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January 22, 2008
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Finally getting around to posting about my other money pit, RADIOS!
Much of this is from my posts on another forum.
This is actually an old photo of the bench as I have swapped out the two on the right side. May be making some other changes this spring also. Thinking about moving the whole bench to another room but 'oms', what a job that would be! This bench is currently in a corner of the MBR. I would also like to get another computer desk just like this one and load it up with all Hallicrafters radios but, gotta find room for it first.
One of my daughters moved in a few years ago with her 2 things while going through a divorce, so there is no spare room for Boss Dog's toys as was planned. It is good to have the company though.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j33/rba660/Radios/Bench%20no.2_2-25_zpsi3gyfi8l.jpg
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This one is a Kenwood R-300 and is my go-to radio for general shortwave listening. I bought it on ebay from a seller in Quebec and got a good deal on it. I didn't know anything about the R-300 until seeing them on ebay and so I started reading about them and decided one was for me. I watched several sell for pretty high prices and finally found this one which no one seemed to be interested in. Maybe because it was in Canada and they were scared off by international shipping. Well that really isn't bad just from Canada to the U.S. So I got it at a very reasonable price, around $80 about 10 years ago or so. And when it arrived and I opened her up, she looked brand new!
It is a general coverage HF receiver from about 1600 KHz to 30 MHz. Produced in Japan from 1976-1979 and even at 16 pounds was actually considered a portable! It has a carry handle on one end and a battery compartment in the bottom that holds 8 "D" cells. I have never used batteries in this one but, maybe I should to find out how long they would last if we were to lose power for a while. It has a plug for household AC which is how I use it and a plug for a 13.8 volt power supply if desired.
It has good sensitivity to pick up distant stations and with the narrow band selector it separates weak stations so you can hear them with minimal interference from a crowded frequency band. The audio circuitry is very good and with the built in speaker it sounds good (better than most) but, plugging in a stereo quality speaker in the audio jack on the back gives excellent audio. I can sit there and spin the dials for hours.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j33/rba660/Radios/Kenwood%20R300x2-25_zpsvmfzozmw.jpg
…he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. Luke 22:36 Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project http://www.irenasendler.com/
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January 22, 2008
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Robyn SB-520D; here is what I currently use for CB. It has a switch combination that someone installed to add about 60 or 70 more "channels" above and below normal CB frequencies. I found the instructions for it online and have been considering reversing it but, may just sell it and use one of my Johnson mobiles instead to safe a little shelf space.
GE 572; produced 1954
5 tube AM clock radio
I completely disassembled this one. Cleaned the chassis and fixed some ground connections, sometimes soldering, sometimes adding a lock washer under some nuts. Put the case under water in the bathtub and scrubbed it with a soft brush. Came out looking almost new. The clock face is paper, thank goodness it wasn't too bad and cleaned up easily. The knobs at top of the clock are not original. The originals were round with knurled edges and the same color as the case, but this is the way I received it.
I had this on top of the bench just to listen to our local conservative radio talk show while playing at the bench. A few years ago they added an FM station and eventually dropped the AM and it turned into an ESPN sports/talk station. So now I don't listen to it anymore. The clock keeps as good or better time than any of the techie digitals in the house.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j33/rba660/Radios/GE%20572.25_zpsmapjt7go.jpg
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Gotta go get some sleep before the grands get home from schrool. I'll post some more later.
Boss
…he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. Luke 22:36 Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project http://www.irenasendler.com/
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Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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Thanks, very cool to see your "other" toys. Through the mid-late 60's I built several Heathkit SW receivers. Dad helped on a couple of them, his work, of course was very meticulous, nice clean solder joints, leads clipped short and at exact right angles, etc. I never did go to the point of getting a ham radio license, but did some CB'ing for a few years,
"This is KAEB7786, The Desperado, on the side." How the hell I remember that, when I have trouble with my current street address, I'll never understand 
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
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February 26, 2012
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Boss Dog, your SB-520D is a side band radio. Those extra channels are factory built in and were an attempt by the FCC and the manufacturers to relieve some of the crowding in the 11 meter CB band. Side band wasn't very popular with cb'ers because the radios were expensive so didn't sell and you could only talk to another side band radio. Figure the cost was double or more for side band. Side band is VERY popular with ham radio folks because it allows greater range and is quieter.
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for dinner. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
August 28, 2009
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That's some pretty neat stuff there! I've never known a radio addict but it looks like it could be fun!!
January 22, 2008
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You misunderstood me. I know how SSB works, having been playing with CB radios since the 70's.
Official CB frequencies are from 26.965 to 27.405 MHz. How's that for memory!? 
The extra "channels" in this radio range from 27.455 to 28.045 MHz. I had to go look that up.
It has a switch combination that someone installed to add about 60 or 70 more “channels” above and below normal CB frequencies.
The kit is some wiring changes (reassigning some leads from the PLL chip) and some actual components installed. The PA function is disabled and you use the CB/PA switch in combination with a little toggle switch (You can just see it sticking out underneath in the photo) on the bottom of the chassis under the SWR/CAL switch.
Also, there is more power out than officially allowed (4 watts AM / 12 watts SSB); the squelch knob was rewired to control it.
Looking on ebay it's actually worth more with the kit installed, so I may just sell it as is. I like it fine, I just could replace it with another taking up only 1/2 or even 1/4 of the bench space.
…he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. Luke 22:36 Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project http://www.irenasendler.com/
USN-Vet, NRA, GOA, JPFO, SC-GRGR
January 22, 2008
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Hallicrafters SW-500; pretty much same as an S-120, just dressed up purdier.
From AM up to 30 MHz; shortwave is AM only. First produced 1961
4 tubes
12BE6 = Oscillator & Mixer,
12BA6 = IF Amplifier and BFO,
12AV6 = 1st Audio Amplifier, AVC and Detector,
50C5 as the Power Output Amplifier
The standard AM broadcast band is marked with the old Conelrad Civil Defense emblem which consists of a triangle inside of a circle. The CD emblems are found at 640 KHz and 1240 KHz on the the first band. It was superseded by the "Emergency Broadcast System" in 1963. And it in turn was superseded by the "Emergency Alert System" in 1997.
This was the first shortwave radio I purchased shortly after getting out of the Navy and coming home (having disposed of all my radios when I first joined the Navy 15 years earlier). I keep it for sentimental reasons and still play with it occasionally. It's a crappy pic, I need to take another one some day.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j33/rba660/Radios/Hallicrafters%20SW-500%20%20.25_zpsjuevop2q.jpg
Hallicrafters CRX-3; produced 1962-63
108 - 135 MHz AM; mostly aircraft band
7 tubes; 6ER5, 6BL8, 6BL8, 6BA6, 12AT7, 6EA8, 6AQ5
I use this to listen to our local airport towers and ground units (GSP & GMU) and there is also a relay frequency (123.00) between a couple amateur repeaters. I was surprised to find that but it is interesting sometimes. I have the other two cousin radios (CRX-1 & CRX-2) but haven't set them up and checked them out yet. One is missing a couple knobs. I would like to one day stack them on one side of the radio bench or, I think I have enough to set up a Hallicrafters only bench one day if I make room for it somewhere in here.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j33/rba660/Radios/Hallicrafters%20CRX-3%20.25_zpshkgiewni.jpg
…he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. Luke 22:36 Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project http://www.irenasendler.com/
USN-Vet, NRA, GOA, JPFO, SC-GRGR
January 22, 2008
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Hallicrafters S-19R Sky Buddy Receiver
This is my BABY! I have had it for 4 or 5 years. It sits on a shelf most of the time but, would go on the "Hallicrafters" bench if I ever set one up.
Hallicrafters S-19R Sky Buddy; produced from 1939-42. 4 bands ranging from .550 - 46Mhz
This one is an early unit as the send/rec (rcv) switch (bottom left) was later changed from a slide switch to a toggle switch.
The tube line-up is as follows; Them's some hard to find OLD tubes!
6K8G - 1st detector/mixer
6K7G - IF amplifier
6Q7G - 2nd detector/1st audio amplifier
....41 - 2nd audio amplifier
....76 - BFO
....80 - Rectifier
I don't get to play with this one much, I'm afraid I'll tear it up. I just throw a wire up the wall and over something when I do play with it. It's all original, never been recapped, and it works! Got the original manual with it too. I'm afraid if I use it too much, it'll stress the capacitors and make them bad and I'll have to replace them. Then it won't be all original anymore. I know that eventually I will have to recap it, but is so cool as it is now. Among hams, big heavy old clunkers like this are affectionately known as boat anchors.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j33/rba660/Radios/SANY1499.25_zpsestgvk9z.jpg
…he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. Luke 22:36 Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project http://www.irenasendler.com/
USN-Vet, NRA, GOA, JPFO, SC-GRGR
January 22, 2008
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Icom 720A, Transceiver, Produced in Japan from 1980 - mid 80's?
Modes: AM / SSB / CW / RTTY; will also do VOX in AM/SSB
Power output is: 10-100 Watts in SSB and CW/RTTY modes; AM 10-40 Watts in AM
Freq's: general coverage receiver; 100 kHz to 30 MHz
It's one shortcoming is the mechanical rotor turret for band-switching. It needs a little maintenance once in a while to clean contacts to keep it lining up correctly. And it is loud when the rotor is turning, a lot of folks complain about that. I don't mind it, I suppose because I worked on a similar set-up in the Navy and so know what it is doing. Google Navy Receiver R-1051. There is a modification for it to replace the rotor function with stationary relays and I may try it one day, when I have the room for a work bench. Transmit is factory set to Amateur bands only but; Icom radios from 1970's to about mid-late 1980's can be easily modified to transmit on full coverage. This would be illegal to actually do but, it's there. I will probably never use all of it's capabilities.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j33/rba660/Radios/Icom%20720A%20%20-%20%2025_zpsvgwvrawl.jpg
Hallicrafters FPM-300, HF Transceiver, Production Year 1972-74
100 watts power out. Amateur bands only, and that would not include new bands opened to amateurs since it was produced. Not sure how I would add them to it.
A hybrid rig that was all solid state with the exception of a 12BY7 tube driver and a 6KD6 tube final amp. The last HF rig Hallicrafters produced for Amateur Radio. This would be the center piece of a "Hallicrafters Only" radio bench in the Boss Dog kennel.
This photo not mine. My radio is buried in the "junk" room somewhere. What a difference from old boat anchors to modern electronics, eh?
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j33/rba660/Radios/Hallicrafters%20FPM-300%201_zps9okimb4h.jpg
…he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. Luke 22:36 Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project http://www.irenasendler.com/
USN-Vet, NRA, GOA, JPFO, SC-GRGR
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Dans Club
December 4, 2011
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That's quite a nice collection of gear you have there.
I remember as a kid, my dad had some old radio sets. He was a ground radio mechanic in the Air Force in Korea and had a knack for fixing old tube sets.
I also remember a marine radio telephone we had on dad's boat, a Pierce Simpson VHF, had to have a license back then.
Whiskey Zebra Alpha 5087, why I remember that 40+ years later I have no idea, other than he had to say that every time he transmitted.
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If a man designed it, and a man built it, then a man can fix it.
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July 2, 2011
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Boss Dog, that is an awesome collection with some very impressive vintage gear. Thanks for sharing.
To the paranoid people who check behind shower curtains for murderers:
if you find one...what's your plan?
Dans Club
April 18, 2014
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Fine set up.. I hope you are an Oath Keeper. We need some qualified Com operators.
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"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them."
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January 22, 2008
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Steve CT said
Thanks, very cool to see your "other" toys. Through the mid-late 60's I built several Heathkit SW receivers. Dad helped on a couple of them, his work, of course was very meticulous, nice clean solder joints, leads clipped short and at exact right angles, etc. I never did go to the point of getting a ham radio license, but did some CB'ing for a few years,"This is KAEB7786, The Desperado, on the side." How the hell I remember that, when I have trouble with my current street address, I'll never understand
KBLF5358, Back-Door-Bandit coming up on ya, lol!
I've thought about having a sticker made special with that call sign to put on one my cheaper but still nice desk mics. I'll try to get all the desk mics together for a family photo soon. Got to do some digging to get to some of 'em.
…he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. Luke 22:36 Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project http://www.irenasendler.com/
USN-Vet, NRA, GOA, JPFO, SC-GRGR
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