W8RW said:
How old? This is an interesting idea. Havent seen any "homebrew" things really done in this regard. Any particular models? I know I've always had decent AM reception with auto head units. Especially delco and kenwood.
Anyone listen to "distant" AM stations at night?
- Thread starter RedPenguin
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How old? This is an interesting idea. Havent seen any "homebrew" things really done in this regard. Any particular models? I know I've always had decent AM reception with auto head units. Especially delco and kenwood.
freqs said:
There are quite a few Zenith restoration websites out there. I dont have links here, but when I get home I can help you find some.
WSM has a HUGE coverage area. (big power/big antanae) Depending on conditions, recpetion anywhere in the continental US should never be suprising.
Steveradio
Member
Working patrol at night spinning around the am dial can be fun, Used to pick-up a lot of Canada Stations and out west. Have not done that in a long time, I normally have the car but when have the truck they get pulled in better. Used to keep lists of station ID's herd and the time.
Steve
Steve
West Coast
I've lost count of the number of times I have driven (or been a passenger) on I5 somewhere between the Canadian border and San Diego. I usually drove a stretch at night, in locations where scanner traffic is light to none. So certainly DXing on AM radio is another way to find something of interest to listen to.
I remember when I lived in WA state with my parents, and we traveled down to California (more than once) we kept the radio on KOMO 1000 for the entire trip. Now that I live in the greater Sacramento area I've been able to pick up KFBK 1530 along I5. Another station I've been able to hear is KNX 1070 Los Angeles.
I guess we should get as much out of this "hobby" as quickly as we can. As everything moves to digital, it will not be the same. Certainly if we acquire a signal, we'll have "perfect reception". But it won't be the same as our digital decoders try to decode competing signals.
I've lost count of the number of times I have driven (or been a passenger) on I5 somewhere between the Canadian border and San Diego. I usually drove a stretch at night, in locations where scanner traffic is light to none. So certainly DXing on AM radio is another way to find something of interest to listen to.
I remember when I lived in WA state with my parents, and we traveled down to California (more than once) we kept the radio on KOMO 1000 for the entire trip. Now that I live in the greater Sacramento area I've been able to pick up KFBK 1530 along I5. Another station I've been able to hear is KNX 1070 Los Angeles.
I guess we should get as much out of this "hobby" as quickly as we can. As everything moves to digital, it will not be the same. Certainly if we acquire a signal, we'll have "perfect reception". But it won't be the same as our digital decoders try to decode competing signals.
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Shortwavewave
Member
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2007
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- 514
gmclam said:
That will be a sad, sad day!!
I have several Zenith TransOceanics in need of restoration that are sitting around gathering dust in case anyone wants a project? These are the A600 and B600 models. There is an excellent book written soley about the TO out there as well.
Joe
Joe
K4APR
Member
I have always enjoyed listening to KDKA out of Pittsburgh.
Hmmm, my AMBCB DXing began to get serious when I dug a 1956 Buick Sonomatic out of the junk yard and hooked it to a 50' wire antenna and ground. It got better when I learned a bit more about electricity, I shorted the vibrator and ran it off the 6V filament winding of an old TV power transformer, bye bye hum. Too bad those radios are nearly impossible to get these days, the sensitivity, selectivity and sound were phenomenal. Trouble with a poorly marked slide rule dial is you need "The Book" to find the frequency. (;->)
I hate to say it but I gave up when the FCC dropped the half hour callsign ID requirement and the dial went cookie cutter talk radio format, now everything sounds the same. The noobs have another bugaboo to deal with, that awful IBOC hiss that covers adjacent stations and makes an awful mess of co-channel ones. I have heard from people who have a strong local to contend with, the whole band gets clobbered. FYI, broadcasters are already complaining about "DX hiss" clobbering their local coverage at night, Canada is up in arms and the FCC doesn't seem to give a poop about international relations.
Guaranteed and concluded that when eventually it all goes digital it'll be the death of this facet of our hobby. With it's all or nothing nature you won't be able to hear the familiar jumble and let your brain sort them out, you'll only hear the strongest one and they'll pop in and out like popcorn. We can only hope it fails like Mondial, that was a flash in the pan being incompatible with DX conditions. Meanwhile just to borrow from an old Brylcream (hair goo) commercial, a little DAB will you ya. (;->)
Oh by the waaaaay... was this the dim beginning of a certain pirate broadcasting station? Huh? (;->)
I hate to say it but I gave up when the FCC dropped the half hour callsign ID requirement and the dial went cookie cutter talk radio format, now everything sounds the same. The noobs have another bugaboo to deal with, that awful IBOC hiss that covers adjacent stations and makes an awful mess of co-channel ones. I have heard from people who have a strong local to contend with, the whole band gets clobbered. FYI, broadcasters are already complaining about "DX hiss" clobbering their local coverage at night, Canada is up in arms and the FCC doesn't seem to give a poop about international relations.
Guaranteed and concluded that when eventually it all goes digital it'll be the death of this facet of our hobby. With it's all or nothing nature you won't be able to hear the familiar jumble and let your brain sort them out, you'll only hear the strongest one and they'll pop in and out like popcorn. We can only hope it fails like Mondial, that was a flash in the pan being incompatible with DX conditions. Meanwhile just to borrow from an old Brylcream (hair goo) commercial, a little DAB will you ya. (;->)
Oh by the waaaaay... was this the dim beginning of a certain pirate broadcasting station? Huh? (;->)
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Finally picked up my SW7600GR yesterday! Knowing it is not the strongest MW Dxer out there, it is still pretty darn competent and the synchro detect goes right to work on pulling in the distant stations. The radio doesnt have any switchable filters or a local/dx switch, but I am very happy. The AM-HD iboc buzz and hum is gone, but it still blocks out reception 200khz in either direction. At least I can listen to what adjecent channels that I can recieve.
I really think that AM-HD and even FM-HD is going to go the way of FM-surround and AM-Stereo. Which is the same way as the dodo bird. For OTA radio reception, HD has nice features, but it cannot cover distance and generates far too much interference. Leave the data transmission to large-scale Wi-Fi that will hopefully fill the broadcast TV band. For whatever reason, people (including the FCC) have bought into the idea that digital = good and analog = bad and ancient, when that is clearly not the case. It is the nature of the analog broadcast that gives it the reason that people listen, and that is that you do not have to be parked next to the reciever to hear it, and all you have to do is listen. We do not need or want adjacent bandwith streaming data if all I want to hear is some nutcase on coast 2 coast am. I'll get all that on my laptop(pick 1 of 3)/blackberry/scanner/RDS FM radio/Weather alert/ TV/ newspaper/etc. Personally, I am waiting for the "digital" backlash.
I really think that AM-HD and even FM-HD is going to go the way of FM-surround and AM-Stereo. Which is the same way as the dodo bird. For OTA radio reception, HD has nice features, but it cannot cover distance and generates far too much interference. Leave the data transmission to large-scale Wi-Fi that will hopefully fill the broadcast TV band. For whatever reason, people (including the FCC) have bought into the idea that digital = good and analog = bad and ancient, when that is clearly not the case. It is the nature of the analog broadcast that gives it the reason that people listen, and that is that you do not have to be parked next to the reciever to hear it, and all you have to do is listen. We do not need or want adjacent bandwith streaming data if all I want to hear is some nutcase on coast 2 coast am. I'll get all that on my laptop(pick 1 of 3)/blackberry/scanner/RDS FM radio/Weather alert/ TV/ newspaper/etc. Personally, I am waiting for the "digital" backlash.
57Bill
Member
Hey Warren, you should have posted that pic in the thread about "pirate stations". I still have mine in a box with other retired "gear" from sixties. It began bellowing white smoke when I took it out of service and put it aside to trouble-shoot later. That was in '64 and I never did get back to yet!
57Bill
Member
"We do not need or want adjacent bandwith streaming data if all I want to hear is some nutcase on coast 2 coast am."
Or a pill head spouting political rhetoric, survivalists selling "health foods" and iodine pills, speculators selling coins and jewlery, and if I want religion I have my choice of Bibles I can hit myself over the head with.
And, there we were, all in one place - a generation Lost in Space
With no time left to start again
So, come on, Jack be nimble, Jack be quick - Jack Flash sat on a Candlestick, 'cause...
Fire is the Devil's only friend
And, as I watched him on the stage my hands were clenched in fists of rage
No Angel born in Hell could break that Satan's spell
And, as the flames climbed high into the night to light the sacrificial rite, I saw...
Satan laughing with delight the day the music died
Or a pill head spouting political rhetoric, survivalists selling "health foods" and iodine pills, speculators selling coins and jewlery, and if I want religion I have my choice of Bibles I can hit myself over the head with.
And, there we were, all in one place - a generation Lost in Space
With no time left to start again
So, come on, Jack be nimble, Jack be quick - Jack Flash sat on a Candlestick, 'cause...
Fire is the Devil's only friend
And, as I watched him on the stage my hands were clenched in fists of rage
No Angel born in Hell could break that Satan's spell
And, as the flames climbed high into the night to light the sacrificial rite, I saw...
Satan laughing with delight the day the music died
6D75
Member
I listen pretty much nightly when I can. WBBM, WABC, WSM to name a few just BOOM in. I also listen to the NDB's and am finding new ones popping up rather frequently.
Rich
Rich
Iam from Washington State I sometimes listen to KGO 810 till I get tired of the Bush bashing Liberals, then switch to a real conservative radio station radio station
I was in Palm Springs one year my dad could not pick up the Sonic basket ball game on the local station He had to listen to the game from a station in Utah
I was in Palm Springs one year my dad could not pick up the Sonic basket ball game on the local station He had to listen to the game from a station in Utah
elk2370bruce
Member
I first got the medium wave bug when (as a kid), my dad was driving at night to our vacation and I was "twisting the knob" of the radio out of sheer boredom. Low and behold, I picked up WSB Atlanta, WBT Chrlotte, a Nashville Grand Ole Opry, Boston, Pitsburgh and a whole lot more. I was hooked! My dad found me an old S38B, strung some surplus wire in the trees and I've never looked back. My best was 540KHz, Saskatoon, Sask. on a cold, snowy winter night. My first real experience was when I got a Lafayette Crystal Radio (yellow in color and shaped like a rocket). Used to lay in bed at night, a ground wire hooked to the radiator and an alligator clip attached to the aluminum window frame and listen to Jean Shepard on WOR 710 in NYC. I'll still tool around the AM band from time to time and its still fun.
If all you want is AM/FM, check out the Sony SRF-59. It's analog, the tuning is tight and a bit touchy, but the reception on this little thing is amazing. I picked one up at KMart for $15. Probably the best $15 I've ever spent. Runs for ages on a single AA battery. Weighs about 1.5oz more than the battery. It looks like a cheap piece of junk, but there's a serious radio hiding inside that shiny silver case.DanTSX said:
Between the S350DL and the 2100, I'd take the 2100 every time. The S350 line wasn't horrible, but it had some serious issues that they tried to tack on fixes for. Some of the fixes ended up being worse than the original problem. The 2100 is the S350 grown up and brought into the 21st century. Dual-conversion to reduce the images that plagued the S350. PLL tuning to eliminate the drift. Sounds even better than the S350. As you said, best deal around for $100.
Redsun is alleged to be coming out with a newer model with 1000 memories, SSB, sync, and other fancier features that should make it a real contender. Sadly, production has been put off because the factory is too busy building radios for Toshiba.
Patch42 said:
I looked up that little Sony. Looks good! I had heard of the SRF-59 before but forgot about it. I think I will have to pick one up(heck, why not two). I like to buy quality technology that is tried and true, despite its "newness". Not cheap-o chinese crap. I'm enjoying SWL so far, and I really enjoy 1980s and early 90s japanese technology. I just like the nostalgia, quality, and innovation. So I'm already eyeballing some vintage Sony. Panasonic, and Kenwood SW luggables (not quite portable and not quite tabletop). If I find that I spend a lot of interest there, I will probably look at some not-so-old, and not-so-new JRC recievers. Maybe an older Grundig Satallit 650 or 700. I'm partial to the Japanese equipment, but Man, those old Grundigs were the Mercedes 560SEL of the day. Stout and exuding quality. After that, I see the next step being something with tubes, maybe a kit:twisted:
I know it has nothting to do with the discussion, but I know I'm coming off a bit Japan-o-centric ^_^.But truthfully, I am really happy that there are several Chinese companies making low-cost and very usefull SW radios avaliable to the masses. With old Sony 2010 and Panasonic 5900 selling on the used market for more than what they sold for new, there would be a steep price of entry to the SWL market for something that on the surface is tough to listen to, and only Dr. Gene Scott and the like come in with any predictability. The redsun,kaito, degen, eaton guys are really helpfull in getting interest and radios out there, which can only help in keeping broadcasters sending signals to North America. I just do not think that the chinese have the attention to quality and sense of innovation that the japanese have. I do not think that this has anything to do with any type of national or cultural trait, but rather because in the day and age that china has ascended, it did so in a mass-consumer society. When Japan ascended as a technological innovator, there was no such thing as "disposable" electronics. Everything was repairable. Dont get me wrong, there were tons of garbage transistor radios coming out from japan, but they put the quality in the top and middle-market, and it worked its way down. Chinese industrial philosophy is more to reverse engineer, componetize, and mass produce with their QC coming out of sheer production numbers rather than innovation and adaptation. Wow, where did this come from?
:lol:
rcvmo
Member
Years ago, while DX'ing a radio station out of Allentown,Pa, there was an advertisement from an aircraft / nav. vendor offering a Panasonic in dash AM/FM all band multi-mode stereo receiver w/ CD player. Anyone know what model it was? That would be saawweeeeet!
rcvmo
Happy Easter everyone.
rcvmo
Happy Easter everyone.
KC2TEX
Member
[
I know it has nothting to do with the discussion, but I know I'm coming off a bit Japan-o-centric ^_^.But truthfully, I am really happy that there are several Chinese companies making low-cost and very usefull SW radios avaliable to the masses. With old Sony 2010 and Panasonic 5900 selling on the used market for more than what they sold for new, there would be a steep price of entry to the SWL market for something that on the surface is tough to listen to, and only Dr. Gene Scott and the like come in with any predictability. The redsun,kaito, degen, eaton guys are really helpfull in getting interest and radios out there, which can only help in keeping broadcasters sending signals to North America. I just do not think that the chinese have the attention to quality and sense of innovation that the japanese have. I do not think that this has anything to do with any type of national or cultural trait, but rather because in the day and age that china has ascended, it did so in a mass-consumer society. When Japan ascended as a technological innovator, there was no such thing as "disposable" electronics. Everything was repairable. Dont get me wrong, there were tons of garbage transistor radios coming out from japan, but they put the quality in the top and middle-market, and it worked its way down. Chinese industrial philosophy is more to reverse engineer, componetize, and mass produce with their QC coming out of sheer production numbers rather than innovation and adaptation. Wow, where did this come from?:lol:[/QUOTE]
Just want to stick my two cents in... The Kaito KA1102 (Degan) is one of the best radios for DX ing I have used. For $79.99 on Ebay it blows away my more expensive ($325.00) Radio Labs modded Sangean ATS Super 909 on the whip antenna! And it receives SSB too! -John
I know it has nothting to do with the discussion, but I know I'm coming off a bit Japan-o-centric ^_^.But truthfully, I am really happy that there are several Chinese companies making low-cost and very usefull SW radios avaliable to the masses. With old Sony 2010 and Panasonic 5900 selling on the used market for more than what they sold for new, there would be a steep price of entry to the SWL market for something that on the surface is tough to listen to, and only Dr. Gene Scott and the like come in with any predictability. The redsun,kaito, degen, eaton guys are really helpfull in getting interest and radios out there, which can only help in keeping broadcasters sending signals to North America. I just do not think that the chinese have the attention to quality and sense of innovation that the japanese have. I do not think that this has anything to do with any type of national or cultural trait, but rather because in the day and age that china has ascended, it did so in a mass-consumer society. When Japan ascended as a technological innovator, there was no such thing as "disposable" electronics. Everything was repairable. Dont get me wrong, there were tons of garbage transistor radios coming out from japan, but they put the quality in the top and middle-market, and it worked its way down. Chinese industrial philosophy is more to reverse engineer, componetize, and mass produce with their QC coming out of sheer production numbers rather than innovation and adaptation. Wow, where did this come from?
:lol:[/QUOTE]Just want to stick my two cents in... The Kaito KA1102 (Degan) is one of the best radios for DX ing I have used. For $79.99 on Ebay it blows away my more expensive ($325.00) Radio Labs modded Sangean ATS Super 909 on the whip antenna! And it receives SSB too! -John
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