First time using a vintage tuner - Kenwood KT-5300 - issues?

[bandwagoner]

Hi Everyone,

I've had a KT-5300 on my shelf for about a year, and I thought that I wasn't getting signal because I didn't have an external antenna. I purchased a wire antenna and it made no significant difference. There is maybe one or two channels on FM that I get reasonable signal from (still scratchy though ). I live on the fourth floor of a 14 floor apartment in a major city.

What can I do to try and figure out what's wrong with the tuner? I need me some Public Broadcasting radio and some Jazz!

Some things I've heard: remove AppleTV or Airport Express from the vicinity of the tuner, or maybe it needs an alignment? I should be getting signal even without the wire antenna because of the black built-in antenna in the back, shouldn't I?

 

[radioactive]

The black built in antenna is for am and fm

 

[bandwagoner]

Ok great, that is why I assumed I should be getting some reception even without the extra wire antenna I bought, but nothing.

 

[TaddNOhio]

Maybe search "how to clean a tuner" on here, it could just be that it's dirty? Im no expert but just making a suggestion. Work the dial back and forth a bunch of times ... does it seem to get any better? If so it may just be dirty

Also, the fm signals get any better at all when you connected the antenna via the 300 ohm connections on back of your receiver?

 

[chazix]

I should be getting signal even without the wire antenna because of the black built-in antenna in the back, shouldn't I?

The black built in antenna is for am and fm

With respect, I believe the black bar antenna is only for AM. At least, the KT-5300 schematic that I'm looking at shows no connection 'twixt the bar and the FM section. FWIW, I can also say that I personally have never seen a bar antenna on any AM/FM tuner of any brand that does serve the FM section.

I would expect a KT-5300 to pick up pretty near nothing in FM mode unless a decent FM antenna is connected.

As TaddNOhio mentioned (and assuming what's meant by "wire antenna" is one of those T-shaped deals), it should be connected to the two FM antenna terminals marked "300".

Cheers,

chazix

 

[radioactive]

Chazix you are correct about the antenna being am only my post was suppose to say for am and not fm instead of am and fm.i don't know how I forgot the one word.

 

[RxDx]

Rabbit ears might get you some tunes (on FM).

 

[bandwagoner]

Thanks, I'll try reconnecting the antenna, maybe I messed up and threw it in the wrong terminal. Yes, it is the T-shaped deal, hopefully I can get a little something. Any thoughts on the tuner? Is it just generally not a very strong one?

 

[RxDx]

fmtunerinfo.com: "A very common bare-bones tuner that might be OK for those
on a budget, the KT-5300 has 3 gangs and 2 ceramic filters." Then again, they're
comparing it to the very best.