Vectronics VEC-101K - Manual (Page 23)

VEC-101K Owner's Manual Shortwave Converter Kit
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an extension cable from Radio Shack, and soldering a RCA phono connector in
its place.
Cable B: Cable B is used to connect the converter to the automotive receiver
antenna jack. On one end is a Motorola male connector to mate with the
automotive receiver antenna jack. The other end is terminated with a solder-on
RCA male connector to mate with jack J2 (radio) on the VEC-101K. The cable
can be made by cutting the female connector off of an extension cable from
Radio Shack, and replacing it with a solder-on RCA phono connector.
Using other antennas:
The converter is designed to work with short antennas, using a long wire antenna
may overload the converter. Try using an active antenna if more sensitivity is
needed.
Use with home receivers:
Many higher quality AM or AM/FM receivers have provisions for connecting an
external AM antenna. The output of the VEC-101K converter may be feed to a
receiver that has provisions for an external AM antenna. This includes many HI-
FI tuners that include AM broadcast band coverage. A short wire antenna will
be needed for the converter. 10 or 20 feet of wire will do in most wooden-
framed structures. If the building construction overly attenuates shortwave
signals, you may need to run a short outdoor antenna. Small active antennas are
ideal for this purpose.
IN CASE OF DIFFICULTY
Only high-quality components and proven circuit designs are used in Vectronics
kits. In very rare instances is a defective component the source of a problem.
Replacement of defective parts is covered in the Warranty section. Ninety-five
percent of the kits returned for factory repair are due to soldering problems or
parts in the wrong locations. We advise repeating the assembly instructions
step-by-step, looking for mistakes or soldering problems. Be especially wary of
electrolytic capacitors and semiconductors. Kit builders often miss obvious
mistakes. What is needed is a “fresh” set of eyes. Enlist a friend to go over
your work.
Always check the obvious! Has the battery worn down? Is the power switch on?
Check all cables and connectors.
Receiver overloads: Under certain conditions shortwave signals may be
extremely strong--strong enough to overload the converter. Try using a smaller