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Author Topic: I'm new to all this.  (Read 5366 times)

Offline dace

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I'm new to all this.
« on: March 26, 2014, 2209 UTC »
I have never owned a SW radio.  I would like to learn what I can I have no idea what I'm doing.  :o   but I would like to get started.   Where to begin? 

I have an interest in a ZENITH TRANS OCEANIC RADIO, ROYAL D7000Y, 11 CH and it gets loads of stations.  (don't know the terminology yet) 

Is this a good one?  any advice on first steps would be wildly appreciated.

Ty.   
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Offline atrainradio

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Re: I'm new to all this.
« Reply #1 on: March 27, 2014, 1211 UTC »
Hey dace,

              Welcome to the HFU! I reccomend you start off with a portable, easy to learn and use radio. Start off with a TecSun PL- 210 or any other simple radio. It really doesn't take long at all to learn and after a week or so you'll be dx'ing just like us here! Again, welcome!
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Offline glimmer twin

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Re: I'm new to all this.
« Reply #2 on: March 27, 2014, 1606 UTC »
I seem to recall the the Trans Oceanic D7000 is an awesome radio. A friend of mine let me borrow his for a couple of weeks about 20 years ago & I remember well tuning Radio Ukraine International English service while sitting at my kitchen table with excellent reception while it was only fair on my other rigs with longwire antennas. If my memory doesn't fail me (as it often does these days) it has a BFO for single side band reception, a definite plus. Kind of expensive usually though. There are some really good inexpensive portables on the market these days as atrainradio pointed out. Before you invest possibly hundreds of $$ in a TransOceanic consider trying an inexpensive portable, getting the hang of that & move on from there. Either way welcome & best of luck to you & don't hesitate to ask questions.
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KCMO  Icom R 75 , SDR-IQ, Grundig Satellit 750 ,Tecsun PL 880, Tecsun PL660 , Tecsun PL380 & PL360  10 meter random wire  w/ RF systems MLB    Alpha Delta SWL DX sloper  
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Offline RCCI

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Re: I'm new to all this.
« Reply #3 on: March 27, 2014, 1739 UTC »
Welcome aboard Dace! Would suggest a good used tabletop, such as a Kenwood R600, to whet your appetite. VERY simple to use, and alot of fun. Attach a 25' piece of wire strung along below the ceiling, (or better yet, outside) and that's it...for now ;D

Let us know what oyu get, and if need pointers. You've come to the right place!  ...RCCI
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Nella F.

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Re: I'm new to all this.
« Reply #4 on: March 28, 2014, 0000 UTC »
KooL  8) I used to own one of those! Or probably a slightly earlier model I bought while in the Navy, probably 1970 or '71. Anyway I remember having problems with it & one day got really pissed-off and literally flung it out the front door (opened) of a small house I was renting around 1974. It landed on the cement walkway all busted up! (I was a bit of a drunkin' hothead back then  :o ) Ah memories!

http://radioattic.com/item.htm?radio=1230141

Yeah, the link above really looks like what I owned.

« Last Edit: March 28, 2014, 0004 UTC by Nella F. »
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Offline dace

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Re: I'm new to all this.
« Reply #5 on: March 28, 2014, 0203 UTC »
Yes, This is the one I'm expecting  :)     The one I bid on doesn't have the battery tubes as far as I could see.  I might be able to find some tube material to make a set.   Otherwise, the description lists that everything works.  This seller wasn't verbose about their set.   

I watched a fella's video about his set ...  http://youtu.be/jhOJXpKxf-o
and decided for it.   I bought it and just curious if you remember what troubled you with yours, that you threw it out the door?   

On the back it shows a green radio wire connected to two posts.  Would you remember this on yours?  and can you tell me what these are to?  :0) 

I know that the dial without a fine tuner will likely not allow me much listening pleasure but I think I'll enjoy it.  I'm like that fella on the video,  this will become my outdoor deck set

I found another one at a much higher price and asked if they could take less but I didn't hear back from them.   So then I found this one for the cost I could afford. 

Thanks ya'll for suggestions and kindness.   




Quote from: Nella F. on March 28, 2014, 0000 UTC
KooL  8) I used to own one of those! Or probably a slightly earlier model I bought while in the Navy, probably 1970 or '71. Anyway I remember having problems with it & one day got really pissed-off and literally flung it out the front door (opened) of a small house I was renting around 1974. It landed on the cement walkway all busted up! (I was a bit of a drunkin' hothead back then  :o ) Ah memories!

http://radioattic.com/item.htm?radio=1230141

Yeah, the link above really looks like what I owned.


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Offline skeezix

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Re: I'm new to all this.
« Reply #6 on: March 28, 2014, 0340 UTC »
The Transoceanic is a good radio. I have the H500 in really good shape and works well.

Don't know anything about them new fangled transistorized D7000Y's....  ;D


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Offline dace

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Re: I'm new to all this.
« Reply #7 on: March 28, 2014, 1231 UTC »
Quote from: skeezix on March 28, 2014, 0340 UTC
The Transoceanic is a good radio. I have the H500 in really good shape and works well.

Don't know anything about them new fangled transistorized D7000Y's....  ;D




What is the H500 if not transistorized?  how many different types of radios are there?    :0)    Heck, what's a transistor?  grin     I need to watch more videos.   

And Hey thanks for the warm welcomes folks.   I've been made to feel welcome.  I'm with my kind, maybe.  I hope.   
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Nella F.

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Re: I'm new to all this.
« Reply #8 on: March 28, 2014, 2216 UTC »
Quote from: dace on March 28, 2014, 0203 UTC
  I bought it and just curious if you remember what troubled you with yours, that you threw it out the door?  

Actually I do, now that I think about it, the radio was picking up tv audio signals, where it wasn't suppose to. Since I was no where near Any tv towers I just downed some liquid courage & the rest is history.
Sorry can't help you with your ? about green wire. Hope you enjoy your new hobbie of dxing sw.
« Last Edit: March 28, 2014, 2220 UTC by Nella F. »
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Offline dace

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Re: I'm new to all this.
« Reply #9 on: March 29, 2014, 1220 UTC »
@Nella,  sometimes it seems the smallest thing is all it takes.   I think the green wire connects antenna to exterior connects.   Will check it out once it arrives in a few days.   I'll watch videos in the meantime. 

I'm glad to be part of this.  I might be off grid again soon. 
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Offline BDM

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Re: I'm new to all this.
« Reply #10 on: March 29, 2014, 1332 UTC »
Dace, might want to visit this site
http://antiqueradios.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=4&sid=9a5ffee58d9e8288b6ed27b474b6aef4

Lots of knowledgeable folks on the subject of solid-state (transistor) TOs as well as the hollow-state (vacuum tubes) versions on this site. Pulled up many threads on the SS Trans-Oceanic's.
« Last Edit: March 29, 2014, 1334 UTC by BDM »
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Radios -- Perseus SDR // SDRPlay RSPdx-R2 // Icom IC-7300 // // Yaesu FT-991A // Tecsun PL-990x // Realistic DX-440 // Panasonic RF-5000A --Antennas-- Pixel Pro 1B loop - 82' fan-dipole at 40' - tuned MW/BCB 40" loop and 100' receive only dipole
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Offline BoomboxDX

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Re: I'm new to all this.
« Reply #11 on: March 31, 2014, 1209 UTC »
TransOceanics are good radios, if they are working correctly. Some of these marvels have issues from age, but there are a lot of aficionados on the web who can help if the radio has problems.

You won't need to worry much about needing a fine tuner -- on the 7000 (like several of the previous TransOceanic models) the SW band is actually several separate 'bands', each one covering a SW broadcast band.

I.e., one TransOceanic SW 'band' covers just the 31 meter band, another TransOceanic SW 'band' just covers the 25 meter band, etc.

Unfortunately, it looks like the 49, 41, and pirate broadcast bands are all in one TO SW 'band', but if memory serves, the main tuning on a TO is fine enough to pick up and separate signals fairly well on those SWBC bands.

If it's working well it should bring in plenty of SW and MW broadcast stations.

Just make sure you use batteries. Forget using wall warts. They can overheat the output transistors on TransOceanics. TO's are fickle about correct voltages. They also are scrimpy on battery usage, so a set of batteries should last a long time.
« Last Edit: March 31, 2014, 1216 UTC by BoomboxDX »
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Offline dace

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Re: I'm new to all this.
« Reply #12 on: April 01, 2014, 1821 UTC »
And I received the radio today and unfortunately it's not working.  FM is great.  lol

I talked to the person that mailed it and they say it must have gotten hurt in the mail.  packaging is great the box looks good.  fedex delivered it.

So had I bought and installed the d batteries, would I have picked  up anything at all?  I get local weather and fm, is all.

I was pumped and now the let down is so disheartening.   The person said they'd return my money.  I hadn't figured on repacking and trip to the post office.  I guess I've lived a sheltered life.   lol

I watched the video many times...  I shouldn't have to read manuals to get a station, right? 
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Offline dace

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Re: I'm new to all this.
« Reply #13 on: April 01, 2014, 1856 UTC »
Folks, I tuned u p the rf gain and brought stations in on several bands.  The changing knobs are scratchy when you touch them  including the band switcher.   Will this remedy when I clean it?    And i took the back loose.  I place my fingers over the antenna connection and the volume goes up significantly.   Should I get a booster?   keeping my finger on the antenna all evening sounds uncomfortable.  :0) 

on every band, I have to jiggle the knobs to get static. 

Thank you in advance ....   
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Offline dace

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Re: I'm new to all this.
« Reply #14 on: April 01, 2014, 1922 UTC »
ps, i'll get some batteries asap. thank you
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