Receiving Gold Radio Station on Fidelity RAD24.

[paulsherwin]

If you are hearing the Punjabi station on 1584 then the oscillator is unlikely to need adjustment. You are simply outside the service area of the Gold transmitter. This isn't a surprise as the Gold AM network has been cobbled together from various old ILR local transmitters and there are big coverage gaps. There is no coverage here in Oxford, for example, though weak signals can be received from a couple of out of area transmitters.

[crackle]

I have felt like suggesting to the OP to get a decent radio, Fidelity were very much the low end of the budget range, and there doesn't seem to be much information on the RAD24.

Mike

[terrykc]

Here's an early example of the same problem: https://www.radios-tv.co.uk/the-year...-pocket-radio/

[paulsherwin]

Originally Posted by crackle

I have felt like suggesting to the OP to get a decent radio, Fidelity were very much the low end of the budget range, and there doesn't seem to be much information on the RAD24.

You're right of course - Fidelity made a range of cheap'n'cheerful sets styled rather like Roberts or Hackers but without the quality, and the RAD24 was a basic MW/LW set at the bottom of the range. That said, it should be perfectly capable of receiving a MW station with a reasonable signal strength. It looks as if parts of southern Essex should be covered, but not places like Chelmsford.

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/fidelity_rad24rad_2.html

[19Seventy7]

Originally Posted by Station X

Has the OP confirmed that he can actually receive Gold on another receiver with MW?

London is a big place and the OP could be in a reception black spot.

I'd try to identify the highest frequency station that can be received on MW in order to check the receiver's coverage.

This is actually my only radio, so I cant test it on another radio (Unless I use my alarm clock radio? Would that work but that's DAB most likely.)

Originally Posted by Alvin

I just found this Ofcom coverage map from 2003 http://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/ra...maps/al066.pdf which might give a clue.

I had a look and im definitely within the red area (Albeit it just about.)

Originally Posted by paulsherwin

it should be perfectly capable of receiving a MW station with a reasonable signal strength.
https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/fidelity_rad24rad_2.html

It is capable of picking up strong MW signals, not so much LW.

[Station X]

What's the highest frequency medium wave station you can receive at present and where does it appear on the dial?

[19Seventy7]

Originally Posted by Station X

What's the highest frequency medium wave station you can receive at present and where does it appear on the dial?

im not sure if I can tell the frequency as its measured in Mts.

Or are they the same? In case they are the same. This is the highest (?) i can get. Its got a bad interference however

[Station X]

Radio waves travel at 300,000 kilometres per second.

So to convert wavelength in metres to frequency in kilohertz, or vice versa divide the value into 300,000.

200 metres is 1500 kHz.

200kHz is 1500 metres.

[Station X]

Originally Posted by InsertNameHere

In case they are the same. This is the highest (?) i can get. Its got a bad inteferrence however

Set the pointer at the low frequency end of the scale ie below 200 metres. If there's no station there advance the tuning until you receive one. Listen to the station until it identifies itself. Google the station to find out its medium wave frequency in your area. Convert the frequency to wavelength and see how it compares with the pointer setting.

[19Seventy7]

Originally Posted by Station X

Listen to the station until it identifies itself. Google the station to find out its medium wave frequency in your area. Convert the frequency to wavelength and see how it compares with the pointer setting.

The radio station is Lika, Lyca, Liker(?) radio, and I got 0.00486? I don't know if this is right, I think I may have messed up somewhere (Maths isn't my strongest subject) and my pointer was just before 200 Mts.

Thanks

[Station X]

Lyca Radio is on 1458 kHz which is 206 metres.

Gold Radio is on 1548 kHz which is 194 metres.

So you have a dial calibration error which could simply be the pointer being in the wrong place relative to the tuning capacitor.

Is there further movement available towards the high frequency end of the scale?

[19Seventy7]

It stops dead here.
(Sorry for the poor quality photo)
Thanks

[Station X]

That's the wrong end of the scale!

Your scales are marked in metres.

Shorter wavelength (200 metres) means higher frequency.
Longer wavelength (550 metres) means lower frequency.

[Station X]

Originally Posted by InsertNameHere

I have a signal just under 200mts on MW, but it is definitely not gold as the music isn't even English.

Did you identify that station? Could it have been Punjab Radio on 1584kHz 189 metres?

[19Seventy7]

Originally Posted by Station X

That's the wrong end of the scale!

Your scales are marked in metres.

Shorter wavelength (200 metres) means higher frequency.
Longer wavelength (550 metres) means lower frequency.

Oh sorry, My bad, and the station just under 200 Mts was Lyca radio.

This is how far it goes higher frequency.

Thanks

[Station X]

If there are no stations receivable below Lyca Radio on 206 metres, then either you're in a poor signal area or you're going to have to adjust the radio as described in posts #10 amd #11.

[19Seventy7]

Oh OK, I'll test with another radio if possible and then I'll sort something out.

Thanks for your help!

[Sideband]

None of my circuit CD show a RAD24. I found a RAD23 and a RAD26, Both of these have FM as well so the RAD24 may be a scaled down version of either of these. The 23 and the 26 have MW listed as 186 - 550 metres so there is no reason to suspect that the RAD24 should be any different, in which case it seems that the local oscillator needs a tweak.

[19Seventy7]

What is the oscillator and how do I tweak it to get gold radio?

I have no idea what im doing otherwise...

Thanks

[Nuvistor]

This page gives the information about local oscillators and mixers.

https://www.vintage-radio.com/repair...rf-stages.html