{"id":67205,"date":"2026-09-27T06:57:35","date_gmt":"2026-09-27T10:57:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=67205"},"modified":"2026-09-27T06:57:35","modified_gmt":"2026-09-27T10:57:35","slug":"bobs-radio-corner-focusing-on-hardware","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2026\/09\/bobs-radio-corner-focusing-on-hardware\/","title":{"rendered":"Bob’s Radio Corner: Focusing on Hardware"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Figure contributed by Copilot<\/p><\/div>\n

By Bob Colegrove<\/strong><\/p>\n

I have a friend who has collected antique cars for many years. So far, his collection is no immediate challenge to that of Jay Leno. However, it is his<\/i> collection, and he is very proud of it. The cars festoon the inside of a large barn on his rural property. You will rarely see one of his vehicles out on the interstate. He has gone beyond the primary function of using these cars to get from Point A to Point B. Instead, he has chosen to focus on the means of transport \u2013 the cars themselves \u2013 the hardware.<\/p>\n

By way of that analogy my point is that whatever your interest, the primary objective of the endeavor may become incidental, and the focus transforms to hardware. Take radio for example. I have spoken a couple of times about the many facets of radio. The primary interest is simply listening to program content, with perhaps a concentration in DXing. Others among us have gone beyond this function and attend seriously to the container the sound comes from \u2013 the radio \u2013 the hardware. This interest might be subdivided into collecting, restoring or modifying radios.<\/p>\n

As proof, I have observed that the most interest in this blog is generated by radio reviews. There is a noticeable increase in the pulse rate whenever a new model comes to market. We seem easily infected with curiosity, and comments soon append the original posting. What are the possibilities? Does it have SSB? What are the bandwidths, etc.? Appearance is important; features are important; ergonomics is important. How well does it perform?<\/p>\n

What Attracts Us to Hardware<\/h1>\n

Appearances<\/h3>\n

Our reaction is sometimes irrational. Techno-appeal might very well be the first grabber. Certain radios are captivating, irresistible. Examples are the Transoceanic, the old German manufacturers like Grundig, Blaupunkt, Telefunken, and then that RCA dial that shows up here on SWLing Post<\/em> occasionally. You get the idea. In each of these examples, the beauty of the beast draws us into a closer look. There is a feeling that this radio will carry us off on an exciting adventure.<\/p>\n

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An attractive setup conjured by Copilot<\/p><\/div>\n

Appearance gets serious attention from the manufacturers. Raymond Lowey, a noted industrial designer of the last century, was hired by Hallicrafters to bring some of its products out of the pre-WWII functional motif into a more appealing modern appearance. Examples included the SX-42 (1946), S-40A (1947), and S-38\/S-38A (1946\u201347). These models helped shift Hallicrafters from purely technical ham gear to stylish consumer electronics, blending streamlined industrial design with functional engineering.<\/p>\n

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Raymond Lowey<\/p><\/div>\n

Features<\/h3>\n

Of course, features are an important checkbox. We all have our lists. Although there is an ordered list of popular items, features come down to personal preferences. You know what you want. Sometimes it is a compromise based on what is available. Sometimes it is a compromise based on economics.<\/p>\n

Ergonomics<\/h3>\n

The relative ease of operation generally occupies a portion of receiver reviews \u2013 the ergonomics. In general, entry and recall of memory locations has become a feature of diminishing returns (see https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2023\/11\/if-memory-serves-me-right\/<\/a>).<\/p>\n