Herculodge

Price Back Down on the Tecsun PL-660

 

 

Reader "3/4 Blind" and others say that for Tecsun, your best best in the portable category is the PL-660. Gary apprises us of Amazon's new supplier for the 660: 

I see that the PL-660 (black or silver) is back down to $110 on Amazon. They were up as high as $130 not too long ago. Formerly they were sold by Kaito, but these are sold by Electronnix (whoever that is).

http://www.amazon.com/PL660-Portable-Synthesized-Receiver-Conversion/dp/B004H9C4JK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338504970&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Tecsun-PL-660SLV-Portable-Shortwave-Single/dp/B004P5XW06/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1338504970&sr=8-2

 

How Do You Align the AM Antenna on the Grundig G8?

 

 

Michael Brent writes:

I have a Grundig G8 and Ive read somewhere that you can align the AM antenna for better reception by taking the back off the radio and sliding the coil up or down the ferite tube.
I got one of the first ones and sent it off to Kiwa and Craig [ who never worked on a G8 before } tweaked the sound path { the way he does to the G5's }and it sounds great but I didn't ask about the ant. alignment and at the time didn't know about it.

I got the impression Craig didn't want to work on another G8 cause they're just to damn small
It seems to me I read somewhere back there was somebody who would do this for a small fee.
Does anyone know someone who does this.

Amazon Is Selling the Tecsun PL-398MP for $63.99

 

 

Thanks, Stephen:

Amazon is selling the PL-398MP for $63.99, with free shipping (Super Saver). As of a minute ago, there are only 7 left. (There were 13 maybe a half hour ago, I just ordered one of them.)

Link:
http://www.amazon.com/Tecsun-PL398MP-Digital-Shortwave-Speakers/dp/B0062DOYWE/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1338363805&sr=1-5

 

Manly Watch Wish List: Citizen Eco Drive Titanium Orca Diver

 

 

I may have to eventually get the solar powered Citizen Eco Drive Orca, only available from international sellers for about $240. For me, this would bea more compelling alternative to a solar G-Shock. 

Doug Identifies Jason Isaacs' G-Shock on Awake

 

 

I couldn't tell what kind of G-Shock Jaon Isaacs was wearing on Awake, but Doug T. has the scoop:

I finally got around to watching Awake over the Memorial Day weekend.

In the "Ricky's Taco" episode (originally broadcast April 12) there is a very clear and large shot of Isaac's watch. I am watching a video that I downloaded from Amazon Video (no commercials) and it is 19 minutes into the program -- right after Britten (Isaacs) is talking to his partner Bird (Steve Harris). Bitten has just theorized that the character Sabrina had tried to find someone to have sex with after she had been raped and impregnated.

Anyway: the watch is very clear in the shot, and it is a classic (but simple) analogue/digital G-shock -- the G100-1B. With its tell-tale analogue/digital display and red lettering on the case, there can be no mistaking it.

The good news -- it is available cheap:

http://www.amazon.com/Casio-G100-1BV-G-Shock-Classic-Ana-Digi/dp/B000AR7S3A

 

Invicta Capsule Has Armor Plating to Striking Effects

 

 

With the corrrugated armor plating that evokes a Medieval knight or a Battlestar Galactaca warrior, this Invicta Capsule, done in either gray MOP or black MOP, is one of the most appealing, original watches I've seen.

The 46mm is big but not too big, the same size as their other reserve, the Ocean Reef. 

Sometimes they can be found on sale for about $250. But I notice they sell out quickly. 

Manly Watch Sighting: Invicta Corduba Combat with Techno-Strap: $145 on Amazon

 

 

My friend Jimmy, United States Marines, told me any "combat" watch needs a techno-strap, not leather or rubber. Here's a nice example, the Invicta Corduba Combat 11179 selling for $145 with free shipping on Amazon. 

However, this Corduba is not suitable for the field. It's a good dress watch in a combat style. Also at a very decent price. 

Have You Cleaned Your Iced Tea Dispenser Lately?

 

 

Commenting on the security guard who told me and my daughter about dubious disease that can be found in a shopping mall fountain, Bill Bush writes:

Legionnaires' disease, too! If it is highly chlorinated, it is probably about equivalent to a kidie pool, which is full of kiddie poo! And meningitis! Typhus! Cholera!

Here in the South, a few years ago a TV station did an expose on iced tea dispensers, some of which had not been cleaned since marching off the ark, and a variety of serious diseases were cultured from the dispinser nozzles. It was treated as a serious issue by health departments and inspectors. I am personally concerned about salad bars and self-serve buffets. I eat at them only when they first open, before the ravaging hordes have handled everything their children have not already coughed on, tasted and put back, or blended with the three neighboring dishes.

 

American Soldier Buys Tortured Dog for a Pack of Cigarettes

 

 

The story of this US soldier buying a tortured dog for a pack of cigarettes in Afhanistan contains a chronicle of our humanity and our inhumanity. 

Gary Takes Another Look at the CCRadio-EP

(re-posing under correct radio category, not Manly Watches, this time)

John Wilder at C. Crane was kind enough to exchange my second defective CCRadio-EP that came from Amazon. I have received the tested, replacement unit. My initial assessment of this one is that it is very good.

The AM reception is excellent (at least as good as the first unit I had). It easily picks up the LAX TIS station on 530 kHz, and is slightly more sensitive than my PR-D5. The twin-coil fine tuning control has a substantial effect on some signals, and its action seems more symmetrical than with the other two units.

The FM reception is not in the same league as the CCRadio-SW, but it is good (the first unit was distorted on all stations; the second unit was very insensitive, unable to pick up any but the strongest stations). One issue is that the FM tuning is pretty touchy, much more so than the AM tuning -- it requires the dexterity of a safe cracker. At least this CCRadio-EP picks up the stations I want to listen to on FM. Having a tilting and rotating FM whip antenna is useful, especially for difficult signals.

The dial calibration is good; it reads a little low on AM, but is somewhat more accurate on FM.

Cosmetically, this replacement unit looks very good. The main tuning knob turns easily, and has no play in it like the first unit did. The twin-coil fine tuning knob rubbed slightly on the case, but this was easily remedied by pulling the knob out slightly (I think the first unit had this issue as well).

If you want an inexpensive radio that is an excellent performer on AM, I can definitely recommend the CCRadio-EP. Just keep in mind the comments of others regarding the radio's performance in close proximity to AM transmitters. I live in Simi Valley, so this is not an issue for me.

For FM it's not quite as compelling, but it's certainly more than adequate enough for my purposes.

As with the two defective units, the sound quality is quite good, and the full range bass and treble controls allow reasonable tailoring of the sound. On AM, the CCR-EP sounds far better than the PR-D5 (it's not even close). I think I even prefer it over the CCRadio-SW on AM. On FM, the latter sounds better to me, as it's capable of more powerful and deeper bass.

I find that having analog tuning (continuously adjustable) is a plus for receiving AM IBOC (digital) signals like KFI. On my PR-D5 and CCRadio-SW, there is a hiss that can't be tuned out on KFI. With the CCRadio-EP, careful tuning and adjustment of the twin-coil knob can minimize the hiss.

In any case, it seems that the key to receiving a good CCRadio-EP is getting a tested unit from C. Crane.