Category Archives: Guest Posts

Bob talks ergonomics and radio buttons…

XHDATA D-808 on a 5” × 9” neoprene pad.

Ergonomics and Radio Buttons

By Bob Colegrove

Am I being too picky?  Are the buttons on some newer portable radios hard to press?  I’ve read many reviews and watched as many videos, but haven’t encountered many complaints about this.  Perhaps it’s an age-related affliction.

The most succinct description of the problem was expressed in the review of the Tecsun PL-660 way back in the 2012 edition of the WRTH.  In referring to the buttons, “All are in our view rather too small for comfort and have breakout forces which are out of all proportion to their size; the combination of this with excessively long travel and weak tactile feedback does not give much pleasure to the user.”  The problem has only gotten worse with some newer portable radios.

I see two problems here.  First, too much pressure is required; what the WRTH called “breakout force.”  Designers may say, “that’s so you won’t accidentally turn the radio on and run down the battery.”  Well, I reply, “isn’t that what the ubiquitous lock button is for?  They all have one.”

If you’ve ever taken one of these radios apart, you’ve likely seen a pliable membrane between the buttons and the switches or traces on the PC board.  This provides some spring action necessary to return the buttons to the upright position.  Couldn’t this be thinner or more elastic?

Second, some radios have flat buttons that don’t protrude very far above the case.  By the time the fleshy part of your finger bottoms out on the surface of the case, still more pressure and button travel is required to activate the function.  Couldn’t the buttons be slightly higher?

The result, if you operate the radio on a desk or table and apply the requisite walnut-cracking pressure on a button, the radio might well rocket off its foundation.

Pads for Portables

A partial solution without violating the integrity of the radio is a stable foundation.  In today’s euphemistic world the term counterpoise is use when referring to what we used to simply call an electrical ground.  It seems some sort of mechanical counterpoise would be useful to better anchor a portable radio for operation.

Neoprene is a synthetic rubber developed by a DuPont scientist in 1930.  It is tougher than natural rubber and relatively impervious to solvents.  This stuff is virtually skidproof.  There are perhaps other materials suitable for this application, which is simply to get the radio to stand its ground while you operate it.  After some thought and experimentation, I bought a 1/16”-thick neoprene pad.  A 12” × 12” pad is more than enough.  Mine came from https://amzn.to/3XsmQDe [Note Affiliate link supports the SWLing Post].  I cut this into three smaller pads as follows:

7” × 12” for a Sony ICF-2010, which has nice easy-touch buttons and really doesn’t need a pad except to anchor the radio in place.

5” × 9” for a Tecsun PL-990 and many other similar size radios.

3” × 5”, the scrap piece can be used for a C.Crane Skywave, which already has nice raised buttons;  a Tecsun PL-330, which needs a pad most of all; and an XHDATA D-220, which doesn’t even have buttons.

A Tecsun PL-330 lying flat covers a 3” × 5” pad.  But that’s OK.

There are a couple of alternatives:

  1. You can leave a large pad uncut to accommodate various sizes of radios; or
  2. You can cut bits of neoprene and apply them as feet to the bottom rear corners of the radio and bottom of the stand.  There might be some difficulty getting them to stay in place or allowing the stand to fully collapse.  Some portables already have rubber feet.

It’s probably apparent that neoprene will adhere best to a smooth surface such as glass or Formica.  However, I have tested it on a cloth-covered, memory foam chair cushion, and it works just fine.  Pressing down the material will make it adhere to a surface even more.  I would estimate that a lateral force of at least 10 or 15 pounds is required to make a small radio break loose from three or four points of contact with the material.

Besides holding the radio in place while you operate it, much like a large table radio, neoprene offers the radio some cosmetic protection against abrasion from rough surfaces.  However, the material is so sticky it will pick up every bit of dust or dirt.  This can somewhat compromise its adherence requiring an occasional rinse in water.

Admittedly, the neoprene pad isn’t going to be very useful while you’re sitting in a beach chair using the radio in the handheld posture.  However, in the shack, a suitable pad has a purpose.

XHDATA D-220 sans buttons on a 3” × 5” pad.

Caps for Buttons

In the case of buttons which are too low, some additional help is desired.  On the Tecsun PL-330, I glued plastic caps on top of the STEP and ETM buttons, which raises them about 1/16” and helps considerably.  I am still looking for some transparent material to use as caps on the numbered buttons.

STEP and ETM buttons with caps on a Tecsun PL-330.

Further validated suggestions are solicited.

Music from all over the map

FastRadioBurst 23 here with news of what the Imaginary Stations crew are up to. This Sunday coming on 22nd September 2024 there’s another episode of Skybird Radio International via the services of Shortwave Gold.

The show which features an across the board selection from around this musical globe of ours will be broadcast at 0900/1300 hrs UTC on 6160 kHz and then at 2000 UTC on 6160 kHz and 3975 kHz. Expect all sorts in a international musical mix up including the above musical gem.

Next Wednesday 25th September 2024 at 0200 UTC on 9395 kHz  via WRMI there’s an episode of Radio Ace. If you love all things radio-related you’ll Radio Ace!

We now have a Patreon page for our regular listeners here. Monthly memberships are available for exclusive audio and zines.

For more information on all our shows, please send  to [email protected] and check out our old shows at our Mixcloud page here.

Skybird Radio International flies again

Hi it’s FastRadioBurst 23 here letting you know that the Imaginary Stations crew will be bringing to you the return of Skybird Radio International via the shortwaves on Sunday 15th September 2024 at 0900/1300 hrs UTC on 6160 kHz and then at 2000 UTC on 6160 kHz and 3975 kHz via Shortwave Gold. Expect some wonderful eclectic music in a true worldwide style from all of the Skybird crew.

Then on Wednesday 18th September 2024 at 0200 UTC on 9395 kHz we’ll be bringing you another episode of Skybird Radio International which is a worldwide affair as you can imagine with more tunes from around this musical globe of ours via WRMI.

We now have a Patreon page for our regular listeners here. Monthly memberships are available for exclusive audio and zines.

For more information on all our shows, please send  to [email protected] and check out our old shows at our Mixcloud page here.

Using your imagination

Hi it’s FastRadioBurst 23 here letting you know that we haven’t a clue what the Imaginary Stations crew will be bringing to you via the shortwaves on Sunday 8th September 2024 at 0900/1300 hrs UTC on 6160 kHz and then at 2000 UTC on 6160 kHz and 3975 kHz via Shortwave Gold.

There’s a good possibility it’s another episode of WMMR – Mystery Mix Radio where the listener is asked to work out what the theme of the show is. It could be about unripened tomatoes, traction engines throughout the ages or it could be philately. Who knows? The listener guesses and sends their suggestion to the address given on the show and the person who gets the closest gets a special eQSL. Tune in and see what you think.

Then on Wednesday 11th September 2024 at 0200 UTC on 9395 kHz we’ll be bringing you another Shortwave Polka Party via WRMI. So dig out that Lederhosen get it to and back from the dry cleaners for the weekend, wash out your tankard and be prepared to polka around the sitting room. Why not invite the neighbours and get them to join in?

We now have a Patreon page for our regular listeners here. Monthly memberships are available for exclusive audio and zines.

For more information on all our shows, please send  to [email protected] and check out our old shows at our Mixcloud page here.

It’s a drive-in shortwave show

Hi it’s FastRadioBurst 23 here letting you know what Imaginary Stations will be bringing to you via the shortwaves this week. On Sunday 1st September 2024 at 0900/1300 hrs UTC on 6160 kHz and then at 2000 UTC on 6160 kHz and 3975 kHz we will be presenting Skybird Drive-in Radio via Shortwave Gold. We’ve got the matinee and evening spots booked for you so there’s no need to arrive early. Make yourself a tasty snack (hot dogs, tacos, ice cream, a burger or perhaps some popcorn?) and turn on the shortwave radio. Then imagine you’re in a cadillac, tilt your seat back and enjoy all sorts of cinema related tunes as you would in an outdoor experience (until you’re listening to the radio outdoors). Enjoy the evening’s programme!

Then on Wednesday 4th September 2024 at 0200 UTC on 9395 kHz we’ll be bringing you the Skybird Drive-in Radio experience to all our listeners at WRMI. Do please remember to replace speakers when you leave. Here’s our trailer!

We now have a Patreon page for our regular listeners here. Monthly memberships are available for exclusive audio and zines.

For more information on all our shows, please send  to [email protected] and check out our old shows at our Mixcloud page here.

It’s shortwave rodeo time!

Hi it’s FastRadioBurst 23 here letting you know what Imaginary Stations will be bringing to you via the shortwaves this week. On Sunday 25th August 2024 at 0900/1300 hrs UTC on 6160 kHz and then at 2000 UTC on 6160 kHz and 3975 kHz they have WEST via Shortwave Gold. Don’t worry, there won’t be any quick on the draw competitions or mandatory poncho wearing but just some great western inspired tunes with whistling, twangy guitars, a bit of yodelling and some banjo picking. So next Sunday sit by the chuck waggon and put the shortwave radio on and strum along with your guitar to the sound of WEST.

Then via WRMI on Wednesday 28st August 2024 at 0200 UTC on 9395 kHz we’ll be bringing you yet another version of WEST for you campfire listening pleasure. So gather around the radio with all of your stablemates and enjoy a great old programme of way out western fun.

We now have a Patreon page for our regular listeners here. Monthly memberships are available for exclusive audio and zines.

For more information on all our shows, please send  to [email protected] and check out our old shows at our Mixcloud page here.

More shortwave solutions for the summer

Hi it’s FastRadioBurst 23 here letting you know what Imaginary Stations will be bringing to you via the shortwaves this week, sunspots permitting of course. On Sunday 18th August 2024 at 0900/1300 hrs UTC on 6160 kHz and then at 2000 UTC on 6160 kHz and 3975 kHz they have COOL 6 via Shortwave Gold. More summer vibes from the Imaginary Stations crew from the comfort of their sun lounger.

Then via WRMI on Wednesday 21st August 2024 at 0200 UTC on 9395 kHz we’ll be bringing you a back to school special of KMART, your “official supermarket shortwave radio station”. Expect voucher give-aways, extended opening hours and the best blue light specials on the planet (*All subject to availability of course). Tune in and enjoy an alternative to shopping on the shortwave dial.

We now have a Patreon page for our regular listeners here. Monthly memberships are available for exclusive audio and zines.

For more information on all our shows, please send  to [email protected] and check out our old shows at our Mixcloud page here.