Arcam Alpha 7, Alpha 8 User Manual

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Section A Installation

CONNECTINGTO A POWER SUPPLY

WRONG PLUG I

If the plug supplied with the tuner does not fit your power

supply, see the inside back cover of this handbook for guidelines on changing a plug, or contact your dealer to obtain a suitable power cord.

Check that your mains supply voltage agrees with the voltage setting indicated on the rear panel of the ^ tuner

If your mains supply voltage is different, consult your Arcam dealer or Arcam Customer Support on 01223 203203.

PLUGGING IN

Push the plug (lEC line socket) of the cable supplied with the tuner into the socket ©(POWER INLET) in the back of the tuner

Make sure it is pushed in firmly.

Push the plug on other end of the cable into your power supply socket.

The tuner is double insulated and does not require an earth. This Is why there is no centre (Earth) pin in the socket (POWER INLET)

CONNECTINGTO OTHER EQUIPMENT

All the sockets carrying messages to other hi-fi equipment (output channels) are colour coded for identification.

The use of high quality interconnect cables to and from other hi-fi equipment is recommended to ensure the best sound quality (sonic performance).

Interconnect cables are not supplied with these tuners.

The left channel sockets are marked L.

The right channel sockets are marked R.

CONNECTING YOUR TUNER TO YOUR AMPLIFIER

0AUDIO OUTPUTS

There are two pairs of identical outputs provided. Connect one of these to your amplifier's tuner input using a suitable interconnect cable. Insert the red phono plug into the socket labelled ‘R’ for Right and the other phono plug into the socket labelled 'L' for Left.

The second set of audio outputs can be used to connect to a second amplifier set up for 'multi room' use or routed to a tape recorder for‘off air' recording.

Section В Setting up the aerials

Your new Arcam Tuner is capable of superb reception...

but only if it is receiving a good quality transmission signal.

As the signal is so important for good reception we have created a quick reference guide to setting up the aerials.

You are recommended to fit an FM and an AM Aerial.

FM AERIAL

Required to receive VHF radio signals.

FOR BEST FM RADIO RECEPTION

A roof mounted aerial is essential. For your own safety it is recommend that a rooftop aerial is fitted by an experienced contractorYou can find these in your local telephone directory or Yellow Pages. Your contractor will tune and direct the aerial to your nearest FM transmitter In blocks of flats, an aerial system may already be installed and connected to wall mounted sockets marked FM orVHF (notTV).

Alternatively, you may decide to install an aerial yourself Use one designed for‘Band 2' (VFHF/FM) reception.These are available from electrical accessories shops (e.g.TANDY).This should be put outside the building, mounted as high up as possible. Aerials can be fitted in lofts, but metal foil cladding used for heat insulation may make this option useless.

As a rough guide use the following table to indicate the type of aerial you may require.

Up to 40 miles (65 km) from a transmitter

3 element aerial

Over 60 miles (100 km) from a transmitter 6 or 8 element aerial

See ‘Radio Transmitting Stations’, mentioned later for details of how to find the location of your nearest transmission station.

Alternatively a circular‘Omni-directional’ aerial can be used, though this will not usually provide as much signal as the multi-element types of aerial mentioned above.

The coaxial cable from the aerial should be fitted with a coaxial plug and used with the adaptor provided. Plug it into the socket Q in the back of your Arcam Alpha 7/8 tuner

FOR GOOD FM RADIO RECEPTION

If you will be using your tuner within a few miles of a major radio transmitter theT shaped wire aerial (dipole design) supplied should give a good reception. Use the aerial and the coaxial plug adaptor provided, to connect it to the socket Mount the aerial as high

as possible on a wall.Try each usable wall of the room to see which position gives best reception,The usual configuration is to use the aerial in aTshape, with the two ends (elements) forming the top cros-spiece. Use tacks or tape to hold the aerial in aT shape.The tacks should not come into contact with the internal aerial wire.

VERTICALLY POLARISED SIGNALS

Some signals from radio transmitter are ‘vertically polarised', (see ‘Radio Transmitting Stations’mentioned later for details) in which case the aerial needs to be located with its elements vertical.

Most, but not all signals have a ‘horizontal component’, if all the stations you wish to receive have this, then aligning the aerial elements horizontally may help to avoid interference. It is best to try several positions.

AM AERIAL

Required for Medium Wave (MW) and Long Wave (LiVV) radio radio signals.

There is an AM loop aerial supplied. Connect one end of the loop aerial into socket and the other end into © . It does not

matter which of the wires go to which socket Rotate the aerial to see which position gives the best reception. Some interference of the signal may be experienced near a fluorescent light tube or a television. Each transmitting radio station may require the aerial to be adjusted slightly. Even on the same frequency, the best aerial orientation can vary with time.

In areas of weak reception or when the tuner is used inside a steel framed building (such as a block of flats) you can use a long wire approximately 3-5 metres long and mounted high up outside the building. Connect the end of the wire to © as well as the loop aerial supplied. Do not disconnect the loop aerial.

Radio signals are not transmitted in LW in the USA , Canada and some European countries.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

The BBC publishes a booklet entitled ‘Radio Transmitting Stations’ which contains details of all BBC transmitters in the UK together with other useful hints and tips.This booklet can be obtained on request by sending a large stamped addressed envelope to:-

Engineers Dept.

BBC Radio

201 Wood Lane

London Wl2 7TS

Telephone: [phone]

Internet: http://www.bbc,co.uk/enginfo/fm_recep

The UK Radio Authority publishes 'The Radio Authority Pocket Book’ which contains details of all independent radio stations.This booklet can be obtained on request by sending a large stamped addressed envelope to:-

Holbrook House,

14 Great Queen Street,

Holborn,

London,

WC2B 5DG

Telephone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

e-mail: [e-mail] Internet: http,7/www.radioauthority.org.uk

A free booklet (number 004-000-00345-4) is available from the U.S. government called ‘How to Identify and Resolve RadioTV Interference Problems’ by writing to:

The U.S. Government Printing Office

Washington, D.C.

20402.