Tag Archives: Videos

Video: OM0ET’s review of the ATS-120

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who writes:

This review of the ATS-120 is quite good and should be of interest to SWLing readers. This is a feature packed portable, with some quirks such as lack of FM mode on shortwave. It has a LNA amp feature that appears to duplicate the Hi-Z function on Malachite portables. It has a very good feature that enables vertical or horizontal screen display. And it has both BT and WIFI.

On the downside the reviewer notes cross modulation from AM/FM signals which appears even with the LNA pre-amp off. I would say that for anyone interested in this receiver, perhaps waiting until design changes address this and other downsides.

Thank you for this review recommendation, Dan. Looking at eBay, I see that the ATS-120 is pretty affordable at about $115 US shipped. 

Readers: If you’ve ordered the ATS-120, we’d love to hear your thoughts!

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AWA Video: HCJB “High in the Andes”

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mark (AE2EA), who writes: 

Good Morning Thomas,

The Antique Wireless Museum has just released a video of a presentation
by AWA member Rich Place about his time working at HCJB, The Voice of
the Andes. I thought your SWLing members might be interested.

Click here to view on YouTube.

AWA member and RF engineer Rich Place, WB2JLR, made multiple trips to
Ecuador to work at the HCJB transmitter and he relates his experiences
with some of the unique challenges associated with operating a high
power shortwave transmitter at a high, dry elevation, in a remote
location near Quito Ecuador.

73, Mark ~ AE2EA

Thank you for the tip, Mark!

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Short Video: Paul tunes in Rádio Nacional da Amazônia with his ATS25 in McGrath, Alaska

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Walker, who shares the following video of his open-air DX shack in McGrath, Alaska. Paul notes:

I got my iRig working and recorded audio of Rádio Nacional da Amazônia on 11780 kHz directly from the radio into my phone and it sounds really good with such a strong signal here in ALASKA. Take a listen….

Click here to view on YouTube.

Thanks for sharing this, Paul! That does sound amazing–like a local station!

You, sir, are a true DXer! Anyone who regularly braves frigid temps to chase far-flung DX is made of some incredibly tough stuff!

Thanks for sharing, Paul!

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What does the “Beat Cut” function actually do?

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, John, who writes:

The video below started with a curious investigation of a mysterious button found on 1980/90 era cassette recorders…. just to end up as being essential knowledge that we probably never had back on the day during our listening sessions.

I think the blog readers will love the most recent video from VWestlife:

Click here to view on YouTube.

Thank you for sharing, John!

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Wlodek repairs a near mint Sony ICF-SW7600

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Sony ICF-SW7600 (Source: Universal Radio)

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Wlodek, who has been quite busy repairing vintage receivers and ham radio gear during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Wlod’s neighborhood in Kiev experiences frequent blackouts, thus much of his soldering work must be done while mains power is available.

Wlod just shared the following video documenting a recent repair he did on a new-old-stock Sony ICF-SW7600.

Wlod notes:

One of [my last repairs] was new old stock Sony ICF-SW7600 restoration. One guy watched my past videos and wanted one for himself. I don’t know where he found it in such excellent external condition, but age and typical problems require it to be prophylaxis.

The first turn on and it does not receive the station at all. These receivers have a known problem of leaking electrolytic capacitors. They also need to be alignment.

I demonstrate how to safely remove old capacitors.

Click here to view on YouTube.

Thank you so much for sharing this with us, Wlod! What a beautiful portable in near mint condition! 

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Frans add a Decca manual antenna tuner to his urban listening post

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Frans Goddijn, who writes:

Hi Thomas:

I bought a vintage antenna tuner, one that does not need a power source, very basic just a box with some beautiful coils and nice big variable capacitors and it works for the big magnetic loop antenna here.

I have four GRAHN loop antennas which each have their box with dials to fine tune the signal but the big loop didn’t have that yet.

The tuner works well, filters out some noise but I must say the iCOM radio also managed to select good signal from the loop with its own tuner system and the DSP noise filter at the speaker end of the system further clears up the voice sounds.

Video:

Best regards,

Frans

The internals of manual antenna tuners are simply hypnotizing, aren’t they? You’ve a beautifully-built tuner there that is functional and will outlive us all!

Thank you for sharing!

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