Post #1194270

2026-01-25 20:31 UTC

@vfrmedia @FediThing Some domestic sets from 1990s also have BFO / SSB and can resolve radio amateurs LSB or SSB. Some Sangean (still a good brand) were sold badged Tandy/RadioShack, Siemens, Roberts etc. Grundig & Sony were good in 1980s, but any S/H may need repaired. Tecsun is a lesser brand. There are only Chinese models now apart from Radio Amateur / Professional sets (often made in China) such as Vertex/Yaesu, Icom etc.

Replies (3)

@vfrmedia@social.tchncs.de 2026-01-25 20:41

@raymaccarthy @FediThing I remember reading somewhere fairly recently the reason why there are still so many HF receivers made in China even in the second quarter of 21st century is that they are widely used in the Global South to listen to educational programming transmitted by licenced local broadcasters (targeted at geographically large areas of many hundreds of square km), as this is still the best way of getting the information to people (many only have sporadic electricity, and Internet access is often via LTE (mobile phones) with every byte being paid for, making the use of online streaming impractical on cost grounds)

Open ##1194271
@raymaccarthy@mastodon.ie 2026-01-25 20:41

@vfrmedia @FediThing I connected the "gram" input on a 1950 HMV radio as a "subwoofer" on the line out of my HDMI AVR box (has only amps for the 5 main speaker). You can't plugin an old set like that without damage unless some capacitors are replaced first. The paper ones had a 10 year life. Replace with polyester. The top SW band still gets some stations if a long enough wire is connected.

Open ##1194272
@bhtooefr@snack.social 2026-01-26 09:46

@raymaccarthy @vfrmedia @FediThing the cheap DSP ones have been hacked by the manufacturers to receive SSB too, FWIW

Open ##1194273