Which transistor radio do you use?

I’m not shure for earth conector, what is Timer and MPX out?

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Yes no earth connector there… MPX was the raw FM signal with stereo sidebands present and not filtered. It allowed the radio to connect to a stereo MPX decoder. It never really took off… and is now I suspect obsolete.
The timer might just be a relay output connector … when an external relay closed the radio would turn on…

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This is what has been waking me up every morning since the autumn of 1983.

For the past few years i’ve been meaning to decommission it due to age, 36 years of plugged into the mains it may no longer be safe (?)
It does still sound good tho’, and what to replace it with?

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The tell tale yellowing of the plastic - classic
If you don’t need DAB use it until it smokes!

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Thats eerie not only do you have the exact radio/alarm as my parents but also the same coasters. That alarm woke my dad up for probably thirty years and now sits in the kitchen tuned to Radio 2.

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Just look at the time, i’s way past your bedtime, Bobby dear! :older_woman:

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The DAB signal is hopeless around here so not looking forward to a DAB replacement : (

It still functions fine, it’s strange how these older mono radios have a nice tone.
Mine is almost permanently tuned into Radio 4 (except for Radio 3, when the Archers are on :-1: )

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We have a few. The one I listen to each night to go to sleep or wake up in the morning too. Is a Tivoli Audio, Model 3 with aux stereo speaker and sub-woofer. The sub has been turned off for quite some time as it gives a noticeable thump when powered on or off by the sleep mode timer or morning wake-up alarm setting. I stream via my mobile phone through the auxiliary input on this radio. The FM antenna is mounted on the roof though still awaiting a cable run and connection to the Model 3. Thus I have to stream via my iPhone.

I also have a Sony ICF-SW7600GR which I use when we are away in the caravan or if I have to go into Melbourne for an overnighter for medical appointments. I have yet to use it for shortwave when out in the caravan. Though had done so at every chance we when we stayed at our cabin in a caravan park. Even during winter with a strip heater outside on the deck of a night time. This was coupled to a PK Loop antenna which worked better than the standard chrome extendable antenna which comes with the radio.

Thirdly, I have purchased a Palstar Receiver R30A for shortwave reception in the radio, computer room/study. This is yet to have an antenna attached to it. Its audio output is connected to a Palstar SP30A audiophile communications speaker which I am patiently awaiting to hear for the first time. (See below, in next paragraph).

Last but not least I use a TEN-TEC Orion II for ham radio HF transmission and reception, which is still awaiting antennas due to our sea change move from the 26 year tree change. Things move slowly hear on the southern coast of South East Australia. Antenna contractors are busy installing TV antennas and wall mounted 4K televisions.

Daily I listen to a two metre amateur FM radio a Yaesu FT-2900R. Which is connected to a four element vertical polarised yagi to talk back to my HAM radio mates in Melbourne. About a distance of 100 kilometres to the repeater located Olinda on Mount Dandenong, Melbourne.

I did say lastly. Though there are still a couple more. I will finish with an ICOM ID-51 Anniversary, 2 metre/70cm hand held radio. Which is mounted on a Nifty Accessories’ handheld radio desk stand. I use this radio daily to listen to D-Star via a RF Shark OpenSpot. This is all too complicated to go into here. I will just say that I can talk around the world via repeaters and reflectors via WIFI internet connection.

My favourite radios are the first two. The Tivoli Model Three at home and the Sony when away. The Tivoli Model Three was our main stereo music source for quite some time after our a long absence of music in the home due that the Amber 50b amplifier had died for the third time. Same channel always a different component each time. I gave up on it and purchased a Naim Nait XS 2 Amplifier after no music in the home for about nine years due that I was on night shift and a dead amp. I purchased a Tivoli Model PAL BT for Shelley’s birthday to use at home and while she was out gardening. We eventually purchased a second Tivoli PAL BT for the cabin.

We enjoyed the audio so much from Tivoli PAL BT radios. We took a chance on a fully optioned Model Three for the home as our main stereo music source and Bluetoothed music via my Apple Music library on the iPhone. The result was that it was loud enough though left me wanting more. This lasted for I do not remember how long, five years maybe. Though after a visit to our local HIFI shop and hour’s drive away where we purchased the Tivoli PAL BT’s online from. I was bitten by the NAIM amplifier and other NAIM purchases followed over time and as finances allowed.

We have not looked back audio wise since.

Warm regards,

Paul.

P.S. Thank you to all Forum members who have guided my progress with my current NAIM HIFI purchases.

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s-l640
I have a Roberts R250 with FM MW and LW. No DAB. It has a very mellow tone and a very vintage sound.

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I’m not an expert on these things, suppose strictly speaking they aren’t transistors if they have valves?

A couple of [non-working] radios i inherited from my Dad’s shed when he moved out of his house and into the care home. I can remember him using the battery powered Ever Ready 'Sky Prince’ many years ago before his shed had mains power.

A lot of room lurks inside that big wooden case, i was hoping to find my Dad’s secret cache of gold Krugerrands tucked away under the slide-out battery shelf… but no such luck : (

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Ekco Model U332 ( 1959/1960 ) …another from Dad’s shed.
Shame the outer plastic case is a bit damaged.
This needs a lot of restoration if it’s ever going to work again.
At least no mice nesting inside : )

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Similar to my Pye Continental, Ecko where a well respected English maker and because these bigger better quality radios generally had very good speakers inside mine has a Goodmans they play very loud and have a beautiful valve warmth that just seems to suit them so well.
Well worth the effort of getting them restored and indulging in a bit of valve swapping I guarantee you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

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One of mine. FM was OK but I think a capacitor is dying as its now poor. MW is still OK.

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Very nice indeed.

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Ta :blush:
It nearly wasn’t - it had been badly packed and chucked around by the delivery company. The glass dial was in about ten pieces and veneer had been torn off on one corner. :angry:
I contacted the seller and got him down to thirty quid and then I carefully glued the dial back together. And the same with the veneer.

Another couple both in working order. :grinning:

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These radios especially the lager ones are not just simple radios they are pieces of furniture of their time and are beautifully designed and constructed and on top of that they produce a beautiful warm, mono, valve sound.
It was my intention to build a mono, vinyl based system around my Pye Continental it already has a phono input and would just need a sympathetic turntable from the same era with a mono cartridge I’d then use it to play the many Jazz, soul and early reggae mono records I’ve acquired. Unfortunately my other half wasn’t keen on the idea but I hope one day she will relent I’m thinking something like one of the Dual or Garrard idler drives of the period I’d really love a Garrad 4HF for the right price.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to recreate how those beautiful Jazz Blue Note or Columbia mono LP’s would have sounded to the music lovers of the day.
I’d ideally love a big music centre with a Quad II or a Leak mono amp with matching Pre and tuner but I’d never be allowed unfortunately.

I agree they are lovely things. The DAC90a’s are plentiful enough and work great but the VHF62 is my favourite :blush:
My missus brought home a DAC90a that looked like it lived in a chippy. I’ve cleaned and some work on it including a rewound output transformer but it’s not working yet. I’ll send it to a MW radio specialist that repaired my other one.

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Advent DT400 Table Radio. Bought new in 1979. Still sounds great in my laundry room.

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