Using a Vintage Radio - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Clive Randall · 2nd Oct 2006, 5:27 pm

Well it was a great thrill inheriting the dusty lump in the attic. A bigger thrill cleaning it, taking the valves out, cleaning the contacts, replacing the mains cable and any other rubber cables and switching on. The thrum of the speaker, the crackle as the dial is turned, the only thing I need is an ariel!

Ok for MW a straight vertical 3m is considered acceptable. But is there anything better?

What about the exotic SW?

How about LW?

I am sure you all use these wondrful beasts - so how do you get a good signal for them?

Many thanks

Clive
(also a phone, model railway and vintage film equipment entheusiast - sad eh?)

Sean Williams · 2nd Oct 2006, 5:46 pm

Hi Clive,

Firsly, it is worth getting the set fully checked over - capacitors and so on - just look at some of the other threads.....

Antennae for the radios are quite simple really - as much wire as High as possible! - I would reckon on a length stretched from the eaves of the house down to a convenient tree or support at the end of the garden.

However, any antenna is better than nothing - depends on what restraints you have.

Cheers, and welcome to the madhouse!
Sean

dave walsh · 2nd Oct 2006, 6:04 pm

Welcome-you might be amazed when you use a decent length of wire on shortwave-especially after dark. There are many really expert and experienced people to advise you on here. If you look at the Abandoning Old Technology thread under ' Everything Else ' you may feel instantly at home. See my post re 8mm film. Cheers Dave

paulsherwin · 2nd Oct 2006, 6:15 pm

These radios were designed to use a longwire aerial. Almost every house would have had one of these stretching out into the garden in the 50s. Nowadays just use as long a length of wire as possible. If using it indoors you should experiment with positioning.

You need a longer wire for good LW performance than MW.

Sean's advice is good about checking capacitors if you haven't done this already. Some of them are almost certain to be bad if original, and this will reduce the performance of the set at best - at worst it may overrun the output valve and cause damage.

Good luck, Paul

jim_beacon · 2nd Oct 2006, 6:21 pm

Just to add, a good earth is as important as a good aerial on old sets. A proper earth stake, or a length of copper pipe hammered into some damp ground is ideal. Avoid connecting the earth socket (next to the aerial socket) to mains earth, it will pick up a lot of interferrence. If you live in a flat, you could consider using a "counterpoise", which is a long length of wire layed around the floor, which acts as an artifical earth.

Jim.

2nd Oct 2006, 5:27 pm	#1
Clive Randall Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Aberdeen Posts: 1	Using a Vintage Radio Well it was a great thrill inheriting the dusty lump in the attic. A bigger thrill cleaning it, taking the valves out, cleaning the contacts, replacing the mains cable and any other rubber cables and switching on. The thrum of the speaker, the crackle as the dial is turned, the only thing I need is an ariel! Ok for MW a straight vertical 3m is considered acceptable. But is there anything better? What about the exotic SW? How about LW? I am sure you all use these wondrful beasts - so how do you get a good signal for them? Many thanks Clive (also a phone, model railway and vintage film equipment entheusiast - sad eh?) Last edited by Clive Randall; 2nd Oct 2006 at 5:28 pm. Reason: spelllling

2nd Oct 2006, 5:46 pm	#2
Sean Williams Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: St.Ippolyts, Hitchin, Hertfordshire QRA IO91UW Posts: 3,518	Re: Using a Vintage Radio Hi Clive, Firsly, it is worth getting the set fully checked over - capacitors and so on - just look at some of the other threads..... Antennae for the radios are quite simple really - as much wire as High as possible! - I would reckon on a length stretched from the eaves of the house down to a convenient tree or support at the end of the garden. However, any antenna is better than nothing - depends on what restraints you have. Cheers, and welcome to the madhouse! Sean __________________ Engineers make things work and have spare bits when finished

2nd Oct 2006, 6:04 pm	#3
dave walsh Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ramsbottom (Nr Bury) Lancs or Bexhill (Nr Hastings) Sussex. Posts: 5,817	Re: Using a Vintage Radio Welcome-you might be amazed when you use a decent length of wire on shortwave-especially after dark. There are many really expert and experienced people to advise you on here. If you look at the Abandoning Old Technology thread under ' Everything Else ' you may feel instantly at home. See my post re 8mm film. Cheers Dave

2nd Oct 2006, 6:15 pm	#4
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,970	Re: Using a Vintage Radio These radios were designed to use a longwire aerial. Almost every house would have had one of these stretching out into the garden in the 50s. Nowadays just use as long a length of wire as possible. If using it indoors you should experiment with positioning. You need a longer wire for good LW performance than MW. Sean's advice is good about checking capacitors if you haven't done this already. Some of them are almost certain to be bad if original, and this will reduce the performance of the set at best - at worst it may overrun the output valve and cause damage. Good luck, Paul

2nd Oct 2006, 6:21 pm	#5
jim_beacon Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bishop's Waltham, Hants, UK. Posts: 939	Re: Using a Vintage Radio Just to add, a good earth is as important as a good aerial on old sets. A proper earth stake, or a length of copper pipe hammered into some damp ground is ideal. Avoid connecting the earth socket (next to the aerial socket) to mains earth, it will pick up a lot of interferrence. If you live in a flat, you could consider using a "counterpoise", which is a long length of wire layed around the floor, which acts as an artifical earth. Jim.