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Post by MonkeyMan on May 16, 2017 19:45:43 GMT -5
My latest acquisition, thanks to Sandbagger, is a lovely little Pioneer SX-434. It features 15 watts per channel and a fairly impressive FM tuner section. It was sold from 1974-1976 and originally retailed for $239. Adjusted for inflation, that equates to just under $1,250 in 2017 dollars! It's physically in great shape with only a couple operational flaws that I picked up on last night while taking it for a spin. Before I powered it up I noticed the volume control felt "scratchy" at the bottom of the scale, it almost feels like something is binding mechanical. It's hard to describe, but it feels almost a frayed wire end. Upon application of power there was a "pop" in the left speaker, and some nasty distortion on the left side with the volume all the way down. Not problem as there's no use in having the volume all the way down. Running up through the volume range it seemed the left channel was low, but at about two thirds volume it suddenly evens out. Me thinks the volume pot needs replaced, and I already found a source online. All lights except the FM stereo indicator are in working order. All in all this was a fine trade, and the little guy may end up on my desk at work. 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.
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Post by MonkeyMan on May 16, 2017 8:29:19 GMT -5
My latest acquisition, thanks to Sandbagger, is a lovely little Pioneer SX-434. It features 15 watts per channel and a fairly impressive FM tuner section. It was sold from 1974-1976 and originally retailed for $239. Adjusted for inflation, that equates to just under $1,250 in 2017 dollars! It's physically in great shape with only a couple operational flaws that I picked up on last night while taking it for a spin. Before I powered it up I noticed the volume control felt "scratchy" at the bottom of the scale, it almost feels like something is binding mechanical. It's hard to describe, but it feels almost a frayed wire end. Upon application of power there was a "pop" in the left speaker, and some nasty distortion on the left side with the volume all the way down. Not problem as there's no use in having the volume all the way down. Running up through the volume range it seemed the left channel was low, but at about two thirds volume it suddenly evens out. Me thinks the volume pot needs replaced, and I already found a source online. All lights except the FM stereo indicator are in working order. All in all this was a fine trade, and the little guy may end up on my desk at work.
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Post by MonkeyMan on May 15, 2017 13:21:15 GMT -5
Damn nice lookin Pioneer! Well Dave, it looks like both of us ended up with nice radios this week-end..and MonkeyMan bringing the 'tunes! Ironically, a reasonably priced tuner or receiver is what I was hoping to find at the radio show, and in a roundabout way I guess I did.
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Post by MonkeyMan on May 15, 2017 11:51:00 GMT -5
What's better than a trunk full of documents? A trunk full of vintage Pioneer...
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Post by MonkeyMan on May 15, 2017 7:34:43 GMT -5
Tomorrow? I work 2 minutes from the Turkey Hill in Stowe, and I usually go to lunch around 12:30-1:00, but I can go just about any time. And I'm done at 4:30. I'll put the radio in the car just in case... I can meet you there at 12:30-ish. That works perfectly. I'll see you tomorrow. Perfect, see you there around 12:35. BTW, the parking lot at Turkey Hill can get crazy around that time, so how about over in front of the dollar store (right next door), up close to High street? Think we met in that general location before. I'll be in my Pathfinder.
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Post by MonkeyMan on May 14, 2017 19:37:38 GMT -5
Approx. what time of day do you pass the Stowe exit on your way home? Well, considering that I'm no longer working, I'm pretty much around during the day, and certain nights when we don't have softball games. Tomorrow? I work 2 minutes from the Turkey Hill in Stowe, and I usually go to lunch around 12:30-1:00, but I can go just about any time. And I'm done at 4:30. I'll put the radio in the car just in case...
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Post by MonkeyMan on May 14, 2017 15:38:29 GMT -5
Well, wonders upon wonders, it cleaned up nicely and actually works! The volume pot has a few scratchy spots in it, but nothing too bad. Let me know when it's a good time for you to meet and swap. Approx. what time of day do you pass the Stowe exit on your way home?
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Post by MonkeyMan on May 14, 2017 9:12:58 GMT -5
Little sibling to my SX 1050! Let's do it. Message me and we can meet at Stowe Turkey Hill again if that's convenient for you. Give me a chance to clean it up and test it first. It's been sitting in my basement and it's accumulated a bit of dust.... Okie doke.
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Post by MonkeyMan on May 13, 2017 20:41:43 GMT -5
You have my attention. Can you tell me the model number? SX-434 Little sibling to my SX 1050! Let's do it. Message me and we can meet at Stowe Turkey Hill again if that's convenient for you.
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Post by MonkeyMan on May 13, 2017 17:09:42 GMT -5
Possibly, it would certainly save me some trouble. Well, knowing you like to collect vintage stereo receivers, I have a 70's vintage Pioneer unit that I haven't used in a number of years. It used to work, although I'm sure the pots are a bit scratchy by now. If that interests you, I'll dig it out and test it..... You have my attention. Can you tell me the model number?
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Post by MonkeyMan on May 13, 2017 13:44:36 GMT -5
It cleaned up rather nicely...
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Post by MonkeyMan on May 13, 2017 13:31:35 GMT -5
Hmm, a bit above my skill set and level of motivation. I also noticed the big cap on the power supply board looks leaky and above it, on the inside of the cover, is some dark shmuzt, kinda looks like soot. This one may end up going on the 'Bay. Maybe a trade opportunity? Possibly, it would certainly save me some trouble.
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Post by MonkeyMan on May 13, 2017 10:35:30 GMT -5
Hmm, a bit above my skill set and level of motivation. I also noticed the big cap on the power supply board looks leaky and above it, on the inside of the cover, is some dark shmuzt, kinda looks like soot.
This one may end up going on the 'Bay.
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Post by MonkeyMan on May 13, 2017 8:05:41 GMT -5
Okay, c179 is out. I have nice output, approx. 10 watts, on SSB but nearly nothing on am.
Strangely, if I adjust the am power vr all the way down I get the most out of it based on what I'm hearing/seeing on a monitor radio. Finals?
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Post by MonkeyMan on May 13, 2017 6:27:16 GMT -5
The little blue one, sure enough. Some folks just leave it off. Others have reported that a 2.2uf aluminum electrolytic works just as well. Should probably use one rated for 50 Volts if you use that type. We use a 35-Volt rated 2.2uf tantalum. The original one is rated for 25 Volts. Holds up just fine until the AM modulation gets turned up, then the higher audio voltage causes it to break down and short. The 35-Volt part holds up okay for us. 73 When you say some folks just leave it off, do you mean completely removed, or removed and jumped out? For me, removing it would be the best solution because I'm not sure my soldering skills (and tools) are up to the task. It's awful crowded on the underside of the board in that general area.
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Post by MonkeyMan on May 12, 2017 15:58:46 GMT -5
Found it! Little blue bugger, left front actually. Now to source a replacement...
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Post by MonkeyMan on May 12, 2017 15:48:52 GMT -5
Picked up a first gen Washington base today for $25. Powers up, and had transmit output very briefly, but quit. When keying on AM the relay clicks, as normal, but on SSB the relay chatters. I searched online and actually found a mention of the C179 cap right here on the forum. Apparently it could be the culprit, or at least one of them. My problem is that I can't find the darn thing. One post I read said back left of the board near the finals, but I'm not seeing it with these middle-aged eyeballs. Any guidance would be appreciated.
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FM mode???
May 11, 2017 20:45:38 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by MonkeyMan on May 11, 2017 20:45:38 GMT -5
I've had my FM equppied Galaxy Pluto for 25 years and I could count on one hand the number of times I've carried on a conversation in FM mode. Wouldn't even need the whole hand. Back in the mid 80's, I was part of a group who hung out on 26.675 FM. It was during a high skip period, and it was great for getting away from the AM hash and trash. Now, there's a good use for it.
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FM mode???
May 11, 2017 15:57:54 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by MonkeyMan on May 11, 2017 15:57:54 GMT -5
I've had my FM equppied Galaxy Pluto for 25 years and I could count on one hand the number of times I've carried on a conversation in FM mode. Wouldn't even need the whole hand.
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Post by MonkeyMan on May 9, 2017 20:24:13 GMT -5
I'll leave the technical details to someone else more qualified, and I'm sure I'll be corrected if I'm wrong, but...
A. Basically, yes B. Yes. And the range can be adjusted internally
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Post by MonkeyMan on May 9, 2017 13:20:47 GMT -5
Kinda looks like a Maco V58 without the radials.
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Post by MonkeyMan on May 9, 2017 8:57:25 GMT -5
You would have to put a spectrum analyzer on your antenna lead to see if there are interfering signals present, to know exactly what you are dealing with. I'm going to start "cheap & dirty". My dad has (had?) a portable radio that receives the TV bands, maybe that could shed some light. Ooo! I have a Sony Watchman laying around somewhere...
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Post by MonkeyMan on May 9, 2017 8:21:21 GMT -5
The 15 watt station is directly to the West, which is right into the back of the TV antenna... I think this station is the offender. Early on in my experiments I had the small RCA antenna hanging out the rear window of the house and I was receiving channel 12. I assume the house was blocking the FM signal (to some degree) coming from the West.
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Post by MonkeyMan on May 8, 2017 19:39:56 GMT -5
So, I've been enjoying free hi-def TV for a little over two years now and loving it. With my current set-up I'm receiving just about everything I could hope for, with the exception of PBS 12. All indications show that I should receive it, but no dice. Signal strength for channel 12 is typically low, in the 30-40 range, but signal quality is always a big 0. I receive other stations with similar signal strength, but with much higher quality numbers. Low quality numbers generally indicate interference. So today I was reading about interference in the hi VHF band and came across a few mentions of 2nd harmonic interference from nearby FM stations. www.tvtechnology.com/expertise/0003/dtv-interference-on-vhf-channels-413/203642Channel 12 spreads between 204 and 210 mhz, and I just happen to have two stations that could be potential trouble makers. 101.7 running 15 watts, .63 miles to the West and 103.5 running 200 watts, 1.66 miles to the Northeast. Both these stations peg the signal meter of all my FM tuners, so the potential is there. I'm going to try a filter as suggested and see if that helps. We shall see... Are those LPFM stations? are they any good in their program format? Back to your issue, I'm not sure if a filter will help you. If it is truly a 2nd harmonic of one of those stations, then that harmonic is on-channel for your channel 12 signal and can't be filtered out without filtering out the desired signal. Harmonic suppression would need to happen in the transmitter. Now if you are suffering from some sort of intermodulation products as a result of two strong signals combining and producing interference as a result of either sum or difference mix products, then a filter may help that. Also if the source of your interference is in a different direction from the desired signal, a tighter, higher gain antenna might help. You would have to put a spectrum analyzer on your antenna lead to see if there are interfering signals present, to know exactly what you are dealing with. I was just thinking about this and you read my mind, a 88-108 MHz filter isn't going to do a damn thing if the interference is from the 2nd harmonic(s). I also recalled that my antenna amp has an FM trap built in, so I crawled out to see if it was on, and it was. I switched it off and no difference, as I suspected. The 15 watt station is directly to the West, which is right into the back of the TV antenna. The other is mostly North, but a bit East as well, so that's coming into the side of the antenna. A higher gain antenna has been in the back of my mind, but do I want to drop another $100+ for PBS when I can get it on the Roku? Maybe if I could pick one up used or at a deep discount, but otherwise I think I'm going to leave this alone. Both stations carry religious programing. Maybe they're trying to tell me something?
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Post by MonkeyMan on May 8, 2017 12:36:37 GMT -5
So, I've been enjoying free hi-def TV for a little over two years now and loving it. With my current set-up I'm receiving just about everything I could hope for, with the exception of PBS 12. All indications show that I should receive it, but no dice. Signal strength for channel 12 is typically low, in the 30-40 range, but signal quality is always a big 0. I receive other stations with similar signal strength, but with much higher quality numbers. Low quality numbers generally indicate interference. So today I was reading about interference in the hi VHF band and came across a few mentions of 2nd harmonic interference from nearby FM stations. www.tvtechnology.com/expertise/0003/dtv-interference-on-vhf-channels-413/203642Channel 12 spreads between 204 and 210 mhz, and I just happen to have two stations that could be potential trouble makers. 101.7 running 15 watts, .63 miles to the West and 103.5 running 200 watts, 1.66 miles to the Northeast. Both these stations peg the signal meter of all my FM tuners, so the potential is there. I'm going to try a filter as suggested and see if that helps. We shall see...
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Post by MonkeyMan on May 4, 2017 20:18:46 GMT -5
Wow, big turn out for CRR 5/3/17. The Cobra 138 XLR did it's thing. Interesting that a few locals decided to ditch to another channel. Was it something we said ?? View AttachmentDon't take it personally. When it gets busy and you can't always get 2 words in edgewise, people will move off to get into a more involved conversation. Look what I did.
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Post by MonkeyMan on Apr 30, 2017 12:56:06 GMT -5
I don't hear anything over this way.
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Post by MonkeyMan on Apr 28, 2017 19:37:40 GMT -5
Oh man, $.97! Did you buy it?
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Post by MonkeyMan on Apr 24, 2017 17:45:47 GMT -5
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Post by MonkeyMan on Apr 19, 2017 8:07:36 GMT -5
In the 1920s, as radio took over the pop music business, record companies were forced to leave their studios in major cities in search of new styles and markets. Ranging the mountains, prairies, rural villages, and urban ghettos of America, they discovered a wealth of unexpected talent. The recordings they made of all the ethnic groups of America democratized the nation and gave a voice to everyone. Country singers in the Appalachians, Blues guitarists in the Mississippi Delta, Gospel preachers across the south, Cajun fiddlers in Louisiana, Tejano groups from the Texas Mexico border, Native American drummers in Arizona, and Hawaiian musicians were all recorded. For the first time, a woman picking cotton in Mississippi, a coalminer in Virginia or a tobacco farmer in Tennessee could have their thoughts and feelings heard on records played in living rooms across the country. It was the first time America heard itself. AMERICAN EPIC represents a ten-year odyssey undertaken by director Bernard MacMahon and producers Allison McGourty and Duke Erikson, and audio engineer Nicholas Bergh that involved tracking down countless long forgotten musicians, restoring the music that they recorded and reassembling the technology that created it... Engineer Nicholas Bergh has reassembled this recording system from original parts and it is now the only one left in the world. The system consists of a single microphone, a towering six-foot amplifier rack, and a live record-cutting lathe, powered by a weight-driven pulley system of clockwork gears. www.thirteen.org/13pressroom/press-release/american-epic/
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