28-06-2017, 11:43 AM
All Hacker Sovereigns are AM/FM. The first 3 versions have separate AM/FM tuners; the Sovereign IV had a conventional combined IF strip.
In general, the RF alignment on these sets - on both AM and FM - will drift. IF alignment is rather more stable, and there is usually less to be gained from going through that, unless the set has been messed around with.
RF alignment can pretty much be done by ear, providing you know the frequencies of the stations you're receiving. Especially if you restrict the adjustments to just the local oscillators - if you still have sufficient sensitivity after doing this, then the RF tuning adjustments can be left alone.
Before doing anything, however, do make sure the "pointer datum" is correct. Unless already corrected in recent times, this is guaranteed to be out. At the far right end of the scale, the pointer should line up with the opening in the scale. On most of the Sovereign sets, you move the pulley in its slot to correct, and if that's not enough, slide the pointer along the string. Often, just doing this gets the scale alignment close enough...
In general, the RF alignment on these sets - on both AM and FM - will drift. IF alignment is rather more stable, and there is usually less to be gained from going through that, unless the set has been messed around with.
RF alignment can pretty much be done by ear, providing you know the frequencies of the stations you're receiving. Especially if you restrict the adjustments to just the local oscillators - if you still have sufficient sensitivity after doing this, then the RF tuning adjustments can be left alone.
Before doing anything, however, do make sure the "pointer datum" is correct. Unless already corrected in recent times, this is guaranteed to be out. At the far right end of the scale, the pointer should line up with the opening in the scale. On most of the Sovereign sets, you move the pulley in its slot to correct, and if that's not enough, slide the pointer along the string. Often, just doing this gets the scale alignment close enough...
