Herculodge

Val Using His Winegard PR 6010 Omnidirectional FM Antenna to Boost His BA Receptor's Performance

Thanks, Val:

I have an old Boston Acoustics receptor radio that I have been using as a computer speaker. B.A has good sound, but FM reception wasn’t so strong with fade and noise. A few months ago I bought Winegard PR 6010 Omnidirectional FM Antenna. Since then, Boston Acoustics became a sensitive FM radio with good sound. I receive even weak FM stations or stations that I didn’t receive before. It surprised me with quality of sound and receptions.   A simple $19 antenna can change a lot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IggG954fboU

Val

Have You Heard of This Chinese Radio Company?

Angelo writes:

Have you heard of a Chinese radio company, Shou Yu?  I just spent forty bucks on E-Bay direct to China for a little radio from them.  It has a lithium ion rechargable battery (I think you recharge through plugging into the computer?) and it has DSP.  I'm thinking and hoping it's a more capbable (and shortwave capable) version of the little radio shack pocket radio I just reviewed. 

I've never heard of Shou Yu, but I've got to believe they are just another Chinese electronics manufacturer.  I mean, aren't they all?  Who is Redsun or Tecsun?  Who is Kchibo or Kaide?  Who is Mason?  Aren't they all just Chinese companies inventing Western sounding names to market their products to us?  I sort of like the fact that Shou Yu is trying to make it with a CHINESE name!  I hope I didn't waste my money.  If it had been under $20.00, it's sort of a "buyer beware" proposition.  At nearly $40.00, it's a risk.  $40.00 buys some very nice vintage radios.

$75 Invicta Speedway 9223 Is an Homage to the Rolex Daytona

 

 

Johnny has apprised us of the Invicta Speedway 9223, an apparent homage of the Rolex Daytona. 

Herculodge Selling His Invicta Ocean Speedway Reserve 10590

This Invicta Ocean Speedway Reserve in gunmetal is on eBay, not because I don't like it, but because with all the wrist time my greedy kinetic Seiko Black Monster takes up, I just find myself not putting the Speedway into the rotation. I wore it only twice so it has to go. 

New Radio Shack Pocket Radio; Old Timex

 

I had a Radio Shack gift card burning a hole in my pocket----and based on a recent post here on Herculodge, I took the bait and pulled the trigger on a $15.00 Radio Shack AM-FM pocket radio.  Now, I don't know the first thing about silicon chips in radios. 

I'm a technical dum-dum.  But I actually did "need" a modern pocket radio, so why not this one?  I wanted to be on the cutting edge----tech saavy----and since I'm not in the market for an I-Phone, don't have the loose pocket change for one and don't feel like standing in long lines to buy one----I thought, "Hey, the next best thing is a pocket radio with a silicon chip, whatever that means."  I charged up two old AA batteries and have been playing with this radio at my office.  So far, I'm impressed.  Sure, it's a tinny little transistor radio----but it locks in nicely on FM stations.  The sound isn't killing my ears.  And tonight I'll go on an AM adventure with it.  How much fun can you have for fifteen bucks these days?

 

Also pictured:  An old Timex watch I picked up on E-Bay.  It looks like '70s style, possibly '80s manufacturing???  It has a very robust "40 Hour" mainspring.  I have to say, you wind this thing up and it goes and goes.  At some point, I might upgrade the band.  The watch case and crystal are actually better looking than they appear in the photo----the flash glare killed it.  I had a desire to go back to my childhood/young adulthood with regard to watches----and wanted to look for the ubiquitous "every man's" brand of the period---easily Timex.  I picked this Deco styled model for its uniqueness.  

 

Angelo   

Perhaps the Growth-Hormone Watch Era Is Ending

 

Growth hormone-fed watches are so big they can only deflate some. Think of the 22-inch rims back in 2005. We're at 18 or 19 tops for premium cars.

Herculodge Hunch: Understated Chic in Manly Watches

 

 

My intuition is telling me that oversized, testosterone-flamed watches have hit their peak in popular culture and that understated chic is in the wake. The pendulum swings toward mid-sized oyster silver Seikos and the like.  

I know I've sowed my oats in the big watch department and find myself drawn to quality over massiveness these days. 

Radio Shack Pocket Radio Uses Silicon Chip

Vimal writes:

Refer to my earlier post on radio shack pocket radio 12-586 as above.My observation proves that it's a silicon chip Si4831-B30 based mechanical tuning AM/FM Radio receiver,similar to Kaito KA321(Degen DE321).
So we have a DSP radio in disguise from RADIO SHACK.

http://www.silabs.com/Support%20Documents/TechnicalDocs/Si4831-35-B30.pdf

Review of the Degen 321

Thanks, Vimal:

A review of the Degen D321,by Dave C.Schmarder
http://www.monitoringtimes.com/1012DegenDE321.pdf

The 40MM Rolex Daytona Wears Big on The Voice's Adam Levine

 

I always thought 40mm was too small, but the Rolex Daytona, sported by Adam Levine on The Voice, wears big. Quite a good looking Rolex, a brand that usually leaves me cold. I think they cost 20K brand new.