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Re: [IRCA] Long-term Breakdown of the Sony SRF-59 Tuning Capacitor
If you're in the market, there are a couple used ones on eBay now, as well
as what look like a mis-labelled SRF-39, advertised as an M78. Check out
item number 320361109157 - may go for cheap! It certaily doesn't look
like an SRF-49, so it must be a 39.
Kevin S
Bainbridge Island, WA
> 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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