[IRCA] Interesting SRF-59 Quirks

[D1028Gary@xxxxxxx]

Hello All,
 
     After fifty alignments of the SRF-59 (since  November),  some 
interesting facts have been discovered in servicing this  tiny, overachieving portable.
 
     Here are a few:
 
1)  Out of 50 alignments, 36 factory units have obtained a major  gain in 
sensitivity.  12 obtained a minor gain, while 2 had no gain.   The typical 
factory unit has a loopstick coil not placed at the  optimum position, resulting in 
reduced low-band sensitivity.
 
2)   The typical SRF-59 actually "explodes" when it is taken  apart for the 
first time.  The front and back sections separate with a loud  crack, the 
circuit board falls out, and the dial gearing sticks out from  the front panel. 
This is all normal and safe, but presumably gives the radio its  intimidating 
reputation among owners.  A loose dial linkage also  makes the radio almost 
impossible for a beginner to reassemble  properly. 
 
3)   A misaligned dial is easy to correct, but in the SRF-59's  circuitry, a 
misaligned dial always results in reduced sensitivity.   It's a quirk of the 
CXA1129 IC chip.
 
4)   About 15% of SRF-59's have a scratchy-sounding tuner,  resulting in 
static when the frequency is changed.  This problem is almost  always associated 
with a need to use more force, when tuning.  The only  solution for this 
problem is to replace the tuner, usually an impractical  option.
 
5)   Each separate factory seems to have its own alignment  system.  
Consequently, bad "batches" are common, especially in the same  store.
 
6)   The SRF-59 battery has phenomenal run time.  150 hours  on one AA cell 
is typical, meaning a DXer using the radio one hour a day would  have it last 
for 5 months.
 
7)   Serious DXers have discovered that a variant of the  SRF-59, the 
SRF-39FP "prison radio," has many advantages for chasing DX.   The tuning thumb wheel 
is significantly larger, the audio is better, and  the sensitivity usually is 
a shade better, for properly aligned units.  It  also seemingly has immunity 
from the scratchy tuner problem, and has a  convenient slot to mount a 
loopstick transplant post.  Unfortunately, the  SRF-39FP is not available in Canada 
or other countries outside the U.S.,  because of the refusal of the eBay seller 
to ship across the border.
 
                                                                              
        73,  Gary DeBock
 
                                                                              



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