After some more experimentation, I concluded I should
have put the screw a little closer to the top end of the radio...
still lined up with the ferrite bar (would be the upper portion of
the bar), but better able to complete a loop
through the bar and around the top of the radio.
I should add that the radio may also respond to electric
fields, and the screw isn't helping with that. If one were to
remove the telescoping FM antenna the area behind
the volume knob might be a good place to get some
electric field coupling...
Bill
On Mon, Aug 23, 2010 at 6:06 PM, Bill Bruno <
[hidden email]> wrote:
> Hi...
> I'm so proud of my new tweak to the RadioShack radio...
>
> All you do is put a screw through the side of the radio, above the
> tuning knob (see photo). Use a normal (magnetic) steel screw.
> This allows the magnetic field to couple to the antenna. Fantastic
> for finding problems on a breaker panel, much easier to pinpoint
> a problem breaker or find a specific wire causing a problem.
>
> There are two adjustment screws inside, one red, one white (see photo).
> I couldn't help messing with them... wish I had a second radio to compare
> the results, but it seemed turning the red one slightly to the left (too
> far
> and it's just all static all the time) and the white a bit to the right
> helped.
> But it's probably best to leave them alone unless you have time to
> experiment.
>
> Anyway, I can now hear AM radio stations if I hold the radio screw near
> some breakers but not others. This agrees with what happens using
> the Entech Wideband Noise Analyzer.
>
> Detailed instructions: on the new RadioShack 12-586, remove the 2 screws
> on the back (one is in the batter compartment). Pry the case apart with
> a small screwdriver. Watch for the AM-FM switch, it may fall out.
> Drill a hole so the screw will line up with the black ferrite bar which
> has copper wire wrapped around it.
> The plastic is slightly thicker there, but pretty soft... I actually got
> through it in a few
> minutes using wood screws and drill bits but no drill. The screw I
> used was a long version of the kind they use to put switch plates on
> a wall switch, but anything including a nail would be fine (might want
> to tape over it if it's sharp).
>
> That's it! I call it Frankenstein's Radio because it has a screw coming
> out
> and it has scars from opening the case...
>
>
> Bill
>
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