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Making the most of what one has

74.37.190.135
Posted on November 17, 2014 at 13:24:16
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
 I have come to take pride in myself in this area. I have made such improvements in the sound of my system since 2003 even though the gear is the same. A big difference. It came from many areas including DIY room treatments and dealing with AC delivery on many levels as well as many other tweaks.

I've done the same with my ham gear. My newest piece is a 1983 Icom 735 rig given to me broken. I've built all my antennas but one and implemented a nice mobile set up with about the least expensive monoband antennas you can buy. I got a lot of great comments on my audio quality and on my mobile rig. Often people are surprised it is mobile. On a frequency pile up a couple of weeks ago on 15M I got right through to a French station and someone else came in after and commented on my signal quality for a mobile rig.

That little rig only puts out 25W on AM and about 75 on FM, 100 on SSB. My favorite band to use is 10 meters. When the band is working (proper conditions) you can talk all over. I was talking to Europe using FM and I had a contact with BC Canada using less than 10 watts. No amount of power or high priced gear can outdo a resonant antenna and great band conditions. This time of year is the best for 10M.

I can't tell you how many high end systems I've seen in homes that are not operating anywhere near their potential for many reasons. Getting Good Sound and other books should be mandatory reading. It does take more than just good gear to get great sound.


ET
ET

"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

 

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RE: Making the most of what one has, posted on November 17, 2014 at 13:28:17
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15518
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Indeed!

 

RE: Making the most of what one has, posted on November 17, 2014 at 14:18:03
Douger
Audiophile

Posts: 745
Location: Nebraska
Joined: January 2, 2001
 Do you mean Jim Smith's book Get Better Sound? I totally agree!

 

RE: Making the most of what one has, posted on November 17, 2014 at 15:10:55
6bq5
Audiophile

Posts: 4385
Location: SF Bay
Joined: August 16, 2001
 Thank You for posting -
And on a different note - weather broadcasting or receiving - the antenna is the hear of the system!

Happy Listening
Happy Listening

 

On the air this weekend, posted on November 18, 2014 at 04:55:46
SamA
Audiophile

Posts: 2902
Location: Washington, D.C.
Joined: February 12, 2004
 A timely and convincing post! Time to put my 10m rig on the air this weekend from Washington, D.C.

Having downsized and moved from a big yard with antenna space galore to a city condo, I am now down to running with a 10m dipole hung inside my condo and a 25-watt rig - plenty enough power to work the world when 10m is open. Not optimum but the best that can be done from this QTH.

Calling CQ ....





 

RE: Making the most of what one has, posted on November 18, 2014 at 06:05:14
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
 Yes, sorry for my error. I have it scmewhere here.....


ET
ET

"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

 

RE: On the air this weekend, posted on November 18, 2014 at 06:06:34
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
 Good luck. 10M opens up this time of year annually. Have fun this weekend.


ET
ET

"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

 

You may have been combining it with Laura Dearborn's book 'Good Sound' (nt), posted on November 18, 2014 at 06:45:10
1973shovel
Audiophile

Posts: 10117
Location: Greenville SC
Joined: February 25, 2007

 

RE: Making the most of what one has, posted on November 19, 2014 at 15:56:02
REL54
Audiophile

Posts: 1944
Location: Virginia Coast
Joined: January 3, 2003
 Great post. Always glad to hear success stories from other audiophile and hams. I talk mostly 40M and 20M. I have two inverted dipoles. One for 40 and one for 20. The 20M antenna is a "bazooka" type I built. Built them myself (with a lot of advice/guidance from my friend Brian: NR3V)

I have pretty much worked the globe with the exception of Japan and Australia. Like you I don't have any high power stuff either. No amps. Just the radio.

Its a thrill talking to someone in Germany or Siberia with an old Swan Signat 270B. I usually talk on my Ten Tec Omni C which I totally recapped.

Low brow radios and homemade antennas and I'm having a QSO with a man in Bonn. For me, that's exciting.

roN

KK4GXN

 

RE: Making the most of what one has, posted on November 19, 2014 at 18:20:53
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
 And thanks for the reply!


ET
ET

"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

 

RE: Making the most of what one has, posted on November 19, 2014 at 18:25:59
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
 My dipoles are 80,40,20,17 and I built them all and hung them as inverted vee's. I have a vertical I was given as well. Swan Signet- cool! I was given a Tempo 2020 in excellent condition and I love it. It made me sell my Kenwood 520. My wife is an extra too and had an SB-104 w/external VFO that we sold as we didn't use it. I love that hobby and Hi-Fi as did my dad,I have his call sign.



ET
ET

"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

 

I'm just curious, posted on November 19, 2014 at 18:58:50
jedrider
Audiophile

Posts: 15166
Location: No. California
Joined: December 26, 2003
 What the heck do you guys talk about??

Is it the latest mod to your HAM equipment?

Sheesh, just like AUDIO ;-)

 

RE: Making the most of what one has, posted on November 20, 2014 at 01:30:26
stehno
Manufacturer

Posts: 739
Location: Oregon
Joined: November 8, 2001
 As a wise man once told me, "The best thing one can spend on their system is time."

 

RE: I'm just curious, posted on November 20, 2014 at 04:54:18
REL54
Audiophile

Posts: 1944
Location: Virginia Coast
Joined: January 3, 2003
 Hams are very diverse. As one might expect, there are people of all ages and interests on the air. You are quite correct in thinking that one common topic of conversation is the gear we have.

However, since hammies come from so many backgrounds the conversations encompass just about anything one could imagine. I'm often engaged in QSOs (conversations on the radio) about history, or DIY things (including audio!), the weather, vacuum tubes, hunting/fishing, old cars, etc.

Just like on the asylum, or the internet, it is generally wise to avoid religion and politics since those topics tend to quickly degenerate into heated exchanges.

Imagine if you will "Central" or "General" on the air. That's what ham radio is like only we don't have kitten pictures!!! LOL

cheers,
roN

 

RE: Making the most of what one has, posted on November 20, 2014 at 12:39:28
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
 neat quote! I will remember that one.


ET
ET

"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

 

RE: I'm just curious, posted on November 21, 2014 at 10:47:45
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
 Sometimes its just a hello and a signal report to maybe a list of the gear you are using. It's kinda like sitting at a bar and talking to a stranger there in a way although I almost never go to bars. I've talked politics, food recipes, computers, audio, the weather and just about anything!


ET


ET

"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

 

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