1. Forum
  2. FidoNet
  3. SWL

  • Anyone using tube gear here?

    From Darren Darko@1:218/700 to All on Friday, February 10, 2023 10:43:23
    I know it's 2023, but wondering if anyone is using tube gear or other old school receiver for SWL out there? I have several SDR setups but still like using tube gear for audio listening (AM/SSB on shortwave) because I find the audio quality better than SDR and was wondering if anyone else does the same - hunt using SDR and listen using an old school dedicated receiver?

    Curious to see the responses...
    --- SBBSecho 3.15-Win32
    * Origin: http://realitycheckbbs.org | tomorrow's retro tech (1:218/700)
  • From Kurt Weiske@1:218/700 to Darren Darko on Saturday, February 11, 2023 09:51:00
    Darren Darko wrote to All <=-

    I know it's 2023, but wondering if anyone is using tube gear or other
    old school receiver for SWL out there? I have several SDR setups but
    still like using tube gear for audio listening (AM/SSB on shortwave) because I find the audio quality better than SDR and was wondering if anyone else does the same - hunt using SDR and listen using an old
    school dedicated receiver?

    Not tube gear, but I've been keeping my eye out for a Trans-Oceanic or
    similar vintage SW ratio recently. Reception with my dinky little Sony
    portable SW set has improved greatly since getting rid of my powerline
    ethernet adapters and I'd like to get back into SW.




    ... All of my certifications are self-signed.
    --- MultiMail/Win v0.52
    * Origin: http://realitycheckbbs.org | tomorrow's retro tech (1:218/700)
  • From Darren Darko@1:218/700 to Kurt Weiske on Sunday, February 12, 2023 15:57:26
    Re: Re: Anyone using tube gear here?
    By: Kurt Weiske to Darren Darko on Sat Feb 11 2023 09:51 am

    The old vintage Zenith Trans-Oceanics were tube based, I've had a couple of them over the years. If I find another one this summer that doesn't need too much work, I'll let you know. The audio out of them is phenomenal. Even throwing a wire outside helps with the local RF noise level on the receiver, but getting rid of powerline adapters and "wall-wart" power supplies (or at least unplugging them) should knock the rest of the noise out for you
    --- SBBSecho 3.15-Win32
    * Origin: http://realitycheckbbs.org | tomorrow's retro tech (1:218/700)
  • From Kurt Weiske@1:218/700 to Darren Darko on Monday, February 13, 2023 07:34:00
    Darren Darko wrote to Kurt Weiske <=-

    The old vintage Zenith Trans-Oceanics were tube based, I've had a
    couple of them over the years. If I find another one this summer that doesn't need too much work, I'll let you know.

    Thanks, keep me in mind!

    My grandfather's old Sony TFM-1600 https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/sony_tfm1600tfm_160.html

    Died a while back, and I'd like a working radio even more vintage to replace it.



    ... THE SEVEN JOURNEYS TO ITSELFNESS
    --- MultiMail/Win v0.52
    * Origin: http://realitycheckbbs.org | tomorrow's retro tech (1:218/700)