Ramsey Electronics FM10A manual Antenna Alternatives, Troubleshooting Guide, Hints

Ham radio books and magazines are filled with antenna principles and ideas which can be adapted to your application. Also, you may wish to look at Radio Shack book No. 62-1083 on antennas.

ANTENNA ALTERNATIVES

If your situation involves a single large building or multi-level home where reception from the FM10A antenna tends to be uneven because of walls and other VHF path obstacles, you might set up the FM10A's output in a "carrier- current" configuration. If you know how to do correctly, then do so - safely. If not, you can show your FM10A and this book to a licensed radio engineer and negotiate with that person for a safe installation which will feed your signal through interior wiring of your home or building. Do not attempt such an installation unless you know exactly what to do and not to do. Also, because such an installation is beyond the original purpose of this kit and the safety standards intended for all Ramsey kits, and because we have not tested the FM- 10A in such an installation, we cannot provide further details for such an installation.

TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE:

If your FM10A does not work at all, re-check the following:

ˆcorrect orientation of U1 (see PC board parts layout diagram)

ˆcorrect polarity of all electrolytic capacitors,

ˆCorrect orientation of diodes D1,2,3,

ˆcorrect orientation of Q1 transistor,

ˆcorrect value of C16,

ˆall solder connections.

Hints:

•Frequency drift is usually caused by a weak battery or operation at large temperature extremes.

•Erratic or unstable operation is caused by faulty solder joints or cable connections.

•Standard 2SC2498 replacements: ECG10 or SK9139, may be found at most local electronics parts dealers.