{"id":7661,"date":"2013-10-25T08:17:41","date_gmt":"2013-10-25T12:17:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=7661"},"modified":"2013-10-25T09:33:38","modified_gmt":"2013-10-25T13:33:38","slug":"listener-post-ken-mckenzie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2013\/10\/listener-post-ken-mckenzie\/","title":{"rendered":"Listener Post: Ken McKenzie"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Analog<\/a>Ken McKenzie’s radio story is the latest in a new series called\u00a0Listener Posts<\/em><\/a>, where I will place all of your personal radio histories. If you would like to add your story<\/a> to the mix,\u00a0simply send your story by email<\/a>!<\/p>\n

In the meantime,\u00a0many thanks<\/em>\u00a0to Ken for sharing his personal radio history:<\/p>\n

\n

Ken McKenzie<\/h2>\n

My interest started somewhat like yours in that I “discovered” the family’s old WW2 Viking console radio in the basement. Besides the AM band it had 3 SW bands. The Viking brand name was made for a large coast to coast Canadian department store.
\nIt still had the required license glued inside from the WW2 days.<\/p>\n

\"Hallicrafters<\/a>

Hallicrafters SX-25 Super Defiant Advertisement (Image: Rich Post)<\/p><\/div>\n

I attached a 20 or 30 foot piece of wire to the antenna terminal and draped the wire over the back stair railing. Within 2 or 3 minutes I was listening to an English language broadcast from Japan. So, I got my dad to help me drag the old gal up to my attic bedroom. For the next 10 months or so every spare moment I had I spent spinning that dial.<\/p>\n

Then about the Christmas of 1960 or 1961 my parents gave me a used Hallicrafters SX-25 Super Defiant. My dad had a customer who was a Ham. He asked him if he new of a shortwave radio he could buy for his son. Turns out VE7FC was selling the SX-25. He had won a contest with it. The winner was the 1st Ham to work a particular Antarctic station on CW. Someone had added voltage regulation to the SX-25 so it was a bit more stable than stock. For the next 15 years I was glued to that Hallicrafters!<\/p>\n

Then one day there was a short in one of the capacitors and the whole chassis went hot with 380 volts. I unplugged the old girl and put her away as at that time I just didn’t have the money to fix it. I knew replacing one cap wasn’t the answer. I knew most had to be replaced. That was a BIG job and over my head at that point. Then with a new job my fortunes changed and in 1989 just as that wonderful sun spot cycle was on the way up I bought myself a Kenwood R-5000. Well you can imagine how that changed the game!<\/p>\n

\"JRC<\/a>

JRC NRD-535D<\/p><\/div>\n

I was up at all hours chasing Utilities DX at that point. I added a Universal M-7000 RTTY decoder, 2 wire antennas, audio processing, tape recorders, etc. Then about 1996 I bought a JRC NRD-535D with the matching active speaker from a retired man in Saskatchewan Canada. He had received it as a retirement gift. Less than a year later he moved from the suburbs into the city a couple of hundred feet away from a power substation. His listening days were over. I got this radio for $800 and when he said it was mint he meant it!!! Absolutely spotless. Between the R-5000 and the 535D I was in heaven. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Now I have a little FiFi SDR to play with and am looking long and hard at a QS1R or an Excalibur or Excalibur Pro….still gathering data.<\/p>\n

These days the M-7000 isn’t even plugged in but one of my PCs decodes HFDL and ACARS. A little RTL looks for Mode-S radar. So I am still at it. I still enjoy twirling the dials on the two “real radios” but have to admit the SDRs of this day and age have
\nSO many advantages when chasing DX.<\/p>\n

\n

Many thanks, Ken, for sharing your story!<\/em>
\n Click here to read our growing collection of Listener Posts!<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ken McKenzie’s radio story is the latest in a new series called\u00a0Listener Posts, where I will place all of your personal radio histories. If you would like to add your story to the mix,\u00a0simply send your story by email! In the meantime,\u00a0many thanks\u00a0to Ken for sharing his personal radio history: Ken McKenzie My interest started […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2262,305],"tags":[2279,4122,758],"class_list":["post-7661","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-listener-posts","category-nostalgia","tag-ken-mckenzie","tag-listener-posts","tag-radio-stories"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-1Zz","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":18708,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/05\/video-repairing-restoring-and-modifying-a-sony-crf-320\/","url_meta":{"origin":7661,"position":0},"title":"Video: Repairing, restoring and modifying a Sony CRF-320","author":"Thomas","date":"May 7, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ken\u00a0McKenzie, for sharing the most comprehensive video you'll ever find\u00a0on restoring the Sony CRF-320 receiver: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AlfJ1dxTuWI Click here to watch on YouTube. Make sure you check out Mr. Carlson's YouTube channel, Mr. Carlson's Lab\u00a0where you'll find repair videos ranging from solid state to tube\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "How To"","block_context":{"text":"How To","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/how-to\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Sony-CRF-320","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Sony-CRF-320.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Sony-CRF-320.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Sony-CRF-320.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Sony-CRF-320.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":26761,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/06\/woot-deal-two-pack-of-etongrundig-executive-travelers-for-94-99\/","url_meta":{"origin":7661,"position":1},"title":"Woot Deal: Two pack of Eton\/Grundig Executive Travelers for $94.99","author":"Thomas","date":"June 28, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ken McKenzie, who shares the following deal via Woot: a two pack of Eton Executive Travelers for $94.99 US: Click here to view on Woot. Woot has a great reputation--I've purchased from them several times. You can buy with confidence. Note the following, however:\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Deals"","block_context":{"text":"Deals","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/deals\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Woot-Grundig-Eton-Traveller-1024x476.jpeg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Woot-Grundig-Eton-Traveller-1024x476.jpeg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Woot-Grundig-Eton-Traveller-1024x476.jpeg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":18305,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/04\/a-qs1r-replacement-in-the-works\/","url_meta":{"origin":7661,"position":2},"title":"A QS1R replacement in the works?","author":"Thomas","date":"April 16, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ken McKenzie, who noticed the following message from\u00a0Phil Covington (of\u00a0Software Radio Laboratory LLC) on the QS1R Yahoo group: I am working on a replacement for the QS1R that will be less expensive, yet use updated components. I am hoping to have them in production\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "New Products"","block_context":{"text":"New Products","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/new-products\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"qs1r_front_sm1","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/qs1r_front_sm1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":19548,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/06\/video-yaesu-ft-1000mp-repair\/","url_meta":{"origin":7661,"position":3},"title":"Video: Yaesu FT-1000MP Repair","author":"Thomas","date":"June 20, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Remember\u00a0Mr. Carlson's excellent video of the Sony\u00a0CRF-320 restoration? Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor,\u00a0Ken McKenzie, who shares a link to the latest Mr. Carlson video--a Yaesu FT-1000MP repair: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=aieMZNC4m_0","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Yesu-FT1000MP-Reapir","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/Yesu-FT1000MP-Reapir.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/Yesu-FT1000MP-Reapir.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/Yesu-FT1000MP-Reapir.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":43290,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/06\/listener-post-mike-stutzers-love-of-radio-began-with-a-hallicrafters-s-120\/","url_meta":{"origin":7661,"position":4},"title":"Listener Post: Mike Stutzer’s love of radio began with a Hallicrafters S-120","author":"Thomas","date":"June 22, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mike Stutzer, who recently shared the following listener post: I started SWLing as a teenager. My favorite uncle gave me a Hallicrafters S-120. My dad hung a longwire under an eave and through a casement window frame into my bedroom. I marveled at all\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Hallicrafters-S-120.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Hallicrafters-S-120.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Hallicrafters-S-120.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Hallicrafters-S-120.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7669,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2013\/11\/listener-post-eric-weatherall\/","url_meta":{"origin":7661,"position":5},"title":"Listener Post: Eric Weatherall","author":"Thomas","date":"November 4, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Eric Weatherall\u2019s radio story is the latest in a new series called Listener Posts, where I will place all of your personal radio histories. If you would like to add your story to the mix, simply send your story by email! In the meantime, many thanks to Eric for sharing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Listener Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Listener Posts","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/listener-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"KA1102-300x189","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/KA1102-300x189.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7661","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7661"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7661\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7661"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7661"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7661"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}