No program from Pioneer SC-05 tuner when tuner is selected

[marcerickson]

Trying to sort this this out for a friend. He bought this machine from someone - no remote control was included. I can't get any program from the tuner.

Meaning, I get sound from the tuner when FM is chosen. A hiss. When the tuner is tuned to a local AM or FM station, there's a hiss (no music, voice, etc.) on FM and nothing on AM.

The signal strength at his location is enough to hear music with a different tuner-amp integrated unit when it's on FM and playing through the same speakers.

I know nothing about this Pioneer machine and it's far more complex than anything I've run into before.

As this time I want to get whatever program is being played on the FM or AM radio station playing on his speakers.

He has a tuner-amp combo that plays FM stations and a CD player connected to it. It seems to work OK. I didn't think to try connecting that CD player to the Pioneer SC-05.

Help?

 

[NINaudio]

Have you connected any AM and FM antennas?

 

[marcerickson]

Have you connected any AM and FM antennas?

Yes.

 

[Eppie]

AM antennas are typically a loop antenna that come with the receiver. For FM, a single length of stranded wire will do. Something around 31" (80 cm) in length connected to the FM terminal. It may seem obvious to most, but strip off some of the insulation on one end and make sure that the bare wire is contacting the terminal. If you are getting static (white noise) off station then it sounds like the FM tuner is still working. Is the tuner analogue (a rotary dial) or digital?

 

[marcerickson]

I connected a wire for a basic antenna. That allowed the other receiver to pull in a signal but didn't affect the SC-05. I have a set of rabbit ears for my system (I'm in a concrete building). I'll take those and try them the next time I'm out there. That might be a while - it's two hours out and back to his place from here.

I believe the tuner is digital.

 

[Eppie]

I connected a wire for a basic antenna. That allowed the other receiver to pull in a signal but didn't affect the SC-05. I have a set of rabbit ears for my system (I'm in a concrete building). I'll take those and try them the next time I'm out there. That might be a while - it's two hours out and back to his place from here.

I believe the tuner is digital.

That's a long drive to trouble-shoot for a friend.

Sorry, just had a look at the manual and I should have done that first. The AM tuner uses a loop antenna but the FM only has an unbalanced coaxial connection for an external antenna. You need to connect that to a proper FM aerial using 75 ohm coaxial cable, or use a 75 ohm to 300 transformer that converts coax to flat 300 ohm ribbon cable. You might be able to get a signal if you tap into the centre conductor on the 75 ohm connection but you'll need a strong local station.

 

[marcerickson]

OK thanks. I'll take that into account and take the right parts when I go out there next time.

 

[marcerickson]

No antenna was the issue. Now if I can figure out where the bass tone control is...

 

[lovinthehd]

Are tone controls set to bypass or on? You sure you just want a bass tone control?

 

[marcerickson]

That's what my friend said - not enough bass from the system.

 

[lovinthehd]

That's what my friend said - not enough bass from the system.

There's a variety of ways to go about that other than the bass tone control.....

Is that just radio that's an issue?

 

[marcerickson]

Is that just radio that's an issue?

Do you mean bass on the radio? I don't remember. The CD player component is now connected and works fine.

Pioneer seems to have buried the tone controls deep in some menu when using the front panel controls. He doesn't have the remote control for it but hopefully will have one soon - he asked me to find him one on eBay.

 

[lovinthehd]

Remotes might be available still on fleabay....you might also consider a universal remote like from Harmony or Sofabaton if you can't find one. Yes, the menu selection I mentioned either enables bass tone control or not. The equalization available is another possibility perhaps (pretty sure that unit at least has a graphic eq, altho probably somewhat limited for lower bass).

 

[marcerickson]

OK. I'll figure something out. I don't think I'll be out at his place for a couple of weeks at least.

Thanks a lot for your help!

 

[lovinthehd]

Take a look at the pdf manual here and search (control f) "bass".....will give you some idea of the options you can tweak with. https://www.pioneerelectronics.com/StaticFiles/Manuals/Home/SC-05_OperatingInstructions0523.pdf

 

[marcerickson]

Thanks.

 

[lovinthehd]

Thanks.

Using a sub?

 

[marcerickson]

Subwoofer? No.

 

[lovinthehd]

Might help.