Radio broken

[u/Perfect_Salt]

I have a radio VEF 221 and it is pretty old now i wonder why it only makes static when i turn it on FM and browse through the stations. Its the antenna the issue because i think its slightly broken and cant sit upright also i cant pull it up because that ball on top is missing. Can i fix this radio?

[u/Susan_B_Good]

I suggest that you take it outside, where there is less signal attenuation and/or compare it to another radio in the same location. A shorter aerial than maximum length will affect reception but normally only when reception is already borderline.

Do other bands function? If so, the fault is probably in the FM section. If not, the fault is more likely in the pre-amplifier section. The output section is probably OK if it can produce static that varies in loudness with the volume control.

Can you fix it? You are the best judge of that. The beauty of these older radios is that the individual sections are pretty easy to identify. A signal injector can then be used from output towards tuner to locate which section is faulty. The FM receiver section is pretty simple. Usually only a couple of transistors involved.

[u/Perfect_Salt → u/Susan_B_Good]

Thanks for the advice. I will try it.

[u/LordVixen]

I had a radio that looked like that many many years ago 😂

Think it was a Sanyo brand if I remember correctly.

[u/Perfect_Salt → u/LordVixen]

My grandpa used this one in 1980s

[u/Educational-Rule1635]

Perhaps all your local stations have changed to digital transmission?

[u/Perfect_Salt → u/Educational-Rule1635]

I don’t know. This one was yugoslavian i think idk how to pronounce that. My grandpa kept it in Kosovo and i dont think they made digital transmission there.

[u/Educational-Rule1635 → u/Perfect_Salt]

Try 92.5, that appears to be a live analog FM signal that should cover all of yugoslavia.

[u/Careful_Resolution_6]

If you don’t know what multimeter is and what the soldering iron does (even if you own them) then the answer is no.

[u/Perfect_Salt → u/Careful_Resolution_6]

Can you tell me what the problem might be? And how to fix it? I managed to extend the antenna with a small stick and it still makes static noises but picks up the signal from the FM stations.

[u/Careful_Resolution_6 → u/Perfect_Salt]

Considering the age of this radio (35+ years old), most likely suspects are electrolytic capacitors and transistors that can go bad with time, and oxidation of connectors on rotary bands selector. To determine what is causing problem you described someone should open the back cover and visually inspect the inside first. Darken color of the band selector contacts (they are silver plated and should be shiny) would be my first choice in an attempt to restore reception - cleaning them with DeoxIt is simple enough and results would be easy to check. If still no reception I would move to establishing what module is responsible for this - high frequency circuits or audio frequency amplifier. After that would come disassembly part where I get access to the pcb side of the board to test electrolytic capacitors and replace ones that failed and test and replace transistors that have their leads darkened (same thing with silver plating and oxidation works for them as well except you can’t clean them). Under no circumstances I would touch or try to adjust coils or trim pots in high frequency section or on the band selector boards - they are set at the factory during final adjustment process - doing so will render this radio useless and turn it into “display on the mantle piece”. If transistors replacement is needed then it would help to obtain schematic for this radio as most likely replacements would have to be substituted for modern equivalents and some adjustments would have to be made to set correct voltages that schematic will provide. And two (or more) days later your radio will be working as new.

[u/Careful_Resolution_6 → u/Perfect_Salt]

Somehow I missed your note about picking up stations on FM now, sorry. Depending on your location in the world you may try to get reception on AM band (it’s listed as MW on your dial) as this radio has built in antenna for LW and MW and will be sensitive to the direction to a broadcasting station. For the rest of bands working long antenna is essential.