A Little Catching Up...

It's been a hectic few weeks to say the least. So far, after really working on the RF-2200 and getting it up to par, It has developed a bad hum. I originally thought the hum to be the product of a bad transformer, but after extensive testing it looks like the volume pot has finally given up the ghost. As of this posting, the radio sits in many, many pieces on my dining room table.

If you are novice, or even a journeyman with electronics repair, just buy another RF-2200 if your volume pot goes bad. Just to get the damn thing prepped to get the pot out, you have to basically disassemble the chassis because of the design. Right now, I'm debating finishing the project. Although cosmetically the radio is excellent, it has been nothing but a pain in the you-know-what functionally. I don't think I can take another reassembly only to have another bug pop up.

Antenna-wise, the experimenting continues but right now is at a stand still. To me, radio is about experimenting and seeing what you can get out of it with what you have on hand. I've been pleased with the reception from the 200 feet of gutter that encircles my apartment, but there isn't anything more I can do with it. I think I've done everything I can on the cheap.

I have been chasing Radio Mauritanie since about January, and have been able to at least tell something is there, but I can't seem to get a good enough signal to actually record it for a QSL. On that same note, I am tired of only finding the same old players on shortwave without any new finds. I know we are in the middle of one the worst sun spot cycles and that activity is almost non-existent, but I think I should be able to do better. I've been checking other people's logs and they are getting some good contacts, so why can't I get in on the action?

Because I'm cheap. Always have been, and probably always will be. But I think it's time to invest some money into a better set-up. I may not have the Drake R8, or a JRC rig, but I've got some decent stuff, mainly my DX-160. I just can't justify spending four digits on a radio. Besides, without a decent antenna set-up, no radio is going to get the job done, no matter what the price tag is.

With all that being said, I guess I'm luckier than about 90% of the radio guys out there. Universal Radio is about 20 minutes from my place, so I not only get to buy stuff quickly, but I get the expertise of the guys there. It's always better to talk to someone face to face than by phone or email. Plus, you can evaluate what your buying right then and there to see if it suits your needs.

So today, off to Universal to buy an MJF preselector. I see a Wagner Antenna in my very near future.