Re: [IRCA] Sony SRF-59 - are we serious?

["Saul Chernos" <sauldx@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>>> In the meantime, why don't we all just sit back, and be thrilled to DX 
>>> with it?<<<

I was trying to accomplish two things with my e-mail. Well, three, actually. 
First I was trying to explain that I was initially skeptical that an 
ultralight could perform well on AM, but then pleasantly surprised. I 
thought I was pretty clear about this when I mentioned that I was able to 
discern stations beneath my own locals. Second, since the SRF-59 is an 
ultralight, I thought I should be ultralight in my tone. Tongue in cheek; 
you should have seen my first draft! Though I do see that I accidentally 
edited out the smiley ;-) emoticon. Third, I was taking a cheap shot at 
IBOC. Couldn't resist it, though it is like killing a dead horse.

The Sony SRF-59 is a good set, and I'm having a lot of fun with it tonight 
(loggings further down) in a downtown core where I've never really been able 
to do much AM DX at all). It's not a Drake R8 hooked to a BOG with all the 
trimmings, and I think we can admit that and still have all sorts of jolly 
fun. It will be interesting to compare it with my rather threadbare set-up 
at Burnt River - a Sangean ATS909 portable hooked to unterminated wire 
running on the ground through the woods.

Tonight, with the SRF clipped to my shirt so I don't send it flying every 
time I move around, I've managed to do a whole whack of paperwork, and ...

910: a basketball game between the Dukes and something that sounds like JMU. 
It IDed as the JMU (or whagtever) Network. There was also a reference to 
Charleston.

910 also has Spanish (Cuba suspected) and Maine.

Hets on 910 and 621 (the latter fairly strong, maybe TA's are possible 
inland...)

"La Capital" on 750, Spanish, suspect Venezuela.

870 Reloj Cuba very strong o/WWL.

Bonaire TWR 800

890 Cuba suspected u/WLS

I'm even getting some stuff while typing on the computer, though the hiss is 
pretty bad at the keyboard. And I'm not even thinking about IBOC. well, 
almost not...

Saul

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <D1028Gary@xxxxxxx>
To: <irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, December 30, 2007 9:33 PM
Subject: Re: [IRCA] Sony SRF-59 - are we serious?


> Hello Saul,
>
>     True Story:  When I bought the first SRF-59  in November to kick off
> this entire craze, it was a dubious attempt to introduce  my 8-year old 
> son to
> the joys of AM DXing, which thrilled me when I was 8 (way  back in 1961). 
> My
> son, who is already somewhat of an Internet expert,  showed absolutely no
> interest in the foolish attempt of his father  to motivate him to search 
> for DX,
> however, the father suddenly forgot about  the original mission and 
> noticed that
> this tiny radio was ridiculously sensitive  and selective... whereupon 
> Danny
> quickly got a different present, as his father  proceeded to gasp in total
> amazement at the phenomenal performance  of this tiny terror.
>
>     Anybody who holds the SRF-59 in his hand for the  first time must 
> think
> that the entire club has either gone nuts, or  hallucinating on something 
> from
> the 60's.  Even now, when I pick up an  SRF-59, I find myself saying "No 
> way
> can this little thing have received 3  TP's!"... but it has.  And for 15
> bucks?  What has Sony created?   Is this some secret way to turn the whole 
> AM radio
> market upside down, and put  Sangean and Panasonic out of the analog AM 
> radio
> business for good?
>
>     Saul, I am just as amazed today as when this whole  thing started in
> November.  Nick and Steve are still combining their expert  technical 
> talents to
> try to crack the code on this radio, but it gives up its  secrets very
> grudgingly.  Even the conversion scheme is still being  debated, but we 
> are sure that
> it is not a regular superheterodyne.  Maybe  after a few more weeks, we 
> will
> all know why this radio is shockingly  effective.
>
>     In the meantime, why don't we all just sit back,  and be thrilled to 
> DX
> with it?
>
>
>                           73,  Gary DeBock

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