Comments on: Super Cheap, and Almost Super http://theradiokitchen.net/super-cheap-and-almost-super/ Adventures In Amplitude Modulation Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:35:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: K. http://theradiokitchen.net/super-cheap-and-almost-super/#comment-17 K. Wed, 07 Nov 2007 01:28:15 +0000 http://theradiokitchen.net/super-cheap-and-almost-super/#comment-17 Indeed! Spamming us was a good idea; better would be to post something on the FMU blog as I'm sure like many folks I have long since ceased to post a real email address of any sort there. My DX'ing has been limited to a vintage Bogen RX-150 I fished out of the neighbors trash a few months ago. After cleaning it of the basement soot, the only thing wrong with it was that the plug had been cut ( BTW why do people always do this when they throw electronics away? Is there some amazing use for 120V plugs that I am not aware of? ) and the cotter pin holding the lead counterweight for the tuning capacitor had broken ( a piece of brass wire fixed that easily enough ). The tuner feels like it has a bowling ball attached to it, giving the instrument a beautiful feel and a much more sensitive touch. Wood case, steel chassis, and not an IC in sight. The output stage is a couple of 2N3055's, so I could put some real speakers on it if I was inclined. It's sad to look at this thing, and realize that this kind of quality of design is no longer available in consumer electronics. The only place you can find such high quality equipment is, naturally, the trash. I've been considering building an AM antenna for this thing. Any suggestions? It'd have to be small enough to fit in the kitchen, as I live in a brownstone apartment. I've been mulling over a design using a 6 inch diameter basket weave coil self resonant at the top end of the AM band, with an inductively coupled variable capacitor to tune the antenna to resonance at the frequency I'm trying to receive. You could open circuit the tuning capacitor, tune the radio to around the signal, then put the capacitor in the circuit and tune the antenna to the same frequency. I rather suspect I could pull in some seriously weak signals with that combination, and the selectivity would be superb. Indeed! Spamming us was a good idea; better would be to post something on the FMU blog as I’m sure like many folks I have long since ceased to post a real email address of any sort there.

My DX’ing has been limited to a vintage Bogen RX-150 I fished out of the neighbors trash a few months ago. After cleaning it of the basement soot, the only thing wrong with it was that the plug had been cut ( BTW why do people always do this when they throw electronics away? Is there some amazing use for 120V plugs that I am not aware of? ) and the cotter pin holding the lead counterweight for the tuning capacitor had broken ( a piece of brass wire fixed that easily enough ). The tuner feels like it has a bowling ball attached to it, giving the instrument a beautiful feel and a much more sensitive touch. Wood case, steel chassis, and not an IC in sight. The output stage is a couple of 2N3055’s, so I could put some real speakers on it if I was inclined. It’s sad to look at this thing, and realize that this kind of quality of design is no longer available in consumer electronics. The only place you can find such high quality equipment is, naturally, the trash.

I’ve been considering building an AM antenna for this thing. Any suggestions? It’d have to be small enough to fit in the kitchen, as I live in a brownstone apartment. I’ve been mulling over a design using a 6 inch diameter basket weave coil self resonant at the top end of the AM band, with an inductively coupled variable capacitor to tune the antenna to resonance at the frequency I’m trying to receive. You could open circuit the tuning capacitor, tune the radio to around the signal, then put the capacitor in the circuit and tune the antenna to the same frequency. I rather suspect I could pull in some seriously weak signals with that combination, and the selectivity would be superb.

]]> By: tdevine http://theradiokitchen.net/super-cheap-and-almost-super/#comment-15 tdevine Tue, 06 Nov 2007 21:30:28 +0000 http://theradiokitchen.net/super-cheap-and-almost-super/#comment-15 Welcome back! And thanks for the e-mail telling me the blog is back. I had my gf read a few the old "Shortwave Radio Series" on the WFMU blog, and finally understood what was wrong with me :) I have a SuperRadio II, but very sadly of all things the AM stopped working on it. I'll probably get a current version of the radio to replace it. At the moment I have a DX-398 audio patched to my 3-piece stereo. This stereo is also hooked to XM and Sirius, talk about options! (along with the stereo's built-in AM/FM). The DX-398 has a could yards of wire on the antenna which brings in the big guns. I also have a Icom 706 which is my main amateur radio (talking and listening), and that has a 70 foot wire between 2 trees. NICE DX on that. Welcome back! And thanks for the e-mail telling me the blog is back. I had my gf read a few the old “Shortwave Radio Series” on the WFMU blog, and finally understood what was wrong with me :)

I have a SuperRadio II, but very sadly of all things the AM stopped working on it. I’ll probably get a current version of the radio to replace it.

At the moment I have a DX-398 audio patched to my 3-piece stereo. This stereo is also hooked to XM and Sirius, talk about options! (along with the stereo’s built-in AM/FM). The DX-398 has a could yards of wire on the antenna which brings in the big guns. I also have a Icom 706 which is my main amateur radio (talking and listening), and that has a 70 foot wire between 2 trees. NICE DX on that.

]]> By: Dave K. http://theradiokitchen.net/super-cheap-and-almost-super/#comment-14 Dave K. Tue, 06 Nov 2007 21:29:52 +0000 http://theradiokitchen.net/super-cheap-and-almost-super/#comment-14 Great to hear from you. Thanks for the commentary, I purchased a Kaito 1103 on your word and find it to be a superior product. Thanks! My main radio has been a Radio Shack DX-392 purchased in the 80's or early 90's. The cassette drawer mechanism broke, but a butter knife will do. My job takes me overseas and I bring a Sangean SG 662. I have snippets of programs from ???. I'll try to condense to a SW comp. Cheers, Dave K Great to hear from you.
Thanks for the commentary, I purchased a Kaito 1103 on your word and find it to be a superior product. Thanks! My main radio has been a Radio Shack DX-392 purchased in the 80’s or early 90’s. The cassette drawer mechanism broke, but a butter knife will do. My job takes me overseas and I bring a Sangean SG 662. I have snippets of programs from ???. I’ll try to condense to a SW comp. Cheers, Dave K

]]> By: Dale Hazelton http://theradiokitchen.net/super-cheap-and-almost-super/#comment-13 Dale Hazelton Tue, 06 Nov 2007 15:12:30 +0000 http://theradiokitchen.net/super-cheap-and-almost-super/#comment-13 Good lookinig site, Professor! I wish I had this radio....I bought the Radio Shack version back when they actually sold radios, thinking "It looks the same, therefore it must BE the same." Wrong! http://www.geocities.com/rbrucecarter/12_603.htm Good lookinig site, Professor!

I wish I had this radio….I bought the Radio Shack version back when they actually sold radios, thinking “It looks the same, therefore it must BE the same.” Wrong!

http://www.geocities.com/rbrucecarter/12_603.htm

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