Radios are all around us. Many homes have a variety of corded household radios. This guide will cover how to fix small corded radios: clock radio, table radio, digital radio, kitchen radio, and others. (See the Car Radio Fix-It Guide and the CB Radio Fix-It Guide for information on how to fix those types.)

How Does It Work?

A radio receiver is an electronic device that receives audio signals through an antenna, then amplifies the resulting sound and delivers it to your ears through speakers. The signals are either amplitude modulated (AM) or frequency modulated (FM). Of course, it's a little more complicated than that, but the rest isn't important to the user.

The radio component of a portable stereo, clock radio, and table radio is basically the same in each type of device. As a result, these units share many of the same problems and repairs. The main difference in radios is whether the tuner is analog or digital. Most newer tuners are digital, but many older radios still in use have analog tuners. Digital radios have few easily serviceable parts. Digital radios are quite reliable, but if a part does fail, take the radio to an authorized repair center--or recycle it.

What Can Go Wrong?

Household radios are corded radio receivers and amplifiers. That means power cords may need replacing. Contacts can be bent or corroded. A dial cord can be broken or the gears jammed. The station indicator pointer may be misaligned. Controls and switches may be dirty. Antennas break.

Fix-It Tip

Having problems getting up in the morning because your alarm radio doesn't work? Some units have a backup battery that saves your alarm settings if the power goes out. If the battery is dead, it doesn't remember them and you don't get up in time. Test and replace the houseold battery or button battery, typically mounted in a small compartment accessed through a cover on the bottom or back of the radio.