I'm glad you still have your original receiver. My first experience with shortwave was with an old Zenith tube radio back when radios were furniture. My dad brought this big radio home that someone had given him. It had a tube in the back that was arcing. We replaced it with a new one and I heard these strange signals from around the world. Fascinating!
In the 50s, I had a crystal radio. Strung a wire across the house and down to my window. Picked up country music from Del Rio. Texas. Now, I Short Wave. Great memories, Dude.
I started listening to shortwave radio in June of 1995 when I was almost 11 years old that started out from reading one of the encyclopedias on shortwave radio that got me fascinated enough to try it on one of those big black boombox radios that had a knob to switch to shortwave radio along with the traditional AM and FM broadcast band. It included amateur radio bands not included in a portable radio I bought almost 21 years ago. The portable radio had only the broadcast bands of shortwave radio along with the television channels band that only audio from television broadcasts can be heard. I continue to listen to shortwave radio but more challenging with way too much interference from power lines and equipment, electronics in the apartment complex, and equipment from businesses. Even more in downtown to the point it is almost impossible to hear any except for the stronger ones like WWCR, KVOH, and time signal stations WWV and WWVH. WWCR is almost difficult to receive since the strong reception occurs shortly before switching frequencies. I use webSDRs for listening instead.
I had this radio in the early 1980s...it was good it had SSB but tinny sound...so I connected it to my stereo...it sounded great.. I ended up with an all band sound system 😮.. very cool 😎
Really nice story, Gilles. My Dad tells me stories about listening to Radio Moscow with my uncle way back in the early to middle 1960s. They even listened during the Cuban Missile Crisis!! I don't know if QSL cards were available then. Thanks.
I definitely remember this radio. I had one of these when I worked at the Famous-Barr store in downtown St. Louis. This radio was nice and loud as well as being one of the nicer sets. It was one of the first with a digital frequency readout. Actually one of the nicest sets I have ever had! Mine always worked perfectly fine. I basically just wore it out. It had a lot of mechanical issues later in it’s existence.
Great memories! I was home from school for a while with chicken pox in 1985 and my father bought me a Realistic DX-66 to listen to, to pass the time. It was really mind blowing to a kids ear in the pre internet era to receive all those transmissions from all over the world. I'm from Canada as well and do you remember the Soviet bells and chimes from Russia and the DDR?
Radio Berlin.... Radio Moscow....RSA South Africa..... always on....but quickly wanted to find out what is next 😮........ Radio Australia and Radio New Zealand.... always my Favorite.... have QSK Cards Too
Great story. My Dad encouraged me when I started listening to sw. He bought me my first radio guides (by Radio Shack) and other such things. Good times.
I'm glad you still have your original receiver. My first experience with shortwave was with an old Zenith tube radio back when radios were furniture. My dad brought this big radio home that someone had given him. It had a tube in the back that was arcing. We replaced it with a new one and I heard these strange signals from around the world. Fascinating!
Radio stories by the glow of the backlight. Cool!
In the 50s, I had a crystal radio. Strung a wire across the house and down to my window. Picked up country music from Del Rio. Texas. Now, I Short Wave. Great memories, Dude.
I started listening to shortwave radio in June of 1995 when I was almost 11 years old that started out from reading one of the encyclopedias on shortwave radio that got me fascinated enough to try it on one of those big black boombox radios that had a knob to switch to shortwave radio along with the traditional AM and FM broadcast band. It included amateur radio bands not included in a portable radio I bought almost 21 years ago. The portable radio had only the broadcast bands of shortwave radio along with the television channels band that only audio from television broadcasts can be heard. I continue to listen to shortwave radio but more challenging with way too much interference from power lines and equipment, electronics in the apartment complex, and equipment from businesses. Even more in downtown to the point it is almost impossible to hear any except for the stronger ones like WWCR, KVOH, and time signal stations WWV and WWVH. WWCR is almost difficult to receive since the strong reception occurs shortly before switching frequencies. I use webSDRs for listening instead.
great story and radio,thank you Gilles de n8wjz
I had this radio in the early 1980s...it was good it had SSB but tinny sound...so I connected it to my stereo...it sounded great.. I ended up with an all band sound system 😮.. very cool 😎
Really nice story, Gilles. My Dad tells me stories about listening to Radio Moscow with my uncle way back in the early to middle 1960s. They even listened during the Cuban Missile Crisis!! I don't know if QSL cards were available then. Thanks.
I definitely remember this radio. I had one of these when I worked at the Famous-Barr store in downtown St. Louis. This radio was nice and loud as well as being one of the nicer sets. It was one of the first with a digital frequency readout. Actually one of the nicest sets I have ever had! Mine always worked perfectly fine. I basically just wore it out. It had a lot of mechanical issues later in it’s existence.
Great memories! I was home from school for a while with chicken pox in 1985 and my father bought me a Realistic DX-66 to listen to, to pass the time. It was really mind blowing to a kids ear in the pre internet era to receive all those transmissions from all over the world. I'm from Canada as well and do you remember the Soviet bells and chimes from Russia and the DDR?
Radio Berlin.... Radio Moscow....RSA South Africa..... always on....but quickly wanted to find out what is next 😮........ Radio Australia and Radio New Zealand.... always my Favorite.... have QSK Cards Too
Great story. My Dad encouraged me when I started listening to sw. He bought me my first radio guides (by Radio Shack) and other such things. Good times.
I miss the old RadioShack
What was the length of the antenna you used, and did you try it outdoors at some point i e just run the wire outside?