Shortwave radio still packs an audible thrill

reuters ^ | 1/14/09 | Robert MacMillan

[mylife]

So why bother with shortwave?

It's easy and cheap -- and fun. You can hear and learn things that you would never find even if you work your search engine like a mule. From Swaziland to Paris to Havana, shortwave broadcasters can surprise an adventurous listener more than any MP3 playlist.

"You tune carefully, twist the radio from side to side, and there's still a bit of a 'Hey, I made this happen!' sort of thing," said Harold Cones, retired chairman of the biology and chemistry department at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia.

It's also magic. Shortwave radio enthusiasts acknowledge the thrill -- the romance, in a way -- of going out at night and snaring news, music, odd bleeps, religious zealots and other broadcasts from the wild sea of frequencies in the sky.

[mylife]

Radio shack will fix you up

[mylife]

http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/parts/so2adapt.html

[mojitojoe]

Great post. Thank you. Bookmarked to read all of it later.

[Clinging Bitterly]

Do it!

Should have and shouldn't have. I watched it close at 28 bucks, which is a lot below market for the model in the condition this looked to be. So I thought about it awful hard and the the S-38D is identical but for the factory installed BFO and a standby switch. Those are just as plentiful if not more so, just as cheap, and more functional as built.

Plus I'll most likely be moving soon and it would be another toy to lug around while being torn in three different directions when I have so many more that are just packed up. So for now I'll just buck up and be pragmatic, and make do with my solid state digital stuff.

Dang it.

After things settle down though I'll have to go looking for a nice example of a classic analog receiver - there is sure a wonderful selection of them out there.

Thanks for posting this thread - it has brought a smile to my face.

[LiveFreeOrDie2001]

I was in it big time about 15-18 years ago. I had all the channels, frequencies and broadcast locations written down on sheets of paper.

Radio Moscow and Voice of America was a cpuple of my favorites.

[Red_Devil 232]

I have posted pictures of the KWM-2A and PM-2 on my homepage. They are below pictures of my garden. Warning bandwidth hog. Lots of pictures.

[Clinging Bitterly]

Nice! I don't know Collins stuff that well so I'm not sure what the missing tube is about - but perhaps for an option of some sort.

Looks to be loaded with the ITU Region 3 Ham bands, and having the complete crystal packs is a nice plus. But it doesn't cover top band - that's something else I didn't know.

That rig is so clean and unblemished, it would be the pride and joy of some collector out there (yeah you should definitely give it to me).

[Clinging Bitterly]

Oh I do see a bit of the typical crystalline formation on the (cadmium?) plated pieces, the brackets on the ends of the band unit and on the power switch, but not bad at all.

[Red_Devil 232]

Yes the two brass,cadmium(?) supports do have some kind of cystalline formation on them ?

The manual has a picture that shows that tube()? location empty also (NB Power J24).

Sorry about the quality.

[Red_Devil 232]

Why is it typical?

[ASOC]

Nice rig, looks clean.

Let me know.

[freebird5850]

His call is VE7KFM and he broadcasts on 14.275. there is even a website outlining his past doings.

[freebird5850]

I talked to him a few months back.

[Clinging Bitterly]

It's a natural reaction of, I think, tin in the plating alloy with moisture in the air. You might also see some on solder joints. At near 35 years in storage it looks real good. In use, air movement carries it away and the end result is just a decreased brightness of the plating over time.

You could drop some desiccant packets into the cartons and then seal the cartons in plastic bags and it'll probably stop it from getting worse.

[airdalechief]

Nice station. I spent a good hour looking at all the pictures. I also have an AL-1200 to go along with the Pro III. That amp just keeps going up in price so I’m keeping it.

I have an AL-80B to go along with my MK V Field but it’s not hooked up and running yet. I need a larger desk. I love that Field.. all filters are Inrad. Sweet sounding radio.

73, NU4J

[halfright]

For some reason the Yeasu’s never tripped my trigger. Started with Kenwood tube stuff and finally found Icom back in the early 80’s. Have had near every Icom rig up from IC-735 to the IC-756 proIII.

I guest op at many stations and I have operated the 1000 in a variety of models. All great radios for sure, but Icoms are so intuitive to me that I am stuck. The present Pro III has the roofing modification and the rx is awesome. Guest op’d at N3RS for CQWW CW and used the new K3. A sweet radio in kit form. (no soldering) But I have spent the 2009 annual line item for radio stuff. Maybe next year.

The Al-1200 will be swapped for an auto tune IC-4KL type when the opportunity presents itself :) in the mean time there is no tube with the reliability of the 3Cx1200 and after making a tuning guide I can change bands pretty quick. The four computers control everything in the house, inside and out. Just need to get a generator.

Thanks for the note...all the best

[spodefly]

I out-nerd you all!!!

My set-up from a few years ago, since scaled down to reduce my carbon footprint ... :)

[mylife]

SWEEEET!

[dfwgator]

Ahh yes, I see the DX-440, I still have mine going strong after all these years.

[mylife]

Love your Beer Tap!