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Old 14th Sep 2021, 9:03 am   #1
Nipkowdisc
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Default 1980's A.M. Radio Watch Question.

Hello again fellow enthusiasts

Does anyone know what sort of radio circuitry was used in those 1980's Digital Watches which included an A.M. Radio?
These could only be heard through plug-in Headphones.
I'm guessing that they were based on the ZN414 Chip.
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Old 14th Sep 2021, 3:57 pm   #2
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Default Re: 1980's A.M. Radio Watch Question.

I had a Sanyo version back in the 80s, performance would suggest a ZN414 style device.
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Old 15th Sep 2021, 8:45 am   #3
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Default Re: 1980's A.M. Radio Watch Question.

Thanks wd40addict!
Yes it may have been possible but it would have been asking a bit much of the ZN414 with such a tiny Ferrite Rod Aerial.
Did yours just get the very strongest Medium Wave Stations?
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Old 15th Sep 2021, 3:47 pm   #4
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Default Re: 1980's A.M. Radio Watch Question.

As far as I remember yes. I can't actually recall what happened to it in the end, this would've been around 1982.
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Old 15th Sep 2021, 4:15 pm   #5
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Default Re: 1980's A.M. Radio Watch Question.

The Sinclair Micromatic had but two transistors and worked for local stations with a 1" ferrite rod. I had one as a kid in the 1970's, all I could get was Radio 4 MW, perhaps that lead to my life long love of Radio 4.
 
Old 15th Sep 2021, 8:11 pm   #6
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Default Re: 1980's A.M. Radio Watch Question.

Quote:
Originally Posted by merlinmaxwell View Post
The Sinclair Micromatic had but two transistors and worked for local stations with a 1" ferrite rod. I had one as a kid in the 1970's, all I could get was Radio 4 MW, perhaps that lead to my life long love of Radio 4.
Must have been a problem. Mine was very lively and I could receive Luxembourg after dark....handy as a 13 year old who was supposed to be in bed for school next day.....! That was 1966/67.
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Old 16th Sep 2021, 2:12 am   #7
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Default Re: 1980's A.M. Radio Watch Question.

I think the one I had was a Casio?? But had am/FM so was probably later .
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Old 16th Sep 2021, 10:40 am   #8
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Default Re: 1980's A.M. Radio Watch Question.

Thanks for that folks!
I think that I should point out that the Sinclair Micromatic was a Pocket Radio from the 1960's though rather than one built into a 1980's Digital Watch and therefore a rather easier sort of thing to make as it could take up much more physical space.
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