Category Archives: Radio: Amateur & Broadcast

Amateur radio (ham radio) and the collecting and restoration of old radios… this is the place where you can find my posts on anything radio.

Icom IC-706MkIIG Operation Guide

Some years ago  I purchased an Icom IC-706-MkIIG transceiver.This was the third and final version of this very popular amateur radio. I was attracted to the 706 for a number of reasons, some of which are: Small size makes it … Continue reading

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The Search for Capacitance (an electronic value, not a religion)

I like to collect, use, and repair old radios. Anyone who spends much time learning about old radios will soon enough come across interesting electronic test equipment, vintage and new. The old has style and (often) accuracy. The new has … Continue reading

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An Antenna Switch that works for me: MFJ-1700C

An antenna switch is a must have item for any ham who has more than one antenna. A really great antenna switch is a must have for a ham who has more than one transceiver. I needed a ‘really great’ … Continue reading

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Winter Antiquing in Maine

We sometimes take a New England Vacation. That means we don’t go very far and we do it off-season (also known as Reduced Rates Time). Usually this involves staying at an inn or bed and breakfast for a couple of … Continue reading

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RCA Radiola 60

    I am a radio collector. I should probably say that I am a radio accumulator. That would be more accurate. A true collector seeks only the best and is constantly improving the collection. He or she upgrades the collection, … Continue reading

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A Hamfest Weekend

    What makes a good weekend for you? Some would answer eight hours straight of football games on Sunday afternoon. Others would say climbing Mount Washington or a good 100-mile bike ride. For me it is my annual trek … Continue reading

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Reviving the HRO-60

First a little history for those who may not know what a HRO-60 is.  The HRO-60 is an amateur radio receiver or communications receiver.  It receives all the amateur radio bands and the full spectrum of the shortwave bands that … Continue reading

Posted in Occasional Commentary, Radio: Amateur & Broadcast | Tagged | 15 Comments

QSL-Printing Software

OK, so you want to replace those old QSL cards. The old stack of cards that is sitting in the draw is an embarrassment. They have your old call (that you now have to cross out and replace with a … Continue reading

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Westinghouse WR-8, The Columaire

Hobbies for me are a sort of hot and cold thing. I jump in all eager and ready to achieve great feats of creativity and discovery. This ‘hot’ stage is followed by the ‘accumulation’ stage in which I collect all … Continue reading

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Feed line Issues Revisited

How do you weather-proof your feed line connections and the coax itself?  Some coax claims to be direct-bury or buriable (my word processor spell check does not like that word).  Just cover it over with dirt and forget about it.  … Continue reading

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