|
Post by MonkeyMan on Jun 28, 2017 20:58:00 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by MonkeyMan on Jun 27, 2017 17:10:37 GMT -5
Moved the "monster" up to the addition and the SX-434 to the test bench in the basement. I felt the SX-1050 should be seen, heard and enjoyed while it's little cousin is much easier to spin around in order to connect other equipment to. The SX-1050 literally hurts my ears approaching 1/2 volume..
|
|
|
FM Dxing
Jun 27, 2017 16:07:26 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by MonkeyMan on Jun 27, 2017 16:07:26 GMT -5
I remember about 12 or so years ago I drove over to my buddy's house and on the way I noticed almost all the local FM stations were gone and replaced with others I had never heard before. He was at his pool with the radio on and we pondered what the heck was going on as it lasted quite some time. If I recall correctly it was late August or very early September and a very clear, cool low humidity day. I knew it was "conditions", but I never heard anything like it before, or since for that matter.
|
|
|
Post by MonkeyMan on Jun 27, 2017 12:14:21 GMT -5
Any rule(s) of thumb to determine if these conditions were tropo ducting or sporadic e? TV channels 2 and 6 were also affected at the time so I was assuming sporadic e. The higher you go in frequency, the tougher it is to get ionospheric "skip". VHF typically does not "skip" very often, and usually relies on ducting or refraction to "go long". But considering the distance involved, I'd have to assume that it was sporatic-E as well. A rare one for sure. 6 meters likes the summer "E" skip, but for 2 meters and above it's much less likely, though certainly far from impossible. The FM broadcast band is right at that cusp at the transition to VHF. I suppose it doesn't matter which condition was causing it as long as I'm getting some DX, I was just curious if there was some discerning characteristic(s) to one or the other that would help determine which it was. I did however find a Facebook group discussing the great "e conditions" on Sunday, so that's what I'm running with. I also found a tropo ducting forecast site which showed weak ducting conditions over PA on Sunday, but if I understand correctly ducting is directional, so for me to pick up Michigan there would also have to be some connection between PA and MI, which there wasn't. Again, if I'm understanding this all correctly. The same site is predicting fairly decent conditions Friday and through the weekend, so I'll have to keep my ears peeled. Also on Sunday, 101.7, the religious station a mile away from me which comes in full scale, needle pegged was completely overridden by some "hot AC" station from parts unknown. I waited and listened, but never got the station ID.
|
|
|
Post by MonkeyMan on Jun 26, 2017 13:37:12 GMT -5
Finally, conditions! Just picked up 94.9 WMMQ from Lansing Michigan, 490 miles. Only for a brief time, but I was lucky enough to catch the station ID. Any rule(s) of thumb to determine if these conditions were tropo ducting or sporadic e? TV channels 2 and 6 were also affected at the time so I was assuming sporadic e.
|
|
|
Post by MonkeyMan on Jun 25, 2017 14:01:02 GMT -5
Finally, conditions! Just picked up 94.9 WMMQ from Lansing Michigan, 490 miles. Only for a brief time, but I was lucky enough to catch the station ID.
|
|
|
Post by MonkeyMan on Jun 22, 2017 16:30:01 GMT -5
Well, as luck would have it, I will not be able to make tomorrow (6/21) night's CRR. Softball tournament in north Jersey starting Wednesday afternoon, which means I'll be out of town . Hopefully Pete will 'gate it, and I'll get to hear what I missed....... I missed it too. On vacation.
|
|
|
Post by MonkeyMan on Jun 19, 2017 14:52:49 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by MonkeyMan on Jun 13, 2017 20:50:54 GMT -5
That's insane. I ship heavy audio gear and nothing costs that much to ship, at least not in the lower 48. And I tend to go overboard with the packing material, double-boxed sometimes, too.
|
|
|
Post by MonkeyMan on Jun 11, 2017 15:26:24 GMT -5
Speaking of this, I watched the first of three episodes and I wasn't wowed, pretty much forgot about it. I have so free time this evening so I may give episode two a look-see.
|
|
|
Post by MonkeyMan on Jun 11, 2017 10:50:18 GMT -5
Yup. He's probably looking at the AC power rating on the rear. Total newbie, lol.
|
|
|
Post by MonkeyMan on Jun 9, 2017 11:19:02 GMT -5
Gay space monkey? That might be my second cousin on my dad's side, lol.
|
|
|
Post by MonkeyMan on Jun 8, 2017 10:21:18 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by MonkeyMan on Jun 7, 2017 18:50:47 GMT -5
I see similar antennas all over the place, some in better shape than others. One particular example in Stowe looks to be in great shape and is quite large. It sits on a stately, well kept colonial. I envision a little old couple inside, sitting on the same sofa they bought back then, with plastic covers of course. Probably watching reruns of I love Lucy with the volume all the way up, lol. But I digress.
|
|
|
Post by MonkeyMan on Jun 7, 2017 9:07:34 GMT -5
TV, and an old one, actually two. The top section "bow-ties" are for VHF and the lower rectangle screen-looking thingy is for UHF. The bird is optional, lol.
|
|
|
Post by MonkeyMan on Jun 6, 2017 16:06:59 GMT -5
One of my favorites. Nice find!
|
|
|
Post by MonkeyMan on Jun 6, 2017 10:41:59 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by MonkeyMan on Jun 6, 2017 10:31:27 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by MonkeyMan on Jun 6, 2017 5:04:53 GMT -5
Funny part is that I bought them without her even knowing when she was looking at the clothes. I saw the B&Ws when I first came in and she kept following me around. Had to prod her to go look at another isle. Got my 25% off, then I sneaked them out to the station wagon and put them discreetly in way in the back... It was a very smooth move. You would have been proud of me. She didn't notice 'til she looked at the bank statement days later and said "they must have double charged me for those cloths I got there" Thought I was in the clear, then I had to fess up She got hit by a smoove criminal.
|
|
|
Post by MonkeyMan on Jun 4, 2017 14:41:01 GMT -5
I told my wife that I didn't want to go to the Thrift Store, but she had me go anyways. Sure 'nuff found another pair of vintage speakers. This time a pair of English made B&W DM22 floor speakers. I could not have afforded these back in the '80s that's for sure. View AttachmentView AttachmentNice score! I'm going to the wrong thrift stores.
|
|
|
Post by MonkeyMan on Jun 1, 2017 14:21:33 GMT -5
With the summer season upon us, how about a Tiki Beach night? Everyone throw on their favorite pair of shorts and flip flops/sandals, grab a cold beverage of choice, and maybe put on some Beach Boys in the background. Yeah, I know it's not radio related, but that's all I got. Hmmmm..... Well, I can dig up one of my daughter's old plastic wading pools, put it down in the basement and fill it with water and put the radio on a table next to it. Maybe I can find an imported Italian leather sofa from Rent-A-Center and complete the image...... Sounds good. I'll order one of those Uniden wireless mics so I can run the Lincoln from the back yard, under the sprinkler of course.
|
|
|
Post by MonkeyMan on Jun 1, 2017 10:40:39 GMT -5
...Any ideas for a theme for next week's CRR? Throw a couple out and I'll put them up for a vote. With the summer season upon us, how about a Tiki Beach night? Everyone throw on their favorite pair of shorts and flip flops/sandals, grab a cold beverage of choice, and maybe put on some Beach Boys in the background. Yeah, I know it's not radio related, but that's all I got.
|
|
|
Post by MonkeyMan on May 31, 2017 16:15:11 GMT -5
Have to go see a man about a car, but I hope to make it in there tonight.
|
|
|
Post by MonkeyMan on May 27, 2017 10:24:41 GMT -5
Scored a nice pair of classic Cerwin Vega AT-10 floor speakers from the Liberty Thrift Store for $15. Since the foam is shot on the woofers I ordered up a re-foam kit from eBay. Can't wait to hear those red CV speakers rock again after I give them a polish. View AttachmentView AttachmentWhich Liberty, and did they have any more gear?
|
|
|
Post by MonkeyMan on May 24, 2017 15:57:23 GMT -5
Don't think I'll make it. Today is our 20th wedding anniversary and wandering off to talk on the radio is probably not in my best interest. In my absence perhaps some discussion about a possible meet/coffee break?
|
|
|
Post by MonkeyMan on May 21, 2017 15:09:47 GMT -5
Found the perfect place for the SX-434, in the additio..., err, "unfinished back porch". Paired with vintage Panasonic speakers... Looks like it was made for that table. Guess it's not going to sit on the shelf at work...... Yeah, fits perfectly. It'll be of more use here at home, and I'll be able to fully exercise it's 15 watts per channel. Prepping dinner and listening to The Who as I type...
|
|
|
Post by MonkeyMan on May 21, 2017 11:15:46 GMT -5
Found the perfect place for the SX-434, in the additio..., err, "unfinished back porch". Paired with vintage Panasonic speakers...
|
|
|
Post by MonkeyMan on May 20, 2017 11:53:28 GMT -5
I tried to access the volume pot this morning via removing the amplifier board, but I got to the point where things weren't cooperating. After seeing pics online I thought it might be easier than it looked, but it definitely wasn't. What I did manage to do was gain just the slightest access via the front, behind the faceplate. With the amp board floating loose I was able to get the straw on the cleaner can into the pot. After reassembly all is working well and the volume issue is 99% gone, just a hint of scratchiness at the very bottom of the scale. I'm just impressed that I didn't ruin it
|
|
|
Post by MonkeyMan on May 19, 2017 11:15:43 GMT -5
... he told us he was hanging up the mic early last night because of some belated Mothers Day obligations... That was me. I popped in for a bit, mentioned a get-together/coffee break, then bailed to "go pay attention to the wife". Which worked in my favor quite well, if you know what I mean.
|
|
|
Post by MonkeyMan on May 18, 2017 21:18:44 GMT -5
I think your observations are on the money. I think the wiper arm of one of the volume pots is "bent". Not sure how it got that way, but the volume always seemed louder on one channel than the other. I used to compensate by adjusting the balance control. It's a real bugger getting access to the control pots, which is probably why I never replaced the volume pot. Pure laziness on my part..... Well, after working the volume control back and forth several dozen times it has improved a wee bit, even the binding feeling. It may just need a good cleaning, I'm certain it would help to some degree. Meh, no biggie. I also used the balance control to even it out. Works like a charm. Finally popped the covers off this thing tonight, and man are those pots buried deep. I didn't have time to do a tear-down, so I continued working the volume control manually, and it's helping. The nasty distortion in the left channel with it all the way down is gone, as well as the binding feeling. The left channel pretty much has evened out with the right and it only drops out, say between "2" and "3", although if I apply slight pressure to the control the left drops back in. I think with a little more use it'll be right as rain.
|
|