Herculodge

Gary Reports Weak AM Performance on His Sangean LB-100

While I'm getting strong AM on my Sangean LB-100, Gary reports otherwise (environmental factors at work here?):

I finally bought a Sangean LB-100. I'm surprised at just how weak the AM reception is. Even the strongest local stations that I regularly listen to -- KFI and KNX -- have an excessive amount of hiss. My CCRadio-SW and Sangean WR-2 get far better reception. Even my little Tecsun PL-380 has better AM sensitivity. The LB-100 doesn't seem to be any more sensitive than my little Sangean DT-400W, which is pretty amazing considering the size difference between the two. The LB-100 has about a 3" ferrite bar, but the one in the DT-400W is much shorter.

When using the LB-100 with my Black Box tunable, passive loop -- a rectangular loop similar in performance to the Terk loop -- the AM is much better, and totally hiss free on the stronger stations. I hadn't intended on using the LB-100 with a passive loop, as this reduces the convenience quite a bit, since you have to move the loop around with the radio, and re-tune the loop for each station.

I find that the LB-100 has a little too much upper bass for talk radio, but it's acceptable. I probably wouldn't be happy with the U3's sound quality on talk radio. I apparently prefer less bass on AM than Jeff does. This is one reason why radios with significant bass response should have a bass control instead of just a tone (treble) control. Of course, the LB-100 has neither.

On the plus side, the FM sensitivity of the LB-100 seems quite good, even with the little rubber duck antenna. And the sound with FM music is very pleasing.

I'm not sure if the AM performance of my LB-100 is typical or not. I'll have to decide whether to keep it or return it. This is pretty disappointing.

First Look: Manly Watch in Blue: Invicta Force Chrono

I've been wanting a blue watch, something manly, though. I had been looking at $600 watches until this $159 Invicta Force caught my eye (These photos expand into better detailed close-ups if you click on them).

 

Good build quality. This is a big watch at 52mm across the bezel, but it's not too heavy on my 8-inch wrist. Good leather strap. Numbers easy to read. One striking feature of this watch is the bezel globe, which has a magnifying effect on the dial, making an already big watch look even bigger and more high impact. A lot of drama and high-profile, if you're looking for such a thing. 

 

I'll wear this as a casual watch. I think Invicta did a good job on this one and Amazon is selling this at an attractive price. 

 
 

Nostalgic Longing for This Radio Style: Fine Example of Mid-1960s Panasonic Transistor Radio

No scratchy controls. Just an excellent example of the highest style of its time: This Panasonic RF-800 transistor AM/FM radio. Low bid now. But if I had to guess, I'd say the bidding will get robust. 

Great Comparison of Various Shortwave Portable Radios

Thanks, Paul:

Absolutely great comparison of various shortwave portables:
http://www.fenu-radio.ch/index11.htm

If you can decipher the translation page in English, you'll find there is no clear winner. Every radio seems to have its strengths and weaknesses. Or for a better translation, try Google. 

Sony CRF-160 13-Band Radio Bidding on eBay Today

Here's a Sony CRF-160 in good working order. 

Hugo's Modified Panasonic RF-2800

 

(re-post)

Here are the promised pictures of my modified Panasonic RF-2800 Radio with an 8 inches 3 coils ferrite antenna along with two radios the Tecsun RP-2100 and Panasonic RF-2200 which participated in the sensitivity contest made in the beach last weekend, which I've reported days ago. Also I'm enclosing pictures of the famous CCRadios's Twin coil Ferrite Antenna and a picture of a Panasonic RF-2600 radio to show its stock coil ferrite antenna.

 
 
The basic design (1 Coil)
In its stock form the Panasonic RF-2800 Radio has a simple coil wounded in a 6 inches ferrite which is not that sensitive because it's a short 6" ferrite and a short winding  like the ferrite antenna that's shown in the picture of the Panasonic RF-2600 (Sorry but I don't have anymore the original antenna of the Rf-2800 so I only can give you this picture). As you can see this design consist of having 70 to 80 turns of coils wound in a ferrite which is not fully optimized because THE ANTENNA IS THE WIRE WOUNDED in the ferrite not the ferrite itself and in this design the winding is short despite having a long ferrite, remember the longer the antenna the more signal it gets. In fact this antenna is small ! and so its gain !
 

 
The twin coil design
In the Twin Coil design there are 2 coils at the extreme ends of the ferrite and this gives a signal as big as if it were coming from a long winding from end to end and hence the big performance of this design.
BUT there's a problem with this design.....the Twin Coil Ferrite design  must compromise sensitivity weather in the low or in the upper AM band because it can't achieve both, that's a problem with the Redsun radio wich many people report something like "My RP2100 is great at low frecuency but the "X" radio is better at the upper part of the band" or viceversa, this issue is directly related to this design.
Despite that, the RP-2100 has great sensitivity limited only by this issue and  its 6" ferrite.

 
 
The 3 coil design
In the pictures of the 8" 3 coils Frrite Antenna  you can observe that the coil in the middle is not exactly at the middle but that's not too important as the performance it's midly affected  BUT what's VERY important is that the 2 coils at the ends must be AT the Ends to have the best performance, and this is achieved winding more or less turns of wire, so the more turns, the farther the sweet spot coil position from the center; Actually I haven't counted the windings but I'd say it's about 27-35-27 winds more or less.

 
 
The coil in the middle helps eliminate a little the problem of having great performance in only 1 part of the band and this was the reason this radio outperformed the Redsun because it has a bigger ferrite AND a middle coil which helped it to have a great performance in the overall band not just some part.

 
 
Afterthoughts
This is only an empirical experiment without scientific foundation to state these facts, so I might have got the wrong conclusion so I'd really like to discuss it with people with more experience about these designs.
 
Regards
 
Hugo Huesby Ali

Here are the promised pictures of my modified Panasonic RF-2800 Radio with an 8 inches 3 coils ferrite antenna along with two radios the Tecsun RP-2100 and Panasonic RF-2200 which participated in the sensitivity contest made in the beach last weekend, which I've reported days ago. Also I'm enclosing pictures of the famous CCRadios's Twin coil Ferrite Antenna and a picture of a Panasonic RF-2600 radio to show its stock coil ferrite antenna.

Manly Watches with Black Ion Coated Steel

I like the trend of black ion coated steel on watches. Here's a good example, a Nautica N28001G. And another strong example. This Seiko 5 Sports Automatic. 

Good Working Order Panasonic RF-1200 Bidding on eBay Today

Here's a good condition Panasonic RF-1200 bidding on eBay today.

Also an intriguing Panasonic 8-Track radio with very little description. I like the round tuning dial and overall look, sort of like a Sony ICF-5500 military radio.  

$420 for a National Boombox Radio, Circa 1970s

I believe I saw this National Boombox radio a month or so ago. Still hasn't sold. 

OTD Price Is $352 for This Prosonic PQR-9850 Boombox

I don't see these often, a Prosonic PQR-9850 Boombox.