Anyone else feel like that? Maybe it's because my first shortwave was in the
1960's.
Pierre
I /love/ digital tuning.
All the sw radio's I had in the fifties and sixties were, of course, analog
and I can remember having QSLs refused because I was a little off on the
stations' transmit frequency.
Perhaps my favorite feature of digital control is that it makes possible
memories which I use a whole lot.
But at least three out of my four sw radios /have/ analog tuning so - if I
feel like it - I can "scan the bands".
Gray Shockley
-----------------------
DX-392 DX-398
RX-320 DX-399
CCradio w/RS Loop
Torus Tuner (3-13 MHz)
Select-A-Tenna
-----------------------
Vicksburg, MS US
I prefer analog tuning if the tuning mechanism has a minimal amount of
drive friction and backlash. Flywheel tuning is a nice bonus. Some of
the analog tuning radios are pretty stiff and/or sloppy, though.
I like to give the knob a quick spin, watch the indicator and hear which
bands are hot. It's not the same with a digital set, especially the
ones the chuff with tuning.
I'm sure digital would suit me better if I were DXing or QSLing. Mostly
now, I just park it on a good clear signal and listen to the
programming.
Frank Dresser
I'm not really fussed either way, Digital is obviously better for utility
and data....
However I do like analogue meters - none of these marker/counter digital
types - and to think i part-ex an R-2000 for an R-75 - I should have kept
the 2000 and still bought the 75!
--
Mark (MW1MDH)
The analogue is fine for " scanning the bands" to see who'se broadcasting right
now..
- But I Love the combination Tuning Knob / Digital readout on my R-75;
and all the memories.. ! ! !
For a portable, the Sangean 606A with 50+ memories & a Digital readout is about
perfect.. I don't know how you'd incorporate an accuate tuning knob into such a
small , inexpensive set
Dan
In article <SHwqb.8438$Pg1.4...@news20.bellglobal.com>, "Pierre L"
<pier...@hotmail.com> writes:
>Subject: Anyone else like analog tuning
>From: "Pierre L" <pier...@hotmail.com>
>Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2003 13:48:19 -0500
If by "Analog Tuning" you mean a Main Tuning Knob that you can turn
and click off the the Hz one by one: Then the Answer is Y E S !
Being "Limited" by Up and Down Tuning Buttoms that only spet-up or
step-down a fixed number of kHz leaves me feeling that I have missed
something that may have been 'in-between-everything'.
Memories and Pre-Sets are nice to recall those "Finds" that have been
Found.
- But it the "Joy-of-Finding" the FIND that for Me is the Fun and
Mystery of Shortwave Listening.
- - That monent in time when you say - What's That ?
- - - As Your Mind Comes Alive !
Memories in the corner of My Mind :
- A Magical Watercolor of Sounds.
- - A Staccato of Static and Noise.
- - - The Silence in the In-Between.
The Mind "Wraps" It All into One !
. . . memories, Memories. MEMORIES !
~ RHF
.
.
= = = "Pierre L" <pier...@hotmail.com>
= = = wrote in message news:<SHwqb.8438$Pg1.4...@news20.bellglobal.com>...
RHF wrote:
> Pierre,
>
> If by "Analog Tuning" you mean a Main Tuning Knob that you can turn
> and click off the the Hz one by one: Then the Answer is Y E S !
>
> Being "Limited" by Up and Down Tuning Buttoms that only spet-up or
> step-down a fixed number of kHz leaves me feeling that I have missed
> something that may have been 'in-between-everything'.
>
> Memories and Pre-Sets are nice to recall those "Finds" that have been
> Found.
> - But it the "Joy-of-Finding" the FIND that for Me is the Fun and
> Mystery of Shortwave Listening.
> - - That monent in time when you say - What's That ?
> - - - As Your Mind Comes Alive !
>
> Memories in the corner of My Mind :
> - A Magical Watercolor of Sounds.
> - - A Staccato of Static and Noise.
> - - - The Silence in the In-Between.
> The Mind "Wraps" It All into One !
> . . . memories, Memories. MEMORIES !
What blend are you smoking these days? :-)
"Pierre L" <pier...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:SHwqb.8438$Pg1.4...@news20.bellglobal.com...
Ah yes. For mystery, excitement, and the thrill of discovery,
digital has nothing on slowly turning that knob and as the
indicator creeps across the spectrum, listening for the
voices, music, or lack of static that tells you yes, there
IS something there.
Digital is good for when you know where you want to go.
Analog is for finding out what's out there.
FW
When the R-390 series of receivers were put into use by the military, the
intercept operators continued to use the Hammarlund SP-600 receivers for
"spotting receivers", the tuning was fast and much easier to cruise through the
frequencies than the R-390's and later the R-390A's.
Les Locklear
Gulfport, Ms.
"snip"
> Anyone else feel like that? Maybe it's because my first shortwave was in the
> 1960's.
>
> Pierre
>
Mine was in the fifties.
A. I prefer analog when I'm prowling the bands looking for
something interesting. I still love my NC-125 for this with its low
friction antibacklash flywheel knob'd bandspread. The Sony ICF 2010 is
useless; chuffing. The Sat 800 is pretty darn good.
B. I prefer digital when I'm looking for something specific and
know a frequency to keystroke and execute. I really like the Sat 800
for this, using my fat stubby digits for digital entry. The ICF 2010 is
pretty good, fast! I use a pencil eraser to get at those tiny buttons.
The NC-125 is near useless for this as I no longer have a calibration
marker generator, though my handmade calibration charts for the
principle bands will get me there eventually.
"Frank White" <fwhite*NOSPAM*@colfax.com> wrote in message
news:bogab1$slt$1...@news.fsr.net...
The Neurosis of the digital age. Admittedly people have their
preferences, and though I am fond of digital displays, I too find it much
more enjoyable to use analog tuning when searching the dial for
frequencies.
Regards
--
Never say never.
Nothing is absolute.
I also have a synthesized Sony radio. It has no tuning knob, only a
keypad, so tuning is either by direct freq entry or holding a button
down until the radio starts scanning. If you step up or down it goes
in 5 kHz hops. There is a pot you can use to fine tune +/- 3 kHz or
so it seems. There is a switch that allows 9 kHz channel hopping on
the MW band, but it is located behind the batteries inside the radio.
I used to have an R1051b. A brute of a receiver. Worked great, but
tuning was a major pain. I was using dumbells to build up my forearms
so I could tune the thing. I don't think there is a more stable radio
than that one. The ISB mode -both sidebands through two separate
detectors and audio paths allows for very accurate exhalted carrier AM
listening. Tuning in that mode is very interesting- as you move the
frequency the audio appears garbled in one ear then moves to both ears
and becomes ungarbled, then moves out the other ear becoming garbled
again. Great for stereo headphone listening!
MR
It really depends on the particular analog and digital receivers you're
comparing. Using the tuning knob of my R8B at the 1-Khz rate, I can scan
an HF band as fast as any of my old Hallicrafters. Several hundred Khz
per second if you want to go that fast to see if a band is 'open'.
There's no muting and the synthesizer can keep up with that tuning rate.
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Just depends on the radio. Not all digital tuning radios are the same.
I much prefer digital overall, but mine gives you the best of both
worlds. You can tune in many different rates, and there is no chuffing
or any artifacts , no matter what rate you use. Also, if you go slow
enough, the sound and feel is just like analog. My IC-706mk2g has ten
different tuning rates. Single cycle, 10 cycle, 100 cycle, 1kc, 5 kc,
9 kc,10 kc, 12.5 kc, 20 kc, 25 kc, 100 kc. On HF and MW I use 1 kc the
most. Only with the higher quality SW radios were the analog readouts
very accurate. IE: old collins, drakes, etc..Another thing I like
about the digital, or mine at least, is when I dial the readout, I end
up perfectly on freq. IE: say I tune to 14.200 using the 1 kc rate.
I'm exactly on freq. 14.200.000. No farting around. So if I'm on 75m,
and tune 3850-51-52-53, etc, each one is right on the money ???.000...
:)
This is more important to SSB than AM of course...MK
Ad to that knob tuning with a variable tuning rate, the speed determined upon
how much pressure is put upon the knob. Of course, that would require servo
motor drive. But I'm thinking of touch-sensitive keys on a synthesizer. Maybe
improving the up-down buttons on the radio. I hate the time-held and the manual
speed switching methods.
Bill, K5BY
I think the Grundig S350 is exactly that. I haven't used one, but that is
what I understand the features are.
-- Stinger
We use voltmeters at work daily. The old-timers all had Analog Simpsons
and Tripletts, the company now buys digital Fluke and Greenlee Meters. Of
course, the old-timers hated the digital stuff, but the analog meters do
have their virtues.
One major virtue of the analog meter is the quick response of the
display. Apparently the digital meters require a sample time before
posting the display. With extremely transient voltages (faulty
connections), this can be problematic.
Also, slight variations in the measured value can be quite a nuisance
when viewing with a digital meter, the analog display seem to offer a
more "human eye" friendly version of the values.
Lastly, and by no means leastly, digital meters with very high input
impedance are prone to reading ghost voltages. By this I mean voltages
that are imparted into parallel conductors in the same conduit run, but
are not significant in terms of operation. We commonly read ghost
voltages of about 60 Volts, but we use 120 and 28 Volts as control and
indicator light voltages.
When you use an analog meter, since the input impedance is far less, you
don't read the ghost voltages. My Digital Fluke has a "Voltage Check"
feature that will alter the impedance of the input, from 20K ohms with
little input voltage, and ramps that input impedance up as the voltage
increases, to eliminate the possibility of damaging the meter or the
user.
Radio Shack offers/ed a voltmeter with an analog display that had
protection for incorrect polarity on the DC scales. No need to worry
about reverse polarity obliterating the meter movement, the Radio Shack
model had a small LED that indicated polarity, with the meter movement
always being in the same direction. Neat Idea.
The arbitrary sacrifice of Analog Displays by the younger generations is
truly a sad thing. I have seen teenagers unable to tell the time on an
analog clock.
Clock trivia, notice the display on clocks that use Roman numerals. It
goes I, II, III, IIII, IV, V, VI, VII, IX, X, XI, XII. Standard Roman
numerals denote IIII as IV. The Non-Standard application above is used to
keep symmetry in the display, keeping the character use in units of 4. (4
all Is, 4 with Vs, 4 with Xs) Not all clock with Roman numerals use this
system, but the use is widespread..
We do not have digital minds, and digital electronics are not necessarily
bringing the bliss to society that the modern public has been programmed
to believe.
Regards.
Have you ever used a digital receiver with a tuning knob? The better
ones all have a knob in addition to the keypad.
Stinger,
That's about it the Grundig S350 radio fits the niche between the GE
Superadio III and the CCRadioPlus+.
It has Two (2) Speed Annalog Tuning Knob and a Digital Frequency
Display.
Plus more AM/MW DXing features then either the the GE Superadio III or
the CCRadioPlus+
~ RHF
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Grundig-S-350/
.
.
> > Maybe someone should come out with a radio that has both an analog dial
> and a
> > digital readout.
>
>
> I think the Grundig S350 is exactly that. I haven't used one, but that is
> what I understand the features are.
>
> -- Stinger
Many years ago, sonny, many radios had analog tuning and a digital
readout. State of the art back then!
Dave K9SW
-- Stinger
"RHF" <rhf-...@pacbell.net> wrote in message
news:e5e13af8.03110...@posting.google.com...
I think there's more to it than the type of knob. I think it may be seeing
the actual tuning scales. Our minds probably function more as a super analog
computer, and analog things are easier to see and judge. Same as with
digital watches vs those with hands, I guess. We can see numbers on a
digital display, but we can't see the pattern they fit in.
Pierre
> Have you ever used a digital receiver with a tuning knob? The better
> ones all have a knob in addition to the keypad.
Yep, and I have yet to find one that isn't a PITA.
What I like about the Grundig S350 is that I can "Tune" and 'operate'
the radio with my Big old Fingers and Tired old Eyes (without
glasses).
GoTo=> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Grundig-S-350/
The GS350 'sounds good' and is very portable with a very long battery
life just like the GE Superadios and the CCRadios.
~ RHF
.
.
= = = "Stinger" <con...@newsserveronly.com>
= = = wrote in message news:<ntsrb.54570$SV2....@bignews3.bellsouth.net>...
> If it's anywhere near as much fun to use as my little $40 Grundig FR-200,
> it's a great little radio.
>
> -- Stinger
>
/Carl - W5SU
Pierre L wrote:
>I have two very good digital tuning shortwave radios, one with synchronous
>sideband, but I find myself choosing to play with and listen to the little
>analog tuning portable I have most of the time. I like to be able to scan
-- Stinger
"RHF" <rhf-...@pacbell.net> wrote in message
news:e5e13af8.03110...@posting.google.com...
No, the 350 is about like the jWIN, tuning-wise. What I'd like is an analog
dial with analog tuning, but with a digital readout to provide the actual
frequency (as opposed to using crystal markers and analog dial correction). It
would require an analog receiver, with a frequency counter that would read the
freq diff between the LO and the IF output. Or something like that.
Bill, K5BY
Please refresh my memory, Dave OM. Since 1945, I've worked on many things,
military and civilian, made all over the world, and I don't recall any. I'm not
referring to features like that of the Collins R390, which is just a mechanical
version of the Grundigs. I'm looking for a real analog dial and real analog
tuning, but with a digital readout a la the Grundigs.
Tnx es 73,
Bill, K5BY
There ya go... It's not that I'm old and jaded that I look upon modern radios
as appliances. It's because of like you so well stated.
Back in my early ham days, peaking and dipping transmitters, for instance, was
part of the fun. That's why I liked the marine work I did before retirement.
One still had to dip and peak the shipboard transmitters.
I enjoyed working on old foreign made tube type receivers, too. When they
worked right and the band was open, there was none of that confounded noise
floor inherent in solid state receivers. If a station was transmitting anywhere
in the world, it probably could be heard.
(Sigh...)
Bill, K5BY
Here's a place that sells a kit for a compact LCD frequency display that does exactly what you'd want. They can be programed for a variety of IF frequencies.
He's recently added two new options- a txco reference oscillator and a fluorescent display.
He seemed like a nice guy when I bought a kit from him.
WShoots1 wrote:
>
> Jim: << i had an old firestone console all my childhood and early adulthood. it
> had flywheel tuning that must of weighed a pound, split-gear backlash control
> and 6v6 output tubes into a 12 inch speaker. even my cheap sangean portables
> that i have now are far superior in every way but one. there is little
> satisfaction with any of them. i am not "one with my radio" like i once was. my
> old radio was an extension of my senses.... >>
I don't neccesarily long to go back to that time, but I do remember
it - my first DX machine was a 1937 Zenith console. One huge round
glass window as the dial face, with a "magic eye" tuner, and two 6L6GC's
as the output (one of which was removed because the caps were so bad
that it hummed unbearably with both of them in). The actual dial knob
was about the size of a fifty-cent piece, but the cap of a Right Guard
aerosol can (remember that stuff?) fit over it perfectly, and gave extra
leverage to the flywheel. Oh, to give that a good, snapping twist and
watch that dial pointer swing so smooooothly half-way across the dial .
. .
But I used *it* then, and I'm using a *modern* rig now, and the
modern rigs are better in almost every way but one - the romance of it.
But nostalgia ain't what it used to be, either. One week with the old
Zentih now, and I'd probably be begging for my R75 back.
Tony
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Pierre L wrote:
> I have two very good digital tuning shortwave radios, one with synchronous
> sideband, but I find myself choosing to play with and listen to the little
> analog tuning portable I have most of the time. I like to be able to scan
> the bands by hand with the dial and to see where I am. When I let the
> digital do this automatically, it just doesn't seem the same. I just don't
> derive the same pleasure from the digital tuning, and I have no plans to
> ever be a part of digital radio.
>
> Anyone else feel like that? Maybe it's because my first shortwave was in the
> 1960's.
>
> Pierre
>
>
I have a Grundig YB-400, a Sony 7600, an ICOM r71A, and an old aalog
Panasonic RF-2200. The 2200 eats the others for lunch (except the ICOM,
of course), and is the most enjoyable SW set for band scanning.
P
For most Radio-A-holics each prize posession (radio) involves a Love /
Hate Replationship.
As a Grundig S350 Radio Owner; I would say:
"The GS350 is the Best Radio You Will Love To Hate for Under $100 !"
* Love It for All the Things It Does !
* * Hate It for All the Things It Is Just Not Quite !
~ RHF
.
.
= = = "Stinger" <con...@newsserveronly.com>
= = = wrote in message news:<rwzrb.71902$un.3...@bignews6.bellsouth.net>...
That is very true but the Grundig S350 (Tecsun BCL-2000) is designed
and met to be a Broad Cast Listeners (BCL) Radio and nothing more.
Simply think of the Grundig S350 as something 'in-between'
the CCRadioPlus+ ($160) and the GE Superadio III ($60) :
+ Shortwave Bands Coverage.
+ A little 'old time' Panasonic RF-2200/2900/2600 styling from the 1970s.
+ All for about $100.
jagrcl ~ RHF
- - - Just another Grundig Radio Cheer Leader !
.
.
= = = J <nam...@hotmail.com>
= = = wrote in message news:<vquh3dj...@corp.supernews.com>...
>
> The 350 lacks SSB, though.
>
Also there is "NO" BFO for SSB & CW either ;-(
- - - BuT Hey! It's a "ONLY" a Broad Cast Listeners (BCL) Radio :o)
But I can think of a lot of old tube types, military and civilian, that such a
dislay would be great to have and possible to connect to.
I have a good Optoelectronics frequency counter, which I'll probably need to
use in the investigation.
Bill, K5BY
I got something like that. A Panasonic RF-B300....but no analog dial.
http://www.dxing.com/rx/rfb300.htm
It's no 2010 but I got it at a garage sale for $1 (mint condition).
elfa
Nice knob! And a real meter, too.
Maybe I should start going to garage sales, but not in my redneck town. <G>
99% of the time, I use my DX392 on a regulated power supply. I may see if I can
make that dial light turn on full time. Then I can see the signal strength LCD
bar.
Bill, K5BY
Panasonic RF- 2600, 2800, 2900, 4800, 4900
Sony ICF- 6500W, 6800W CRF-1, 320A, 330K
"snip"
> The arbitrary sacrifice of Analog Displays by the younger generations is
> truly a sad thing. I have seen teenagers unable to tell the time on an
> analog clock.
>
> Clock trivia, notice the display on clocks that use Roman numerals. It
> goes I, II, III, IIII, IV, V, VI, VII, IX, X, XI, XII. Standard Roman
> numerals denote IIII as IV. The Non-Standard application above is used to
> keep symmetry in the display, keeping the character use in units of 4. (4
> all Is, 4 with Vs, 4 with Xs) Not all clock with Roman numerals use this
> system, but the use is widespread..
>
> We do not have digital minds, and digital electronics are not necessarily
> bringing the bliss to society that the modern public has been programmed...
Where I work there is a clock who'se face has been altered to
read:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A B C
My Kenwood TS-830 is one such animal. Has both a lit analog, and
digital readout. And, the readout on the radio itself is a true freq
counter, and always reads correctly. Most newer radios, the counter
can read anything...Accuracy depends on the alignment. The external
VFO-230 has only digital readout. Being my main readout is true, I can
use it to set the external VFO...:) Both should track identically
when operating normal. But the 830 is a ham rig. Not good for a
SWL...:( I have seen SWL radios with both though. Seems Yaesu made
one...Maybe kenwood also... MK
I've never seen a clock face with IIII AND IV on it.
>
> Where I work there is a clock who'se face has been altered to
>read:
>1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A B C
>
>
Nice !!!
:)
We have PLCs at work, Allen Bradley, and they use Octal for the numbering
system. For the longest time, I wondered why the electronics department
have the schematics hand scribbled "actual slot 8" for the slot that the
schematic has labeled as having an address of 10. It's quite easy using
the octal addresses.
Fortunately we don't do any programming, so all we need to do is to find
the correct input/output and look for voltages and logic states.
Now Hex, I think that would make things a little harder for me to
understand. But I like the clock idea, that would be a great conversation
piece.
Regards
> In article <Xns942DD578A2F67...@216.168.3.44>,
> inv...@invalid.com says...
>
> "snip"
>
>> The arbitrary sacrifice of Analog Displays by the younger generations
>> is truly a sad thing. I have seen teenagers unable to tell the time
>> on an analog clock.
>> We do not have digital minds, and digital electronics are not
Am I missing something? I notice that you have capitalized "AND" in the
sentence excerpt "IIII AND IV on it."
I've never seen a clock with both on it either. But the IIII or the IV are
common Roman numeral markings on clocks.
Regards.