[criageek]

Just to clarify...my name is Rich.  My Phorum id is criageek...looks similar to Craig, but isn't.  It stands for Cedar Rapids IA geek  ;)

Anyway, I've been through the alignment process many times.  I now have the AM working better but still not good enough.  I can have the volume on full and it would be listenable, but it's the level of output I would expect at half volume or less.  The high end of the band is much better than the low end.  The strongest local station is at 600 but it doesn't come in anywhere near as well as a couple of stations at 1360 and 1450, and even one on 1540 that's 50 miles away.  Mind you, this is with it sitting in my basement, but it should still get better reception than it does, especially on 600.

One thing that concerns me is that when doing the IF alignment, the cap on the last IF stage (which is the first to be adjusted) has very little effect.  It has to be turned completely out for best signal, but there it isn't much difference from when it's turned in.

Rich