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General Vintage Technology Discussions For general discussions about vintage radio and other vintage electronics etc. |
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8th May 2020, 3:24 pm | #21 |
Banned
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Re: Absolute Radio 40’s.
Thank you to Paul Stenning for putting up the notification banner about the station. I'd been planning to run my Bush SAC35 for a while and originally hoped to catch a BBC station rebroadcasting Churchill's speech. As it happens, Absolute did this & I've made a shaky video of the set playing. Very pleased to have been able to listen to this through a set on which Chamberlain's announcement was very likely heard on.
Signal wasn't the best through my long wire, lots of QRM but with selectivity on maximum I was able to pull it in reasonably well. Any more sensitivity just brought heterodyne squeals! What a beautiful day for it as well! I'll upload the video to Youtube and link it in the SAC35 thread, not hugely captivating video but quite cool nonetheless. Cheers all, |
8th May 2020, 3:45 pm | #22 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jan 2016
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Re: Absolute Radio 40’s.
Don't have anything as old as most of you, but did listen for a while on an early nineties Grundig Yacht Boy.
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8th May 2020, 4:42 pm | #23 |
Octode
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK.
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Re: Absolute Radio 40’s.
Thanks for posting this I would have missed it otherwise! I have the same problem as most others .. The mush!
By careful repositioning of the (rather short) aerial wire I can get acceptable reception on my Ferranti 145 which I suppose would have been just a bit too new for VE day.. Tesla has decided to have a kip amongst her toys and the clean washing I brought it and put on the end of the settee.. |
8th May 2020, 5:00 pm | #24 |
Dekatron
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Re: Absolute Radio 40’s.
I've been sitting out on the old pew (must get round to stripping what's left of the old paint from it one day) under the front porch, with my Bush DAC90A, again not quite period, but it was small and near at hand and older than the sets I usually use outside in the yard, plus it's a good medium wave performer. Take note - that set is working on ALL its original components other than the grid coupling capacitor. It still has the original mains filter capacitor under its clap, but obviously with its hot end lifted from circuit to prevent a nasty bang and smoke!
It's still out there playing away to the street unattended - let's hope someone doesn't come round and smash it with a hammer While I was sat out there listening, I was dismantling an old transceiver I was given a few years ago, which on opening it up I decided it was too good to break, so put it back together again I do on occasion listen to Absolute Radio on AM medium wave and long may they continue transmitting on it, although I fear that in reality it may not be too long I've actually got most of the records on 78s that they've been playing. Juke Box Saturday Night - Glenn Miller, wasn't the original, but still good (or maybe even better) all the same. You may be surprised that I also enjoy on occasion, listening to Rock, Metal, Punk, Electronic Dance etc. etc. There's nothing narrow minded about my musical tastes! DAC radio playing away below:- |
8th May 2020, 5:07 pm | #25 |
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Re: Absolute Radio 40’s.
In reality they are probably from CD or digital files so would be versions that have been reissued in that format. I can't imagine them actually playing 78's sadly.
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8th May 2020, 5:38 pm | #26 |
Heptode
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Location: Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire, UK.
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Re: Absolute Radio 40’s.
At least the 4 hour loop gives me a chance to 'listen again' on another device.
This set is pretty much how I bought it over 20 years ago, changed that capacitor this morning and the HT looks healthy so this seems the right day to let it play. It's manufacturer code U4 - The Gramophone Co. Ltd. The speaker cloth appears to be cut from someone's cardigan. Still absolutely nothing on the garden long wire, just noise. So the Tecsun Loop brought outside, which makes it just about listenable. Then turned my PC on to send this and wiped it all out! A nice cup of tea and a sit down after a bike ride through the locality seeing the front garden parties starting-up. Accompanied by 'Utility Chocolate Biscuit' in a plain wrapper - the only ones left on the shelves in the Supermarket a few weeks ago. Regards, SR |
8th May 2020, 6:08 pm | #27 |
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Re: Absolute Radio 40’s.
The Murphy A46 is doing sterling work, on for hours and sounding great.
Me, my wife and daughter enjoying pimms in the sunshine, what a great day we're having!
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8th May 2020, 6:11 pm | #28 |
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Re: Absolute Radio 40’s.
Dare I say it here? It is also on DAB in London.
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8th May 2020, 6:15 pm | #29 | |
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Re: Absolute Radio 40’s.
Quote:
I'm 75YO and I always liked listening to music. My Mother used to say, "How can you listen to music all time." I can't play a note, I let the talented people do it! Dave, USradcoll1 |
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8th May 2020, 6:18 pm | #30 |
Nonode
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Re: Absolute Radio 40’s.
It’s been playing well on my Pye PCR2 through a 1940s Tannoy cabinet PA speaker - just the sort of kit that the NAAFI might have used back in the 1940s. And indeed, our allies in Europe might have had similar equipment, if it had survived the parachute drop.
My use of a Wellbrook Loop as the antenna might be regarded as an anachronism, but they didn’t suffer the interference from switched-mode power supplies back in those days! Martin
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8th May 2020, 6:53 pm | #31 |
Octode
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Re: Absolute Radio 40’s.
Yes thanks to Paul for bringing this to our attention. As a result I've had a Philco 444 "playing" all afternoon in the front garden during our socially-distanced street party. And, surprise surprise, two people asked if they could take a picture of it! Aerial was about 10' of wire draped across the ground. No mush at all.
Has anyone else noticed that all this social distancing is bringing people together?
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8th May 2020, 7:01 pm | #32 |
Dekatron
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Re: Absolute Radio 40’s.
I am well aware that this DAC90 radio is post-war, but only by months, and SWMBO informs me that this Biggest Aspidistra in the World is merely a potted palm.
Good reception from Moorside Edge nontheless. ******************************svf743R8ouJy373v8 May I be allowed to take this opportunity to pay tribute to my late aunt, my fathers sister. Don't let the familiar masthead fool you, look at it carefully. Her story, albeit slightly embellished for morale reasons, truly went round the world.
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8th May 2020, 7:04 pm | #33 |
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Re: Absolute Radio 40’s.
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8th May 2020, 7:27 pm | #34 | |
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Re: Absolute Radio 40’s.
Quote:
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8th May 2020, 7:59 pm | #35 | |
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Re: Absolute Radio 40’s.
Quote:
I think it is reasonable to try to replicate the signal quality and strength of the day to feed the radio with an appropriate signal, and if that means a more specialist antenna then fair enough. |
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8th May 2020, 8:05 pm | #36 |
Pentode
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Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, UK.
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Re: Absolute Radio 40’s.
Thanks again for the reminder. Just tuned in on my late 1960s Grundig Music Boy. Reception on 1215 kHz or should I say 247 metres, 1215 Kcs to keep with the time, excellent here but I am pretty close to Droitwich.
Alan. |
8th May 2020, 8:07 pm | #37 |
Octode
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Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, UK.
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Re: Absolute Radio 40’s.
The family really enjoyed today's programming on Absolute. I had a listen on my Bush TR82C and a PYE portable.
I settled with a late 60's Dynatron Rally which sounded very good. It spent a good part of the day in the garden. Probably the longest it has been switched on for in decades! When was the last time a station's wavelength was regularly given in metres? |
8th May 2020, 8:30 pm | #38 |
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Re: Absolute Radio 40’s.
Hi,
Alas, I can't listen online as I'm outside the UK. Oh well, I'll dig out my 78s after watching the VE75 celebrations on telly. "Lest we forget!" Cheers, Pete.
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8th May 2020, 8:35 pm | #39 |
Triode
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Location: Hampshire, UK.
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Re: Absolute Radio 40’s.
So I got my 1934 Philips 472a Superinductance TRF running on Absolute 40s this afternoon for our cul-de-sac’s VE Day socially distanced event. Slightly cheating though; the signal source was the Absolute website via my IPad driving the set through a pantry transmitter. Still, it ran without fault all afternoon and gathered general admiration.
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8th May 2020, 8:40 pm | #40 |
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Re: Absolute Radio 40’s.
I have successfully recorded 4 hours (4pm to 8pm) and saved it as an MP3, for playing through and demonstrating vintage radios in the future. Apart from the news bulletins which vary every hour, and maybe some of the adverts, the rest is a 4 hour repeated loop.
It's obviously copyright so won't be shared or posted anywhere. |