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Message |
    
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 3421
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Friday, August 27, 2004 - 5:23 pm: | 
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Copper Forum Members,
This is an Article that was written by our very own Tech833 and sent to me and with his permission I am posting it here for the Copper Forum Members to enjoy.
And with having our Troops being deployed in Iraq and Afganistan and elsewhere in the world, I feel that it is appropriate for this time in history.
____________________
If I were ever to have a 'manifesto' it would go something like this-
There is something comforting about hearing news on SW. You already know they hate the U.S., so you listen like you would to hear two people that hate your guts gossip about you. It is comforting to know they still hate, and we still tolerate.
There is something comforting about hearing Armed Forces Radio on SW. This is what our soldiers are listening to right now. I feel 'connected' to them, and I secretly hope they know I am listening too, and somehow feel connected to me.
There is something comforting about hearing pirates on SW. They are the most twisted bunch of sub-humans alive, and they are shameless. If not completely hilarious. They have only enough grasp on reality to wake up and feed themselves each day.
There is something comforting about hearing CW from ships and overseas beacons on SW. It's like letting you know that normalcy still exists in places where anarchy supposedly reigns.
I could go on and on...
But you know what makes it even more comforting?
Listening on a tube type radio. The warmth, smell, and positive electron flow in the room with a working tube radio in it. The delicate nature of this device which is somehow more robust than any of the solid state radios today. The delicate device that would still work after an EMP. The delicate device that is older than me, and will work long after I am dead.
This delicate device that eagerly waits until each evening to bring me listening pleasure, just as it has done for two generations before me, and will eagerly do for my grandchildren. Serving without prejudice. Built to last a lifetime, before the term 'planned obsolescence' was ever spoken. Living up to the potential the hands and souls that assembled it could not anticipate.
Smugly operating with glee as lesser solid state radios stare, lifelessly waiting their turn to feel needed; dare I say 'loved'. All the while knowing that no matter how hot the glass, metal, wire, and bakelite inside gets, it will not fail. Heat is no concern, voltage spikes are no concern, static is no concern, only pleasing the human guide stationed in front of the device, guiding its operation to suit them in ways the electrons cannot understand. Only to know that it is still valued. It is still relevant. It is still used in the most real manner, not a sideshow for amusement. The tubes are still king, for the solid state device cannot give of itself in the way a radio with a soul can.
A tube radio has a soul. The only man made thing in this world that has a soul.
Written by,
Tech833
____________________
I honestly hope that you will all enjoy reading it as much as I and the 1st Sargant and I did. 
Very Good Article Tech833!
Lon
Tech808
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Airplane1
Intermediate Member
Username: Airplane1
Post Number: 113
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Friday, August 27, 2004 - 6:40 pm: |
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I`m awestruck after reading that! |
Ca346
Advanced Member
Username: Ca346
Post Number: 981
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Friday, August 27, 2004 - 7:27 pm: |
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That fits with the "Old Tube net" here in this area. Every friday and saturday night a bunch of people get together on old AM only radios and chat away. No real net control, just fun talking about old radios. The only requirement is to tell them what radio you are talking on. 833: You march to a different tune. Makes me want to go out there and buy that old Johnson Black Face Messenger-Two radio I been looking at for two years... |
808xyl
Member
Username: 808xyl
Post Number: 89
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, August 28, 2004 - 11:03 am: |
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Tech833,
You wrote a Very Good Article
Lon is out buying me a Short Wave Radio now so we can listen to the World News FIRST HAND.
As you know he is a JARHEAD and enjoys hearing everything First Hand and I said Hey with all this radio stuff WHY DO WE NOT HAVE A SHORT WAVE RADIO?
He just smiled and said one is on the way and out the door he went. hehehe
Thank you for opening OUR eyes to the World of Short Wave Radio.
And Thank You for taking the time to share this valuable information with us and your thoughts.
Shirley
1st Sargant  |
Lowpowerhal
Intermediate Member
Username: Lowpowerhal
Post Number: 313
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, August 28, 2004 - 12:51 pm: |
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Tech 833 I feel the same way , I started out with short wave . That takes me back in time.Till this day i injoy old tube radios.Also like to here V.O.A. when i was a kid. Also the B.B.C. They was real infomative way back then. I even had a S.W.L. Number and a bunch of (QSL) cards . Back to the old radios Sold my old sx99 last spring , wish i had it back now,But every night before i go to bed i turn on the dx-200 . Just a old habit from when i was a kid. Bought my first crystal kit and put it togeather by myself when i was 11 years old. Short wave will go on for a long time my freind, Long after we are gone.I know that technology has grown in leeps and bounds,Cell Phones , Satellite You name it. But we still have am to this day . Some young hams are even getting into am brodcast again and building there own am sets.
Good post TECH 833
See you on the Sunday net.
I will be on the chat.
Hal |
Karatebutcher
Senior Member
Username: Karatebutcher
Post Number: 1713
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, August 28, 2004 - 6:46 pm: |
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833 Very very well done and very interesting to read , thank you .
KB |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 3430
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, August 28, 2004 - 7:06 pm: |
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Tech833,
Well I could not find anything here in town that I liked so I went to the Internet and this is what I Ordered.
GRUNDIG CLASSIC 960 ~ AM/FM Stereo Shortwave Receiver.
It is not Not Old but Looks Old and Real Wood Cabinet and Fabric Grill.
And it had what I thought was a very Reasonable price.
And Shirley really liked the Looks of it.
I hope it performs as well as the reports that I have read from owners.
____________________
GRUNDIG CLASSIC 960 ~ AM/FM Stereo Shortwave Receiver.
Remember when radio sounded so real that voices were almost with you in the room? When music had a warm, rich, full-bodied tone? Those wonderful days are back! Grundig has revived its legendary Model 960. The long-lost sound is back. The 4 inch side speakers, left and right, spread a spacious stereo image, while a front-firing 4 inch speaker reinforces the bass and fills your listening room with glorious Grundig sound.
The Grundig Classic 960 is your listening post that lets you enjoy full, rich sound and travel the globe without ever leaving home. Shortwave coverage is in two bands: 4.5-12 and 12-22 MHz.
Connect your CD. Cassette player. VCR or TV. It's your entertainment center. Auxiliary input takes the audio signal from your CD, cassette player, or TV...and turns it into spacious, room-filling, glorious Grundig sound! This special 50th Anniversary Edition faithfully replicates the dimensions and styling of the original Model 960. The cabinet is solid wood. The gold-tone illuminated dial and knobs are accented.
15.5 x 11.25 x7 inches 9.8 Lbs. (4.2 kg).
Lon
Tech808 |
Lowpowerhal
Intermediate Member
Username: Lowpowerhal
Post Number: 314
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, August 28, 2004 - 8:21 pm: |
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Wow that looks like my dads old radio.He allways kept it beside his bed.That is neat , i like it. My sister and i would listen to the BBC at around 10:00 pm central time to hear the new group from liverpool England , This was the year 1961 or 1962. We got to hear them befor they came to the good old U.S.A. Even our mother was inpressed she liked the new group on the old radio.Dad well he was not pleased with them,He liked the big band era , benny goodman and so forth.So my point is My sister and i heard the Beatles before they came to UNITED STATES. Thats what you can do on short wave. You will hear the news around the world and as it happens.
Happy DXing
Hal |
Ca346
Advanced Member
Username: Ca346
Post Number: 987
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, August 28, 2004 - 8:21 pm: |
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Lon you better give that wife of yours a big HUG every day. It must be wonderful to have someone that enjoys the hobby as much as you do! Course with two of you always needing upgrades in equipement, it means you're always broke... |
Bc910
Intermediate Member
Username: Bc910
Post Number: 124
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, August 28, 2004 - 9:28 pm: |
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Tech 833:
WOW!
BC |
Yankee
Intermediate Member
Username: Yankee
Post Number: 243
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, August 29, 2004 - 3:26 am: |
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Tech 833, very well spoken, I'm 66 years old and started SWLing at a young age with a Hallicrafters S-53A and a windom antenna, I used to love listening to the Armed Forces Radio Network and all the other good stations through out the world. And that is when I really took a great liking for Amateur Radio. Yes, I well remember a lot of the older amateur operators who are now silent key.
73, Carl KD5SDM Purcell Oklahoma |
Tech833
Moderator
Username: Tech833
Post Number: 838
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, August 29, 2004 - 1:20 pm: |
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Yankee,
I own a Hallicrafters S-53A. It gets a lot of use. Very nice receiver for a single conv. unit. |
Gijoe
Junior Member
Username: Gijoe
Post Number: 48
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, August 29, 2004 - 1:41 pm: |
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Tech 833,
Somehow you were easily able to put the comforting feeling into words. Very well writen. I have the Grundig G1000A am/fm/sw radio.
It's limited on the reception due to the built in antenna, but the stations I am able to receive will surely allow someone to share in the feelings that you mention.
Joe |
Yankee
Intermediate Member
Username: Yankee
Post Number: 245
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, August 29, 2004 - 1:54 pm: |
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833, I now do my SWLing with my ICOM IC-735.
73, Carl CEF-357 |
Dodgeman
Member
Username: Dodgeman
Post Number: 86
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, August 29, 2004 - 4:06 pm: |
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I use a ICOM R10 hook up to a discone antenna 25 feet in the air.I like listing to Europe an Asia. |
Tech833
Moderator
Username: Tech833
Post Number: 839
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, August 29, 2004 - 6:06 pm: |
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G.I. Joe,
Simple fix, just clip a long wire antenna to the end of your telescoping whip. Although it will not help on LW (due to the built in 'loopstick' antenna for LW), it will help on SW. I do this with my YB400 all the time when camping.
Yankee,
I also use a ham transceiver with general coverage receive for SWL. I like the notch feature and the selectable I.F. bandwidths. However, it is farily 'deaf' compared to my Zenith M660A. Especially on AM BCB. Most ham radios have a built in attenuator for the AM BCB to prevent overloading from strong stations. I wish they made it optional for people like us. The only time my Kenwood gets used for transmitting is on the Sunday 10m CEF nets.
Dodge,
The R-10 is a great receiver! They go from 500 kc. to around 2 GHz. if I remeber right. I have one at the shop. I once decided to modify it to provide discriminator audio for an Optoelectronics PL decoder. Have you seen the inside of that thing??? I decided to leave it as-is! |
Highlander
Advanced Member
Username: Highlander
Post Number: 597
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, August 29, 2004 - 7:12 pm: |
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Popular Communications and Monitoring Times are two excellent publications to help people get started in SWL. Also the book Passport to Worldband Radio is a must.
I have the Grundig Classic 960, it is ok for shortwave, but difficult to tune the frequency you want--analog dial is not that accurate. Good for 'surfing', though. The Grundig Satellite 800 is a pretty nice tabletop radio for the price, with digital tuning. Also the Grundig Yachtboy series are pretty nice, affordable portables. I also have a Sangean ATS 909, which is a nice little radio.
Of course, none of these compare to the Drake R8, the Japan Radio NRD545, or the various offerings from Icom, Yaesu, Kenwood. But with a decent antenna they are all good starter radios. |
Highlander
Advanced Member
Username: Highlander
Post Number: 598
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, August 29, 2004 - 7:14 pm: |
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You guys know the song "Radio Gaga" by Queen?
It makes me wax nostalgic the way Tech 833's article did. |
Legend
Member
Username: Legend
Post Number: 61
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Monday, September 20, 2004 - 8:08 am: |
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Just think... Someday my Drake R8A will be thought of as warm and fuzzy.
lol... |
Kilowatt
New member
Username: Kilowatt
Post Number: 9
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Monday, September 20, 2004 - 11:07 am: |
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Sniff......
I know how you feel! I really love my old Johnson Viking II transmitter and R-390A receiver the same way! |
