COLLECTING AND HONOURING
OLD TECHNOLOGY

(This post is an edited version of an article I wrote for "The World of Shortwave Listening" column of The Spectrum Monitor magazine - August 2021 issue. Further details on this excellent publication are available at www.thespectrummonitor.com)

If the Facebook social platform is anything to go by, there are still many thousands of listeners to shortwave radio worldwide. Despite the rapid decline in broadcasters on the international and tropical SW bands, a multitude of Facebook groups are dedicated to shortwave listening and ham radio activities. And there, we can often find a core band of happy enthusiasts who love collecting vintage and latter-day receivers - portables, desktop units and even big old valve radios from days of yore.

Why would DXers and listeners be interested in accumulating old radio technology when we have some fabulous cutting edge Software Defined Receivers (SDR) on the market now? There are many reasons for this craving to collect and preserve old technology.

The Drake SPR-4 was a very popular receiver in its day.
(photo courtesy of Craig Seager VK2HBT)

Nostalgia plays a large part for many listeners. They remember just how much fun they had “back in the day” being transported to foreign lands by tuning the bands full of fascinating signals from domestic and international broadcasters. Some people have a desire to preserve the past by picking up radios from here, there and everywhere! And those with an electronic penchant and some soldering skills will happily repair and restore some grand old receiver brands such as Drake, Hallicrafters, and Collins.

But, if you want to get into collecting and reviving old receivers, you need to go into it with your eyes wide open! For the unwary, buying used gear can be fraught with pitfalls. Just like humans, electronic devices will have components that inevitably fail with age. Mechanical issues arise with switches and potentiometers, and these can often be cleaned, repaired or even replaced if parts are still available.

Released in 1956, an advertisement of the day touted this Stromberg Carlson AWP-8 as
“just about the most fascinating personal possession a man could want.”
A most unique tube receiver, indeed!
(photo courtesy of Craig Seager VK2HBT)

However, electronic components on circuit boards can cause real problems when they arrive at the end of their life cycle - such as leaking and bulging electrolytic capacitors, or ageing chips and transistors that are no longer manufactured. And, of course, there are the solder joints that go bad over time. By employing some knowledge of electronics, having some basic test gear on hand, and using some detective work, we can usually track down problems and implement repairs. But, not every shortwave enthusiast has these skills or equipment available to them.

In his superb SWLing.com blog, our good friend, Thomas Witherspoon K4SWL, published an excellent article and comments thread on this very topic a few months back. It’s worth reading and can be found at https://swling.com/blog/2021/05/caveat-emptor-a-quick-note-about-buying-vintage-solid-state-radios/.

Realistic SX-190 (photo courtesy of Craig Seager VK2HBT)

My own opinion is that if you are going to put your money into older radio equipment from the used market, then be prepared for purchasing gear that may not work, or stops working after a while, or requires time and expense to get it operating again. Also, beware of ridiculous prices that people are asking for some vintage gear. I have seen outrageous figures on eBay recently for iconic receivers that looked like they needed some real attention to bring them back to life.

For example, the Kenwood R5000 is a wonderful receiver but has known faults that worsen with age, such as the well-documented “key bounce” issue. Some of the old Sony portables like the ICF-2001 and ICF-2010 are very popular amongst enthusiasts, but many need repair or are no longer near their optimum performance specifications from decades ago. Yet, these units still fetch very high prices on the used market.

So, I’m not saying that you shouldn’t buy old technology! I have a few of these receivers in my radio shack. Over time, I have renovated several of these and love tuning around the bands with “real” knobs and dials. Rather, be careful about the prices you may be asked to pay on the used market for this gear. If you don’t have the skills or test equipment to undertake your own repairs, only be prepared to pay what you are prepared to lose! If, after delivery, the receiver performs well for you or can be repaired easily and inexpensively, then regard it as a win!

Honouring Old Technology

It is terrific to see radio hobbyists enthusiastically using and preserving fantastic old receivers. For some listeners, it is about rekindling a passion fuelled by fond memories of the past. For newer or younger SWLs, it can be the discovery of why old technology still has its charm and intrigue. To that end, my long-time friend and fellow DXer, Craig Seager VK2HBT and I have been undertaking a little project called Retro Receiver Reviews.

Collectors of Soviet radios will be aware of the Selena Vega B206,
which occasionally surfaces on the used markets.
(photo courtesy of Craig Seager VK2HBT)

Over the past six years, we have published these articles on an occasional basis here at the MEDXR blog. We select a receiver and briefly discuss its place in radio history, its design and defining features, technical specifications, some serviceability tips, and so on. So far, we have contributed 17 reviews during that time (with Craig providing the vast majority of the articles), and they have proven to be extremely popular with readers.

Over the years, some unique receivers have come under the spotlight. Amongst them, you will find the Murphy B40 weighing in at 100 lbs (46kg) from the 1940s, the Rohde & Schwarz EK890, the Yaesu FR101S, FRG-7 and FRG100, the Russian built Selena Vega B206, the popular Realistic DX160 and SX190, the Hitachi KH-3800W, the Drake SPR-4, the Racal RA6790, the Dansk R4000, the National RF5000, and more. Click below to access each review.

The current list of Retro Reviews. Check them all out by clicking below:

Retro Receiver Review # 1 - The DANSK RX4000

Retro Receiver Review # 2 - The HITACHI KH-3800W

Retro Receiver Review # 3 - The SCHAUB LORENZ ITT TOURING T104A RECEIVER

Retro Receiver Review # 4 - The RACAL RA6790/GM

Retro Receiver Review # 5 - The REALISTIC (RADIO SHACK) DX160

Retro Receiver Review # 6 - The KENWOOD QR 666

Retro Receiver Review # 7 - The RODHE & SCHWARZ EK890

Retro Receiver Review # 8 - The YAESU FR101S

Retro Receiver Review # 9 - The SELENA VEGA B206

Retro Receiver Review # 10 - The DRAKE SPR-4

Retro Receiver Review # 11 - The NATIONAL RF-5000

Retro Receiver Review # 12 - The YAESU FRG-100

Retro Receiver Review # 13 - The MARC NR-82 F1

Retro Receiver Review # 14 - The MURPHY B40

Retro Receiver Review # 15 - The STROMBERG CARLSON AWP-8

Retro Receiver Review # 16 - The YAESU FRG-7

Retro Receiver Review # 17 - The ALLIED / REALISTIC SX-190

73 and good DX to you all.

Rob Wagner VK3BVW