I enjoy watching your videos. Your a good teacher. I use to work on older equipment my health isn't so great anymore so it's only when I have a halfway decent day I'll try at messing with old things. Thanks for sharing.
I'm watching so many these videos that I might be learning something. (Don't worry I won't touch anything...that I know right now.) 25 years of electronics and I'm happy to learn more here.
Wow that "Loud and clear!" takes me back! When I was a young soldier serving in Vietnam circa 70-71 I worked in communications. We always began our setup with a radio check, and the response was "Loud and Clear!" Oh sure when we old switchboard operators got going it would be "Have you 5 X 5" an indication of the loudness and clarity if everything was good. This soon deteriorated with some of the troops into slang "Gottya Lickin'Chickn" Of course we who were communications trained never used such slang and usually gave the troops shit about deviating from standard, but that's the way it was over there, once something like that got started, it sort of just caught on like a flu bug and spread all over.
I have two of these for some reason. LOL I remember my dad and I when a little lad I was, went into a hardware store in around 1966 and bought this, it's one of my earliest memories. Also, I had a leather maker make me a leather handle from luggage to go on top, it looks identical to the old one, but it's real leather.
ADF AM aviation marker beacon. A simple AM signal with a two character Morse identifier code. They were the very first aviation navigation beacons used, and utilized the directional qualities of an AM antenna to guide the aircraft. The most primitive of all aviation guidance systems.
@ 17:05 LG - 309 KHz Satenas, Sweden? - although @ 33:35 it looks like 238 KHz +/- dial accuracy? - Was that radio picking up broadcast band images on LW? Never heard voice transmissions on LW, other than a nav weather report. My earlier caution about the caps was based on the thought that you might potential problems matching/rebiasing the transistors. You did not. Your experience paid off. It was interesting to note on the scope that the12.5Kc squeal seemed to be linearly mixed with audio at low levels and then multiplicatively mixed (modulated) at high audio levels. Good Job!
Hey Bud.. I have two of these radios that I want to get at least one fixed for my father. this radio has been a great memory in my childhood.. local radio repair man coulden't repair back 25 plus years ago.. had distorted output.. so do the ones that I got off of E-bay.. What driver and output transistors do i need and where do i get them?? I tried looking for the P40 outputs.. and no luck.. Thanks Brother! any help would be great.. Radio Tv Phono Nut won't get back to me at all
Are the base voltages the same on both outputs with no signal applied? If not, the input transformer may be a problem. The emitter voltages on the outputs should also be equal. If not, check the 2.7 ohm resistors. I've seen them change values on higher powered amps before. If you just want the radio to sound great and don't care if it's original, then consider replacing the amp board with a PAM 8403 amplifier module. It costs less than $2 and complete instructions are available online. Get the one without a volume control. They work great and require no heat sink.
Great video, as always you're video's are excellent lots of tech stuff not too much bullshit like some of the video's on UA-cam. Love the old GE receiver. I have been watching a lot of you're video's and I never thought of testing cap's by running audio through a speaker with the cap to check it. Keep up the great work. I wish we had that many radio stations here where I live but we are lucky to have 20 stations in radio range.
Those transistors remind me of the soviet era germanium low power transistors that where used in computing and early digital electronics. Namely sft307 and similar.
I'm sort of wondering about the second set, whether it is actually dead or whether it had something stupid wrong with it like an open power switch. I've had some sets that I thought were DOA until I bypassed the power switch and the battery tray, though I'm sure that there is more wrong with it then that given the problems with the working example. Either way I would suggest to the owner that he keep it around for spares, just in case.
if you mean the waveband indicator cord, you're not gonna be constantly changing wavebands, unlike tuning, so they probably though just a metal stud would be ok,
Shango those transistors look just like the old Sanyo Japanese crappy ones, they are usually silver. Know what I mean? You are probably right about the module being Japanese. Sanyo, would be my guess. I have several radios with those in them.
Ouch! My ears are still ringing. That's what I get for having a real amp and decent speakers on the PC. Yup, it sure come through the feed in this video. Got to say that radio really does have good fidelity, which is one thing GE always seemed to get right no matter how much they cheaped out the rest of the radio. Back when I was in college I had a GE clock radio (early electronic digital clock model) and the unit had loudness compensation with a very strong bass boost. Just can't even buy a decent clock radio today.
+Alan Maier Great you have decent sound, I actually make an effort to have a decent soundtrack in the videos. Mainly the EOLs I try and capture in wide stereo and everything else is at least stereo
shango066 maybe you should think about using internet radio stations like Radio Dismuke to test your radios. A tapemitter is not hard to find if you know where to look. And radio dismuke is on tunein so maybe you can give it a try. Did i mention that music prior to the 1930s is royalty free? No copyright pigs to piss off.
My dial pointer was off by about 1/2". I moved it over. Simple fix... not sure how it got in the wrong place. BTW, for those watching... the pilot lights are #12
That beacon in aviation is called and ADF and used for instrument approaches. Pretty much not used with the advent of the FMC (Flight Management COmputer) and GPS.
+ZenithClarity1969 Just finished vid. Great sensitivity! I think you made the right call on that, bending those blades can get you in trouble quick. Would be interesting in the future if you could make a video doing that with a sacrificial radio instead of a customers.
Yeah, I copied the same. I looked up both FAA ID's, and couldn't find anything for LG. The only airport that begin with LG in California is LGB which is "Long Beach Airport" which would make sense since it's right there in LA. FCH appears to be "Fresno Chandler Executive Airport" which is approx 200 miles NNW of LA. Neat shit. :)
Yup like everyone else with the tone but makes it worst is because I am on the autism spectrum my hearing is hypersensitive and pile on with that I am a headphone user.
+Synthematix Now that is a good computer speaker. I have a pair of Phase Tech PC60's that I refoamed the piston woofers on, and just can't let them go. Doing those woofers was a real task -mainly due to keeping the cosmetics good. I've tried other speakers and I end up setting these old classics back in place.
+Synthematix I have the old school wharfedales with the sand filled cab, purple tweeters, and two 12's from the 60's. I got them for 80 bucks and they are MINT. Love them.
The plastic part problem with GE radios is not necessarily limited to aged stuff. When the Superadio came out circa 1980, I bought one and had it for six months when the tab that holds the string on the tuning wheel pulley broke off. I junked the set ( foolish, I know) and bought a second one. Less than a year later, same exact problem. I gave up until the Superadio II came out. I had that for several years with no problem as I tuned it as little as possible and foolishly sold it to a friend. Then the Superadio III came out and I bought it and it was a TOTAL disaster. I performed so poorly, I literally smashed it to pieces and put it in the trash.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
I enjoy watching your videos. Your a good teacher. I use to work on older equipment my health isn't so great anymore so it's only when I have a halfway decent day I'll try at messing with old things. Thanks for sharing.
I'm watching so many these videos that I might be learning something.
(Don't worry I won't touch anything...that I know right now.)
25 years of electronics and I'm happy to learn more here.
I have a couple of these that I need to dig out and fix. Actually, I have several GE radio projects that will be the subject of future videos.
Wow that "Loud and clear!" takes me back! When I was a young soldier serving in Vietnam circa 70-71 I worked in communications. We always began our setup with a radio check, and the response was "Loud and Clear!" Oh sure when we old switchboard operators got going it would be "Have you 5 X 5" an indication of the loudness and clarity if everything was good. This soon deteriorated with some of the troops into slang "Gottya Lickin'Chickn" Of course we who were communications trained never used such slang and usually gave the troops shit about deviating from standard, but that's the way it was over there, once something like that got started, it sort of just caught on like a flu bug and spread all over.
Your videos are never boring. Always crunk. Love that Persian music station @32:00!
I have two of these for some reason. LOL I remember my dad and I when a little lad I was, went into a hardware store in around 1966 and bought this, it's one of my earliest memories. Also, I had a leather maker make me a leather handle from luggage to go on top, it looks identical to the old one, but it's real leather.
ADF AM aviation marker beacon. A simple AM signal with a two character Morse identifier code. They were the very first aviation navigation beacons used, and utilized the directional qualities of an AM antenna to guide the aircraft. The most primitive of all aviation guidance systems.
Great video as always. Good call on leaving the cap plates as-is. Not a major deal.
That scope is in excellent shape . Nice find perfect for the bench top. Wonder who makes it ?
That driver transistor you pulled looks just like the French made SFT 323 transistors I have a couple of (including the gold legs).
i have a few transistors with packages like that, but unmarked, got them in a bag of 'mixed' untested ones some years ago...
i got a bagfull of japanese 2SB423s some years ago cheap and i bet they'd replace that type ok, theyre specified as audio preamp/driver
The longwave beacon LG is in Long Beach CA and FCH is in Fresno.
@ 17:05 LG - 309 KHz Satenas, Sweden? - although @ 33:35 it looks like 238 KHz +/- dial accuracy? - Was that radio picking up broadcast band images on LW? Never heard voice transmissions on LW, other than a nav weather report.
My earlier caution about the caps was based on the thought that you might potential problems matching/rebiasing the transistors. You did not. Your experience paid off. It was interesting to note on the scope that the12.5Kc squeal seemed to be linearly mixed with audio at low levels and then multiplicatively mixed (modulated) at high audio levels. Good Job!
Beacon LG is on 233 kHz from Long Beach, California: www.dxinfocentre.com/ndb.htm
The other one was FCH on 344 kHz from Fresno - Chandler, CA.
Thanks - had googled LG beacon - info was first reference found. Added your link to my bookmarks.
Those are ADF beacons from a nearby airport on the LW scale. You are correct they are phasing out as they go inoperative.
In the past, some of the LW direction finding beacons had aviation weather reports and forecasts.
That was my first shortwave set when I was a teenager.
pro trick: watch series at KaldroStream. Been using it for watching lots of of movies recently.
@Jay Khari yea, I've been watching on KaldroStream for since november myself :)
@Jay Khari yea, I've been watching on kaldroStream for months myself :)
@Jay Khari yea, I've been watching on KaldroStream for since november myself :)
Hey Bud.. I have two of these radios that I want to get at least one fixed for my father. this radio has been a great memory in my childhood.. local radio repair man coulden't repair back 25 plus years ago.. had distorted output.. so do the ones that I got off of E-bay.. What driver and output transistors do i need and where do i get them?? I tried looking for the P40 outputs.. and no luck.. Thanks Brother! any help would be great.. Radio Tv Phono Nut won't get back to me at all
Are the base voltages the same on both outputs with no signal applied? If not, the input transformer may be a problem. The emitter voltages on the outputs should also be equal. If not, check the 2.7 ohm resistors. I've seen them change values on higher powered amps before. If you just want the radio to sound great and don't care if it's original, then consider replacing the amp board with a PAM 8403 amplifier module. It costs less than $2 and complete instructions are available online. Get the one without a volume control. They work great and require no heat sink.
Great video, as always you're video's are excellent lots of tech stuff not too much bullshit like some of the video's on UA-cam. Love the old GE receiver. I have been watching a lot of you're video's and I never thought of testing cap's by running audio through a speaker with the cap to check it. Keep up the great work. I wish we had that many radio stations here where I live but we are lucky to have 20 stations in radio range.
Those transistors remind me of the soviet era germanium low power transistors that where used in computing and early digital electronics. Namely sft307 and similar.
Sounds great! nice work with the tie wraps, like that allot!
73
I'm sort of wondering about the second set, whether it is actually dead or whether it had something stupid wrong with it like an open power switch. I've had some sets that I thought were DOA until I bypassed the power switch and the battery tray, though I'm sure that there is more wrong with it then that given the problems with the working example. Either way I would suggest to the owner that he keep it around for spares, just in case.
+OlegKostoglatov No its dead and its kinda simple but nothing you would ever think of. Ill do my best to make a video soon
At 24:24 in the video..does the string go around that bolt..without a pulley, and drag on it???
if you mean the waveband indicator cord, you're not gonna be constantly changing wavebands, unlike tuning, so they probably though just a metal stud would be ok,
What is that old scope?A telequipment?
❤️ blackberry
Your phone may not be configured to auto-set from GPS/Network. Check the settings
Ha! They put a "Tums" commercial on this one! Lmao! Great video Shango. Thanks again. Love the radio and tv and mine videos. Take care. S
Shango those transistors look just like the old Sanyo Japanese crappy ones, they are usually silver. Know what I mean? You are probably right about the module being Japanese. Sanyo, would be my guess. I have several radios with those in them.
It is a very sensitive radio. Good old WWV out of Fort Collins, CO. @ 10 Mhz, I've used that in the past to check dial accuracy.
Come on, Eileen!! Great video. Love the scope.
Can you explain how to get to the light bulbs in this radio...thanks...nice video...
Did you get this done? I can access the bulbs, but for the life of me, I can not identify them. Weird two prong bulbs.
SAMS says #12 bulb@@wrnchhead76
In my country a lot of capacitors have plates bent outwards a little bit.
tuning capacitors? if so ,thats normal, thats how the capacitance 'law' of each section is 'fine tuned'
I put Rock With You in all my videos too, but they have nothing to do with Radios so it's harder to fit it in
Ouch! My ears are still ringing. That's what I get for having a real amp and decent speakers on the PC. Yup, it sure come through the feed in this video. Got to say that radio really does have good fidelity, which is one thing GE always seemed to get right no matter how much they cheaped out the rest of the radio. Back when I was in college I had a GE clock radio (early electronic digital clock model) and the unit had loudness compensation with a very strong bass boost. Just can't even buy a decent clock radio today.
+Alan Maier Great you have decent sound, I actually make an effort to have a decent soundtrack in the videos. Mainly the EOLs I try and capture in wide stereo and everything else is at least stereo
+shango066 I could hear that oscillation, and my speakers are just cheap crap computer speakers.
Sounds and looks awesome Shango066!!
+Chris Mielke you watched all the way to the end?
+shango066 Yes I did.. I love the way it turned out.
shango066 maybe you should think about using internet radio stations like Radio Dismuke to test your radios. A tapemitter is not hard to find if you know where to look. And radio dismuke is on tunein so maybe you can give it a try. Did i mention that music prior to the 1930s is royalty free? No copyright pigs to piss off.
My dial pointer was off by about 1/2". I moved it over. Simple fix... not sure how it got in the wrong place. BTW, for those watching... the pilot lights are #12
That beacon in aviation is called and ADF and used for instrument approaches. Pretty much not used with the advent of the FMC (Flight Management COmputer) and GPS.
Love to find one of those radio's .....love them.
do you use a crt monitor?
Sounds like a few RTTY stations on 20 meters
Moving the dial cord sweet
Very good receiver!!!
The dial string setup is a nightmare!
+ZenithClarity1969 Just finished vid. Great sensitivity! I think you made the right call on that, bending those blades can get you in trouble quick.
Would be interesting in the future if you could make a video doing that with a sacrificial radio instead of a customers.
LG and FCH beacons, at least that's what I heard.
Yeah, I copied the same. I looked up both FAA ID's, and couldn't find anything for LG. The only airport that begin with LG in California is LGB which is "Long Beach Airport" which would make sense since it's right there in LA. FCH appears to be "Fresno Chandler Executive Airport" which is approx 200 miles NNW of LA. Neat shit. :)
Yup like everyone else with the tone but makes it worst is because I am on the autism spectrum my hearing is hypersensitive and pile on with that I am a headphone user.
That dial string! oy!
OUCH... whats with the ear piercing tone in the beginning of the video? Edit... nevermind you explain it at about 1:20
I see quite a few of these in Ohio, I think i will pass them up after seeing the brittle plastic issue.
i cant hear it on my wharfedale diamond speakers, hang on yes i can now my treble was turned down
+Synthematix Its there. loud and clear. What res are you watching the video at? 360 or higher?
+Synthematix Now that is a good computer speaker. I have a pair of Phase Tech PC60's that I refoamed the piston woofers on, and just can't let them go. Doing those woofers was a real task -mainly due to keeping the cosmetics good. I've tried other speakers and I end up setting these old classics back in place.
shango066 yea mate i turned the treble to flat now can hear it, how annoying! its like my tinnitus
Alan Maier hello, yes i have wharfedale diamond 9.1 speakers on a cambridge audio amp on my pc, the sound quality is out of this world
+Synthematix I have the old school wharfedales with the sand filled cab, purple tweeters, and two 12's from the 60's. I got them for 80 bucks and they are MINT. Love them.
I want one
buy one.
God damn, that constant squealing gave me a headache hommie.
if this is 180 locust street, then feel free to make fun of the remninceces, I give you permission to do so! , as I'm the air of this street.
u missed ur calling as a Dj,.,lol
The plastic part problem with GE radios is not necessarily limited to aged stuff. When the Superadio came out circa 1980, I bought one and had it for six months when the tab that holds the string on the tuning wheel pulley broke off. I junked the set ( foolish, I know) and bought a second one. Less than a year later, same exact problem. I gave up until the Superadio II came out. I had that for several years with no problem as I tuned it as little as possible and foolishly sold it to a friend. Then the Superadio III came out and I bought it and it was a TOTAL disaster. I performed so poorly, I literally smashed it to pieces and put it in the trash.