I have a restored and working Zenith 12H090Z, but the local FM classic station doesn't come through very well. Other radios I have restored have done fine on that station, just not this one. It is strong in other areas. Can I tweak the sensitivity to maximize that particular station somehow?

Many thanks, Alex

Look at how your antenna/radio is oriented. If you can't fix things this way, the best way to fix them is with the antenna circuit. If you align it properly and it isn't tracking well in all areas of the dial, then perhaps either you didn't align it perfectly, or it never tracked properly in the first place. It gets more and more difficult to achieve perfect tracking as you go higher in frequency. Be careful with what you do. If the circuit uses slug tuning, you may simply be able to adjust the antenna slug by giving its spring a few turns until the station comes in well. Make sure that you don't upset the oscillator while doing this. The station should come in well where it's supposed to come in.

Thomas

:Look at how your antenna/radio is oriented. If you can't fix things this way, the best way to fix them is with the antenna circuit. If you align it properly and it isn't tracking well in all areas of the dial, then perhaps either you didn't align it perfectly, or it never tracked properly in the first place. It gets more and more difficult to achieve perfect tracking as you go higher in frequency. Be careful with what you do. If the circuit uses slug tuning, you may simply be able to adjust the antenna slug by giving its spring a few turns until the station comes in well. Make sure that you don't upset the oscillator while doing this. The station should come in well where it's supposed to come in.
:
:Thomas

Alex B,

Does the radio sound distorted on the local station but OK on stations farther away? Perhaps the RF amplifier is being overloaded.

Radiodoc

::Look at how your antenna/radio is oriented. If you can't fix things this way, the best way to fix them is with the antenna circuit. If you align it properly and it isn't tracking well in all areas of the dial, then perhaps either you didn't align it perfectly, or it never tracked properly in the first place. It gets more and more difficult to achieve perfect tracking as you go higher in frequency. Be careful with what you do. If the circuit uses slug tuning, you may simply be able to adjust the antenna slug by giving its spring a few turns until the station comes in well. Make sure that you don't upset the oscillator while doing this. The station should come in well where it's supposed to come in.
::
::Thomas
:
:Alex B,
:
:Does the radio sound distorted on the local station but OK on stations farther away? Perhaps the RF amplifier is being overloaded.
:
:Radiodoc

Thomas,
The antenna is best I can make it, and is much larger/longer than other Zenith sets that have pulled that station in fine (mostly 8B's).

Radiodoc,
No distance/distortion problems as near as I can tell, just poor recoption at this particular station. I am not trying to get a very far station, the antenna is in my metro area, maybe 50 miles away.

I rebuilt this old console Zenith for the Nostalgic effect to my living room, and ironically, it gets the local rock stations just fine, but the classical station is poor.

Is the classic station high or low on the dial? If you are using a long wire antenna, keep in mind that higher frequencies need a shorter antenna than lower ones in some cases. My home made FM radio, which doesn't have a well tuned RF, favors different lengths for different frequencies.

You should really be using a dipole antenna for FM. It looks like a T, and can be found at Radio Shack. The antenna is made out of the flat twin lead cable that was used with television many years ago. If you trace the wire of the antenna, it starts out on the lead-in and goes up. Then it goes to one side, forming half of a T, and continues to another side, forming the other half, and then continues back to the center lead-in, and goes down the other side of this to its end. Connect the two end wires to the two screws on your radio. This is a poor visual description, but I"m sure you'll be able to find what I'm talking about if you go to Radio Shack. These antennas are rather directional, but also are rather efficient. FM is picky with antenna location, anyway, even if you're using just a long wire. Also depends on whether or not a building or other object is blocking your signal. Determine where your station's antenna is. Then find a window that faces that direction without obstructions. See how performance is there. Idealy, you want an FM or television antenna on your roof for great reception. FM travels in straight lines due to its high frequency, which makes it travel under bridges well, but also makes it able to be blocked by objects in its path.

T.

Thomas

Thomas, Good point, I hadn't thought to identify the straight line direction between me and the antenna. it is 104.1, so fairly high. I tried using a dipole, but it was inside my house and got little signal(cinderblock row house, very strong, but very not radio-friendly).

I will investigate the direction of the signal and might could get a radio antenna for the roof. Won't cost much. Many Thanks, Alex

:Is the classic station high or low on the dial? If you are using a long wire antenna, keep in mind that higher frequencies need a shorter antenna than lower ones in some cases. My home made FM radio, which doesn't have a well tuned RF, favors different lengths for different frequencies.
:
:You should really be using a dipole antenna for FM. It looks like a T, and can be found at Radio Shack. The antenna is made out of the flat twin lead cable that was used with television many years ago. If you trace the wire of the antenna, it starts out on the lead-in and goes up. Then it goes to one side, forming half of a T, and continues to another side, forming the other half, and then continues back to the center lead-in, and goes down the other side of this to its end. Connect the two end wires to the two screws on your radio. This is a poor visual description, but I"m sure you'll be able to find what I'm talking about if you go to Radio Shack. These antennas are rather directional, but also are rather efficient. FM is picky with antenna location, anyway, even if you're using just a long wire. Also depends on whether or not a building or other object is blocking your signal. Determine where your station's antenna is. Then find a window that faces that direction without obstructions. See how performance is there. Idealy, you want an FM or television antenna on your roof for great reception. FM travels in straight lines due to its high frequency, which makes it travel under bridges well, but also makes it able to be blocked by objects in its path.
:
:T.
:
:Thomas