oscillator operates the IF frequency above a station being received. If the IF is set high the oscillator operates on higher frequencies. Higher frequencies require less capacity change to cover a range of frequencies.
:
:May be hard to understand but look at a FM tuner. FM is much higher in frequency than AM broadcast. FM tuner only requires a few plates to cover the band.
:
:Norm
:
:: Does the amount of voltage on the grid of the oscillator coil determine the sensitivey, or does something else make the set more or less sensitive? How about the antenna's? inductance or capacitance? Also when the set has an adjustable oscillator coil and/or adjustable padder why does changing the adjustment change the level of reception? Has it got something to do with the resonance? What can be done with the low end adjustments to make the stations track right & still have good sensitivity? If the set has good sensitivity, sometimes the tracking is WAY OFF! I've noticed that the dial is marked with 550 ALMOST at the end,(maybe a 1/6"). Then there is NO room for 540 K.C. Any ideas from someone----ED???? Here's a good one for you!
::
: Thanks Norm for the wonderful help on this subject. When I was in school people used to give me sets to work on. What I would do is align up the low end by adjusting the I.F.'s. Then I would align up the high end with a little "screw" on the side of the tuner. The sets were in perfect alignment on both ends. Now after going to electronic school, a new twist came up. Our wonderful I.F.'s. When we set the I.F.'s at school, we didnt have any strong stations close by to hear the "birdie whistle" on the low end. We had an EICO 324 sig. gen. that the school bought(factory-made) along with a lot of other EICO's. My 324 was a kit that I bought & then had it checked on a FLUKE frequency counter when I worked at a test equipment repair place. Then I checked a 1570 station & found out that the image came in at 660 K.C. BUT---- it was still slightly off 660 K.C. (just a HAIR). Then I would go to the high end & set 1420 (a very weak station in Mankato) until I got the loudest signal, then leave it there. Then I rechecked the 324 & by adjusting the "coil" I got it in line again with the "birdie whistle". Now when I use the 324 on other sets, & adjust the I.F.'s, the low end is "off". I keep thinking electronics is ACCURATE. Your posting made a LOT of sense & technically it would/should/is/correctly be right. Maybe I'm just an over-fanatic person for accurcy. Our instructor told us in electronic school that math is an exact science. I still believe in that. Here's a joke: The only way that 1+1=3 is if a couple has a BABY!!!! Thanks again for the detailed help. Maybe you & ED should join forces & start your own buisness. According to his web posting he is a retired manufacturing engineer. No wonder he knows so much. He is a super knowlegable person! I just saw his thing on some posting today. Darn I learn something on this forum all the time.
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