want info on DX440 mod
Brad Fisher
Quite some time ago (last year?) there was a post suggesting
that the DX440 could be modified to include the range of 26100khz
up to 29999khz by removing a diode ... D404 on PCB "C", according
to my notes.
Has anyone tried this ... or know why this part of the spectrum
is not included?
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Bernd Felsche
>Quite some time ago (last year?) there was a post suggesting
>that the DX440 could be modified to include the range of 26100khz
>up to 29999khz by removing a diode ... D404 on PCB "C", according
>to my notes.
Sounds about right -- from memory. It's one of the control pins.
>Has anyone tried this ... or know why this part of the spectrum
>is not included?
No need to. Mine will scan all the way to 29999kHz (sounds
like a K-Mart frequency ;-))
The reason for the limitation is that in some countries, you
are not allowed to listen to the frequencies above 26MHz,
notably Germany. In fact, you can be arrested if you do so.
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Bradley W. Fisher
: >that the DX440 could be modified to include the range of 26100khz
: >up to 29999khz by removing a diode ... D404 on PCB "C", according
Well actually, I'm on vacation this week so I decided to dive into
my DX-440 and found no diodes currently installed at locations
D404,D405,D406. Put a small signal diode in at D404 ... and found
out that it does indeed *restrict* scanning above 26100KHz. Not
exactly what I was looking for, so I took it back out.
ber...@metapro.DIALix.oz.au (Bernd Felsche) writes:
: No need to. Mine will scan all the way to 29999kHz (sounds
Yeah, so will mine ... but I can't *hear* anything! Except background
static. No CB, no 10m ham.
Can any other DX-440 users out there pick up signals above 21600KHz ???
--
I'm just a wanna be UNIX guru !!! | Micro Maintenance, Inc.
| 2465 W. 12th St. #6
-== Brad Fisher ==- (PPSEL) | Tempe, Arizona 85281
usenet:...!asuvax!telesys!microm!brad | 602/894-5526
unknown
>In <4...@bradf.UUCP> br...@bradf.UUCP ... I write:
>: >that the DX440 could be modified to include the range of 26100khz
>: >up to 29999khz by removing a diode ... D404 on PCB "C", according
>: ...
>Well actually, I'm on vacation this week so I decided to dive into
>my DX-440 and found no diodes currently installed at locations
>D404,D405,D406. Put a small signal diode in at D404 ... and found
>out that it does indeed *restrict* scanning above 26100KHz. Not
>exactly what I was looking for, so I took it back out.
>
>ber...@metapro.DIALix.oz.au (Bernd Felsche) writes:
>: No need to. Mine will scan all the way to 29999kHz (sounds
>Yeah, so will mine ... but I can't *hear* anything! Except background
>static. No CB, no 10m ham.
>Can any other DX-440 users out there pick up signals above 21600KHz ???
I can!! Mine has always worked from 150 up to 29999 kHz...
I've never opened it, though, so I do still have chuff.. Are there any
other mods for the DX440? Particularly, I'm interested in picking
up the audio subcarriers on FM. AtDhVaAnNkCsE...
>--
> I'm just a wanna be UNIX guru !!! | Micro Maintenance, Inc.
> | 2465 W. 12th St. #6
> -== Brad Fisher ==- (PPSEL) | Tempe, Arizona 85281
> usenet:...!asuvax!telesys!microm!brad | 602/894-5526
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a...@waikato.ac.nz
> my DX-440 and found no diodes currently installed at locations
> D404,D405,D406. Put a small signal diode in at D404 ... and found
> out that it does indeed *restrict* scanning above 26100KHz. Not
> exactly what I was looking for, so I took it back out.
>
Installing a IN914 diode in D405 is supposed to lower the FM band
frequency to a starting point of 76.5Mhz.
I havent tried this mod. yet, so be careful.
--
Andrew Chambers
Computer Services
University of Waikato
New Zealand
Dave Malecki
to some CB at one time or another. I know for a fact that the tuner scans
to 29999 kHz though. That area of the band only has descent DX during the
day, but you probably know that. Try getting a local ham to transmit a test
or something on 10m to confirm your suspicion.
Sorry I can't be of any further help.
Dave Malecki
BNR owns, but does not share, my opinions.
Dan Schein
>
>>Can any other DX-440 users out there pick up signals above 21600KHz ???
>
>I can!! Mine has always worked from 150 up to 29999 kHz...
Mine has worked just fine since new (its really a Sangean). My dads DX-440
also works in that range as expected.
>other mods for the DX440? Particularly, I'm interested in picking
>up the audio subcarriers on FM. AtDhVaAnNkCsE...
Somewhere at home I have a catalog that has such a kit. It can be placed
inside the radio and comes with the specs for the Sangean (where to hook
it up). I will try to remember and look for it later tonight.....
-Dan
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Chris Duggins
I picked up my DX440 during the sale over Xmas & I can pick up 11m & 10m
with no probs.
---
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Will Martin
>>other mods for the DX440? Particularly, I'm interested in picking
>>up the audio subcarriers on FM. AtDhVaAnNkCsE...
> Somewhere at home I have a catalog that has such a kit. It can be placed
> inside the radio and comes with the specs for the Sangean (where to hook
> it up).
FM SCA adapters and SCA-equipped radios are available from:
FM Atlas
Box 336
Esko MN 55733-0336
Regards, Will
Mark Readman
>>Can any other DX-440 users out there pick up signals above 21600KHz ???
Lots of stuff. But I have yet to hear anything sensible on LW
or SW from 1620 to 3.0 MHz.
Recption on 80M ham band is great but not a whistle on 160m
except noise and breakthrough.
Mark.
--
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mark Readman | McGill Research Centre for Intelligent Machines
Michael Schuster
>
>FM SCA adapters and SCA-equipped radios are available from:
>
>FM Atlas
>Box 336
>Esko MN 55733-0336
Thanks for posting this tip. Would you happen to know if they have SCA-equipped
radios whose subcarrier frequency can be tuned easily, or are they all set to
the main frequency of 67 KHz.
On the Fidonet shortwave echo recently there was a lot of discussion about a
service/company that broadcasts Cantonese on subcarriers of FM stations in
severla metropolitan areas. Apparently this company (SINO CAST) had contracted
with Panasonic to build a high quality SCA-equipped radio with cassette
recorder, which they sell for about $125. Unlike other SCA sets, the FM
frequency is tuneable (alas the SCA subcarrier frequency is not). This has
generated a lot of interest, and your posting caught my eye as a possibly better
alternative. How about a GE SuperRadio II with integral SCA [grin].
Disclaimer: Yes, I know that listening to SCA broadcasts without authorization
is a violation of the ECPA. If you feel compelled to flame me merely for asking
about the above, then I'll say I would plan to obtain authorization first.
--
_______________________________Mike Schuster________________________________
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Jack Decker
unk...@disk.uucp (unknown) wrote:
U> I've never opened it, though, so I do still have chuff.. Are there any
U> other mods for the DX440? Particularly, I'm interested in picking
U> up the audio subcarriers on FM. AtDhVaAnNkCsE...
I recall that an outfit called FM Atlas in the back woods of Minnesota (Adolph,
MN?) used to offer such a mod. Don't have their address handy but someone else
might, or they may be listed with directory assistance (I *think* it was a 218
area code, but don't quote me on that!).
Jack Decker | No, I don't own an Amiga; I just
Internet address: ja...@myamiga.mixcom.com | get Internet mail via a gateway
Fidonet address: 1:154/8 | system that runs on an Amiga.
BILL KELSEY
BF> Quite some time ago (last year?) there was a post suggesting
BF> that the DX440 could be modified to include the range of
BF> 26100khz up to 29999khz by removing a diode ... D404 on PCB
BF> "C", according to my notes.
This must have been a radio intended for sale elsewhere, since the US
specification radios cover 150 - 29999 kHz already. I have heard,
however, that the Sangean radios (the Radio Shack DX-440 is a stripped
down (but higher priced) Sangean ATS-803A) intended for sale in
countries where the government restricts SW reception above 26 mHz
(such as Germany) have their frequency range limited. That may well be
source of this mod.
* Origin: Pinelands RBBS * NJ * 609-859-1910 (8:950/2) (1:266/22.32)
Will Martin
>Thanks for posting this tip. Would you happen to know if they have SCA-equipped
>radios whose subcarrier frequency can be tuned easily, or are they all set to
>the main frequency of 67 KHz.
I believe that their cheapest or most basic SCA adapter is 67 kHz only
but the others are tunable to cover the standard 67 & 92 (I think) kHz
frequencies. I have a couple radios modified by them. A little Panasonic
has just an exteral SCA switch and no capability of tuning the SCA
frequency setting (you might be able to change it if you opened the
case -- I don't know). The [currently non-working] modified Sony 2010
has the SCA frequency setting accessible by having a hole hacked in the
rear of the case (and in the flip-out stand bar) so the trimmer cap can
be turned with a fingertip. Really yucko in appearance, but it
functioned... They do sell the GE Superradio with or without SCA adapter
installed; I don't know if they offer a tunable/not tunable option with
that (don't have the catalog here with me).
Here in St. Louis, I never picked up any SCA other than on 67 kHz. In
recent years, what SCA there was became just about worthless. The only
thing of any value left was the service for the blind carried on the
subcarrier of 101.1 MHz (whose call letters changed so often in recent
years that I have no idea what they are now), and they seemed to always
just be reading the local paper. I never heard any literature-readings
or other interesting stuff thre, but then I was never able to get any
sort of program schedule from them. (They wouldn't even send one to my
elderly mother when I bought her that Panasonic SCA radio mentioned
above! :-( I got it back after she died...)
If tunable SCA is important to you, I suggest a much better external
SCA adapter, made by Capri Electronics. I bought one of them from the FM
Atlas people and use it hooked to the IF output on a couple FM tuners
that had provision for external multiplex or 4-channel decoders. It is
marketed as a "bug detector" because you can also scan the power line
(it is AC-powered) for imposed carriers, and allows front-panel knob
tuning of SCA frequency and other parameters. It cost something over
$125 or so, I believe. I don't recall the model number offhand. A number
of security-equipment firms sell this same device at vast markups, like
over $200. It has a built-in audio amp and speaker, plus can be
connected to an external amp.
I've never, no matter what I spent, found an SCA adapter that really
filtered out all the baseband main-station signal. I suppose that is
what differentiates the professional fixed-tuned models from these
amateur toys. So I could never really use the SCA "background-music"
channels for that purpose, as they were always distorted by bleed-over
or modulation from the programming on the main broadcast frequency.
It also made trying to listen to verbal programming an annoying chore.
So I caution you to not expect too much.
Regards, Will