Re: [IRCA] Long-term Breakdown of the Sony SRF-59 Tuning Capacitor

[D1028Gary@xxxxxxx]

Hi Saul,
 
Thanks for your comments about the SRF-59, and SRF-39FP.
 
These two radios were enormously popular in the early days of the  
Ultralight boom, and still have a devoted, cult-like following-- mostly in  Canada, 
it seems. Rob Ross' amazing success with his SRF-59 (and various  samples 
exported by a fanatic American) may have had something to do with  this.
 
Even today, there are many DXers around the world who prefer these  Sony 
analog ultralights to anything else, primarily because of the great  challenge 
they offer. The SRF-39FP "prison radio" is far more ergonomically  
agreeable than the SRF-59, and it was fast becoming the analog ultralight  of choice 
last year, until the Florida eBay seller finally exhausted  his stock. It 
is still available from the San Quentin (California) prison  system, with the 
ordering form link available upon request.
 
73, Gary
   
 
 
In a message dated 4/22/2009 6:48:44 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
sauldx@xxxxxxxxxxxx writes:



Well, whaddya expect for $30-some? (insert smiley here). So far  my two are 
working. But to be fair one of them (unmodified) is one I gave my  
girlfriend, and she hasn't used it much. I haven't used my modified one much,  
preferring the FP version because I find it easier to tune. I am finding,  
however, that my FP skips off frequency, by one or two whole channels, all on  its 
own, occasionally. Which is a pain in the %&* because it's a pain in  the 
%$* to figure out where on the dial you are in the first place. Not that  it 
stops me...it's my radio of choice at certain times under certain  
conditions and circumstances. (I'm not reporting much lately, BTW, because cx  have 
been poor - the relatively and consistently low A-K numbers have not IMO  
translated into a superior DX season - and I generally don't keep track of  
relogs). 

Still, I find this whole exercise worthwhile, and am glad I  have the Sonys 
that I have. Some of you have purchased other ULR radios that  have turned 
out to be superior, both in terms of manufactured quality and ease  of DXing 
(some with digital readout, for example - I've seen Robert Ross'  Sangean 
in action and am impressed). On one hand, you do get what you paid  for. On 
the other, you can get amazing reception on cheap, puny li'l things --  this 
whole effort has proven that, and it's been a great contribution to the  
hobby.

So to folks like Gary, I simply say keep it up...

Saul  Chernos / Toronto-Burnt River ON

From: D1028Gary@xxxxxxx
> Date:  Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:24:53 -0400
> To: ultralightdx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx;  irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; am@xxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [IRCA] Long-term  Breakdown of the Sony SRF-59 Tuning Capacitor
> 
> Hello  All,
>  
> A problem that presented itself occasionally among  new SRF-59 units in 
late 
>  2007 has now, unfortunately, become  somewhat of an epidemic.
>  
> The "scratchy tuner" problem  was originally observed in about 10% of new 
 
> SRF-59 units in  late 2007, which is caused by the breakdown of the 
dielectric 
>   material inside the tuning capacitor. The problem only was evident when 
 
> the  SRF-59 was tuned on AM, especially when tuned quickly from  one side 
of 
> the band  to the other.
>  
>  Evidence now strongly indicates that this SRF-59 issue is congenital,  
due  
> to a low quality tuning capacitor used by Sony to cut  manufacturing 
costs. 
> My  original three SRF-59 units from late  2007 were all free of this 
problem 
> when  purchased and aligned,  but all three have now developed the 
"scratchy  
> tuner." This  includes the unit which received JOAK-594, JOIB-747 and 
> HLCA-972  in  November of 2007, which motivated me to write the SRF-59 
review.  
> Apparently over  a period of several years, the SRF-59 tuner  component 
> inevitably breaks  down
>  
> The  Sony SRF-39FP and other Sony analog CXA1129N IC chip-based radios   
> apparently do not have this tuning capacitor issue, due to a higher  
quality  
> tuner component used in manufacturing. For those with  an SRF-59 enjoying 
 great 
> DX, you may wish to secure one of  these other Sony analog units for a  
> backup.
>   
> 73, Gary DeBock
>  
>  
>   
>  
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