Radio aerial
Your Solo is capable of superb radio reception, but
only if it is receiving a good quality transmission
signal.
Solo is tted with either a DAB/FM or an AM/FM
receiver module, depending on where you bought
it. Independent of which radio module is tted to
your Solo, however, a roof-mounted aerial should
be used wherever possible to obtain the best
reception.
The type of aerial you should use depends
on your listening preferences and the local
conditions. If you listen exclusively to FM
transmissions, for example, and the FM
signal strength is strong in your area, then
a simple omni-directional aerial mounted in
your loft or on your roof may be suf cient.
Listening to DAB in a weak signal area will
require a high-gain, roof-mounted aerial.
For the best reception of both DAB and
FM signals, an aerial combiner box may
be required (as shown in the diagram
opposite). This combines the signals
received by two aerials (one for DAB, the
other for FM), into one cable that then
connects to Solo. If an aerial combiner
is not used, the single aerial chosen for
both DAB and FM reception may not give
optimum performance in some regions.
For the best advice, we recommend that
you contact your local Arcam dealer or
aerial installation expert.
DAB
If the transmission signal is strong in your area
then the supplied indoor aerial may be suf cient
(it should be hung on a wall with both wires fully
stretched out vertically). In weak signal areas, an
external aerial is desirable in order to receive the
highest number of services.
DAB transmissions can be in either ‘Band III’
or the ‘L-band’ (or both). To determine the
transmission frequency in your area, contact your
dealer, or refer to www.WorldDAB.org. In Band III
transmission areas, use a multi-element Yagi aerial
if you are a long way from a transmitter, or use an
omnidirectional or folded dipole aerial if you are
close to more than one transmitter (in the U.K.,
a Band III region, this should be mounted with
the elements vertically, as the transmissions are
vertically polarised). If the DAB services in your
area are transmitted on L-band then consult your
dealer with regard to the best aerial to use.
Whether you decide to install an external aerial, or
opt to use the supplied ribbon cable, it should be
connected to the F-type (screw) connector labelled
‘FM’ on the rear of the unit.
FM/AM
An FM aerial is required to receive VHF radio signals, and an AM aerial is required to receive
AM/medium wave radio signals.
FM aerial
Although an FM ribbon aerial is supplied as an accessory to Solo, for optimal FM radio
reception a roof- or loft-mounted aerial is advised as this will give superior reception. In some
areas cable radio may be available or, in an apartment building, a distributed aerial system may
be installed. In either of these cases you should have sockets in your home marked FM or
VHF (do not use those marked TV), which should be connected to the connector labelled ‘FM’
on the rear of Solo.
If you wish to use the supplied FM ribbon cable, mount this as high up as possible on a wall
with the ‘T’-elements positioned horizontally. Try each usable wall of the room to see which
gives best reception and use tacks or adhesive tape to secure the aerial in a T shape, but note
that no tacks should come into contact with the internal wire of the aerial.
AM aerial
An AM loop aerial is supplied as an accessory to Solo. This should be attached to the AM
aerial inputs on the rear of Solo with one end connected to ‘AM’ and the other to ‘Ground’ (it
does not matter which way round this aerial is tted). Make sure that the aerial is positioned
well away from Solo itself, TVs, computers and other sources of RF ‘noise’. Rotate the aerial
to discover which position gives the best reception.
In areas of weak reception, or when Solo is in use inside a steel-framed building (such as an
apartment building), a wire between 3 and 5 metres long can be used to strengthen reception.
Mount this high up outside the building (if possible) and connect one end of this wire to the
‘AM’ part of AM aerial input, in addition to the loop aerial supplied (do not disconnect the AM
loop aerial).
Assembling the AM loop aerial
aerial combiner
2. Push the tab into the open slot in the
base of the stand. Press until the tab clicks
home.
3. Connect the leads to the AM socket at the
rear of the Solo. Rotate the aerial’s stand
until you obtain the best reception.
1. Release the tie-wrap and unwind the
twisted lead. Fold the plastic stand forward
through the loop frame.
