Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Gary DeBock, who shares the following notes and video:
The 7.5 inch (19cm) loopstick Radiwow R-108 model “smokes” the stock R-108 model in this video demonstration of receiving daytime DX fringe station 550-KARI in Blaine, WA (5 kW at 150 miles). The modification uses the same enhanced loopstick as described in the XHDATA D-808 “Supercharging” article, and is reasonably easy to complete (although some experience is recommended)
While browsing the QTH.com classifieds last weekend, I found an ad for a Ten-Tec Argonaut V (Model 516).
The Argo V was a general coverage HF transceiver produced by TEN-TEC starting around 2003 or so. When it was introduced to market, I wanted one because I thought not only would it be a great QRP transceiver, but TEN-TEC rigs tended to have brilliant audio and were capable broadcast band receivers.
The seller described it as being in “pristine condition and operating to factory specs on all bands.”
The seller seemed to be a nice fellow and sent me a number of photos with his QSL card in the image and his email address matched what was on file with QRZ.com. The seller checked out on many levels confirming this wasn’t a scam (always assume a classifieds listing could be a scam!).
I purchased it last week and it was delivered today.
The first thing I did after connecting it to a power supply was tune to the 31 meter band, switch the mode to AM, and widen the variable filter to 6 kHz (the Argo’s max AM bandwidth).
So far, I’m impressed!
For a ham radio transceiver, I can tell that the Argo V is going to be a competent rig for casual shortwave radio listening.
I also tuned to the mediumwave band (not having even checked in advance its lower RX limit) and am happy to report that it covers the whole AM BC band as well.
If I’m being honest, though, the real reason I’ve always wanted an Argonaut V, specifically, is because I absolutely love the front panel design of this radio.
The large LED digit frequency display is fabulous and has–as my buddy Eric put it–a certain “Apollo era” aesthetic. The large frequency display was one of my favorite things about my beloved OMNI VI+ as well.
I’ll admit that I also love a good analog meter!
The Argonaut V also has a very simple, very Ten-Tec, front panel with good field ergonomics. In fact, the Argo V is a very simple radio: there are no modern features like message memory keying, built-in batteries, nor does it have an internal ATU.
Although spec-wise, I’ve much better receivers at SWLing Post HQ, I’m looking forward traveling the shortwaves with the Argo V!
From the Isle of Music, November 7-13 (includes new B21 times):
This week, our guest Mario Salvador presents his interesting new jazz album on the EGREM label, Ciudad Fantasia.
1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in most of the Eastern Hemisphere (including parts of East Asia and Oceania) with 100Kw, Sunday 1500-1600 UTC on SpaceLine, 9400 KHz, from Sofia, Bulgaria (1800-1900 MSK)
2. For the Americas and parts of Europe, Tuesday 0100-0200 (NEW FOR B21) UTC on WBCQ, 7490 kHz from Monticello, ME, USA (Monday 8-9PM EDT in the US).
3 & 4. For Europe and sometimes beyond, Tuesday 1900-2000 UTC and Saturday 1300-1400 UTC (NEW FOR B21) on Channel 292, 6070 kHz from Rohrbach, Germany.
Our Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/fromtheisleofmusic/
Our V-Kontakte page is https://vk.com/fromtheisleofmusic
Our Patreon page is https://www.patreon.com/tilford
Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot, November 7-13 (includes new B21 times):
In Episode 242, we explore the music of many of the Austronesian indigenous peoples of Taiwan.
The transmissions take place:
1.Sunday 2300-0000 NEW FOR B21 (6:00PM -7:00PM EDT) on WBCQ The Planet 7490 kHz from the US to the Americas and parts of Europe
2. Tuesday 2000-2100 UTC on Channel 292, 6070 kHz from Rohrbach, Germany for Europe.
3. Saturday 0800-0900 UTC on Channel 292, 9670 kHz from Rohrbach, Germany for Europe with a directional booster aimed eastward.
Our Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/UncleBillsMeltingPot/
Our V-Kontakte page is https://vk.com/fromtheisleofmusic
Our Patreon page is https://www.patreon.com/tilford
Sony ICF-SW7600GR
I recently received the following message from SWLing Post contributor, Larry Thompson:
I’m 74 and want to pare down my extensive receiver collection. I have a number of receivers and portable shortwaves, as well as antennas that I want to get to good homes. They would be free with the recipient just paying for shipping and packing at my local UPS store.
Wow, Larry! This is incredibly kind of you.
Larry has very few conditions:
Here are the items Larry is offering the SWLing Post community:
CountyComm GP5/SSB
If you feel like you’d give one of these items a good home, simply send an email to the address below with the following information:
We want to make this as easy for Larry as possible and for him not to end up paying the difference in shipping, so if you ask for an item, please be willing to pay at least the full price his UPS store asks.
Here’s the temporary email address for Larry’s giveaway: [email protected]
When all items have been accounted for, I’ll update this article with a message at the top of the post and delete the email forwarding address.
My back of the envelop calculations indicate that Larry is easily giving away $700-900+ worth of radio gear.
Thank you so much, Larry, for spreading the radio love!
Guest Post by Troy Riedel
Click to enlarge the photo
I decided to compose a post that ‘kills two birds with one stone’.
Almost every time a post appears here that states something like “Amazon its selling WXYZ Shortwave Portable for the lowest price I’ve ever seen”, I typically post a comment “doesn’t everyone use Keepa”?
Okay, lets kill the two birds:
Bird #1: Amazon (3rd party seller fulfilled by Amazon) started bundling the Eton Elite Field BT Radio, a carry satchel & the Eton Elite Mini 30-days ago (how do I know, I’ll explain that below with bird #2). The bundle was introduced at a price of $179.95. Frankly, given the street prices of the Elite Field with satchel & the under $25 street price of the Elite Mini, $179.95 wasn’t a great price. But at the time I start writing this post, 3-hours ago the price dropped to $139.00. That’s a pretty good price IF you’re looking to buy all 3 in this bundle (or even if you want the Field with satchel but choose to gift the Mini as a Christmas gift).
But this opportunity brings me to:
Bird #2: Keepa.
Click to enlarge the photo
Keepa is a great extension (pictured above loaded on my Safari browser). I have Keepa loaded into multiple browser applications. With Keepa loaded, I have a complete history of Amazon pricing. All-time Amazon pricing! Take a close look at the graphic (click to enlarge).
Keepa tells me this item has been listed on Amazon for 30-days. It tells me the starting price was $179.95. It gives me a day-by-day graph of the Amazon price. It shows me that the price dropped to $149.00 on October 26th at 16:56 EDT. And it tells me that, 3-hours ago, the price dropped to $139.00.
Want the average Amazon price over the last 90-days? Easy. What about the average Amazon price for the past 180-days? Easy – I get that, too (note: this item has only been listed for 30-days, so the 90-day & 180-day average pricing is the same).
Some of what I am telling you – re: the exact time of the price drop – is only visible when you’re [live] on the product page and you move your cursor over the graph (that info pops into view).
And here’s the best part: you can Manage Price Watches. What does that mean? I can set a target price and Keepa notifies me if/when the product’s price meets or goes below my target price (what I want to pay for it). I cannot tell you how many times I have had items with price watches set … and a few days … or a few weeks go by and <Ding>, I get an email notification that tells me my desired item has dropped below my target price. I set price watches for radios, tools, tents – even my contact lens solution! I Manage Price Watches for anything that can wait days, or weeks or even months to buy (I let the price dictate when I buy the item). Keepa even gives you 24-hours advance notice of an Amazon Lightning Deal.
In summary, this bundle is a pretty good deal as it includes two SW portables & a carrying satchel for the Field. But this also gave me an opportunity to show everyone how I use Keepa. I use Keepa for every item I view on Amazon. And if you look closely, there is an eBay link in Keepa … with a click of my mouse/track pad, I can compare eBay pricing to Amazon. If this item had ever been listed as “Used”, I could graphically track used pricing. Keepa also tracks Warehouse Deals & even the date, time & price of past Lightning Deals. Why would anyone not use this handy little extension? It’s like tracking a stock’s price history except I’m tracking a specific product’s price on Amazon.
But then again, if everyone did use Keepa … there’d be no point in readers sending Amazon deals to Thomas!
Guest post by Troy Riedel
I have badgered people I know – mainly this site’s owner, our friend Thomas. Question: does Eton still plan to bring the Elite Satellit to market?
Image Credit: Eton Corp
I’ve posted here before (in the Comments section of more than one post) stating “I’ll believe it when I see it”.
Last week I emailed Eton Corp and I flat-out asked them if they could provide a “status update” regarding the production of this radio and “do you still plan to bring [this model] to the marketplace”.
Moments ago, I received this email reply:
Hi Troy,
Thank you for your interest in the Elite Satellit radio. Due to the global shortage of chips and the backlog of delivery of materials to our manufacturer, it is taking much longer to bring this radio to market.
Thank you for your understanding and patience,
Esther
This isn’t very definitive … it offers very little detail, and no expected release date – but – it appears this project (proposed new model) has not been tabled, has not been canceled. Seeing as how it’s November 1st … Christmas is less than 8-weeks away – well, this would be a good time to ask the question because surely I would think an imminent release date would be best for business.
As such, I guess I’ll stand-by my comments over the past 18-months … “I’ll believe it when I see it”. The optimist in me is happy the reply wasn’t an outright cancellation of this gorgeous radio!
If there is anyone out there with more information, definitive information, I’m sure the SWLing Post Blog Nation would love to hear it. For now, I guess those of us interested will continue to wait. And those among us who still have doubts, this group “will believe it when we see it”!
