Greg B.
AK Donor
Reading the thread about the impressive SX-3700 tuner prompts me to ask this question for the techs in the audience.
I have 2 fluoroscan series receivers, a SX-3800 and a SX-3900. Both were purchased thru a well-known auction site and are in very good condition; both work well. The 3800 was in service for a few months prior to acquisition of the 3900. The 3800's tuner would give a full 5 bars on the signal strength meter on most stations -- the source is the stations provided by my local cable TV company. When the 3900 arrived it took the place of the 3800 but it doesn't give me 5 bars on any station using the same source -- though I can't truly say it sounds any worse.
The seller of the 3900 said that he had opened it up and replaced a capacitor in the amp section along with some lamps. He thought it was possible that he had inadvertently disturbed the signal strength meter adjustment and that there was a pot in there that could be tweaked. However, I would be interested in knowing how to test the signal strength independently. Is this something that a digital multimeter (my only electronic tool) can measure somewhere? Anyone know the drill?
In the thread entitled "SX-3x00 Receivers - The Mother Lode", the last post discusses tuner alignment for the DIYer. I am hesitant to go this route because everything I've read until now indicates that tuner alignment is tricky, complex, and best left to experts. I'd be interested in comments on that subject as well, since I know of nobody locally I'd entrust that job to on the 3900.
Thanks in advance!
I have 2 fluoroscan series receivers, a SX-3800 and a SX-3900. Both were purchased thru a well-known auction site and are in very good condition; both work well. The 3800 was in service for a few months prior to acquisition of the 3900. The 3800's tuner would give a full 5 bars on the signal strength meter on most stations -- the source is the stations provided by my local cable TV company. When the 3900 arrived it took the place of the 3800 but it doesn't give me 5 bars on any station using the same source -- though I can't truly say it sounds any worse.
The seller of the 3900 said that he had opened it up and replaced a capacitor in the amp section along with some lamps. He thought it was possible that he had inadvertently disturbed the signal strength meter adjustment and that there was a pot in there that could be tweaked. However, I would be interested in knowing how to test the signal strength independently. Is this something that a digital multimeter (my only electronic tool) can measure somewhere? Anyone know the drill?
In the thread entitled "SX-3x00 Receivers - The Mother Lode", the last post discusses tuner alignment for the DIYer. I am hesitant to go this route because everything I've read until now indicates that tuner alignment is tricky, complex, and best left to experts. I'd be interested in comments on that subject as well, since I know of nobody locally I'd entrust that job to on the 3900.
Thanks in advance!
