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!
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!
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.
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!
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Nick Booras, who writes:
Hi Thomas
I just picked up a new to me radio that [is] very rare in the US.
I loved it so much I did a comparison to an 8711 and a FTDX101MP. The Skanti presented very well.
Click here to view on YouTube.
Excellent Nick! Thank you so much for sharing this and for demonstrating some weak signal work. You were certainly pitting the Skanti against some benchmark performers!
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Giuseppe Morlè (IZ0GZW), who shares the following:
Dear Thomas and Friends of the SWLing Post,
I’m Giuseppe Morlè from Formia, central Italy on the Tyrrhenian Sea.
This time I want to show you 2 QRP connections made with minimal antenna over long distance and very few watts of power…
The antenna is a simple dipole, 5 meters per arm, 1/4 wave for 20 meters, on a bnc / banana socket directly on the Icom 705. You’ll see that the ROS is really optimal.
I wanted to experience this very simple antenna, easy to prepare in this location surrounded by greenery, Monte Orlando Park in Gaeta on my favorite DX bench;
this location is at 120 meters above sea level and facing south / west following the long path. A suitable place for the extreme right made especially for a receiver like the Icom 705– fantastic modulation and without any kind of noise.
In the first video the contact with VK2GJC, Greg from Australia who struggles a little to listen to me but immediately understands my name. As you can hear Greg’s voice is without any imperfection even if his signal is not that high:
In the second video, another link with Australia, VK5AVB, Tony from Kangaroo Island.
Tony had a hard time understanding my name but with the help of Nicola, IU5EYV from Tuscany, in pure Ham Spirit, he finally managed to log me:
As you can see, even with very minimal antennas hoisted on nearby trees, not even high from the ground, you can listen and contact over long distances … that’s why I love this place so much!
Thanks to you all, a cordial greeting from Italy.
Many thanks, once again, Giuseppe for showing us just how much fun we can have by building our own antennas and hopping on the air with very little power. I must say: you certainly play radio in a beautiful part of the world! Thank you!
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Adid, who writes:
The Erres KY-418 Radio set assembly line. You must watch this:
Click here to view on YouTube.
My heart goes to the poor guys who work under all that machinery noise with no ear plugs or with no mask when spray paint.
Everything is hand made in-house even the loudspeakers, coils or the rotary switches….
Just remember that WWII is on while it was made and I don’t think the KY-418 was a cheap radio…
Regards, Adi
Thank you for sharing this, Adid. You’re right: there were a few generations of folks who lost much of their hearing early on due to the constant noise on factory floors.
That said, I’ve been enjoying these videos of early radio production lines. Thank you!
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mike Hansgen, who shares this video showing how radios were made in the VEF (Valsts elektrotehniska Fabrika) factory in Riga, Latvia in 1936: