Old stuff I still knowOur Ginger Fuhrer says that he could still code up a simple game idea in Amstrad Basic, while I'm your man if you ever need to rebuild the suspension on an Austin Allegro (1750 Equipe version). This stuff doesn't leave your mind - tell us about obsolete talents you still have.
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Scaryduck LIKES EGG, Thu 30 Jun 2011, 17:04)
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Valve power amplifiers.I have an amateur radio licence. A lot of the kit I use is fairly modern stuff, nice big digital display, automatic aerial tuner (if you remember SWRing in CB aerials, it's basically a box that does that across a wide range of frequencies), all the goodies. But my favourite? The one I like using most?
My Trio TS-520
It's (probably) older than I am - if not, then very nearly. Despite its age, the sound quality is far better than a lot of more modern radios, possibly because they're not trying to cram filters that need to be the size of a packet of chewing gum into something the size of a watch battery. Oh, and it uses three valves for the power amplifier. Two great big ones, that run off a 900V 300mA supply that would absolutely ruin your day if you touched it.
Now, for various technical reasons the valves need a kind of transformer to let you hook up an aerial. That's the purpose of the three knobs at the top right - using them in conjunction with the meter, you adjust the amplifier so that it works properly on the frequency you're using. Change frequency (with that great big chunky knob in the middle) and you need to retune, carefully tweaking the knobs until you get the highest reading on the meter.
Somehow this is much more satisfying that pressing a little plasticky button and hearing some relays click for a few seconds.
(, Fri 1 Jul 2011, 9:17, 1 reply)
Ham RadioMy First HF rig was a Yaesu-Musen FT200 - the precursor to the very populatr FT101.
Callsign use to be VK1KEN
73's
(, Fri 1 Jul 2011, 15:19, closed)
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