[Boatanchors] First radio

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

On Sat, Aug 11, 2012 at 7:10 PM, Al Klase <ark at ar88.net> wrote:

> On 8/11/2012 1:13 PM, Todd, KA1KAQ wrote:
>
>> The best audio improvement for the SP-600 is called the SP-100 or -200.
>> (o:
>>
>>  There's some real truth here.  The audio stages in these set use
> triode-connected 6F6's.  Stay tuned for a rant and a website update.
>

Well.....it was a bit off the original topic/question from Preston, but I
couldn't resist. (o: My view being, rather than trying to re-manufacture an
old radio into something else, it's a perfected excu....opportunity to pick
up another. The good wife has long since caught on to that approach.

I turned my nose up to the early Super Pros for years because they didn't
look like the gear I was used to operating, didn't have some of the
improvements of newer equipment and so on. And worst of all - I'd never
really used one to any depth. Once I was steered back to them by W3JN who
is also a fan, there was no looking back. They are wonderful radios,
especially the pre-war models. Also one of the best deals out there for the
money.

To its credit, the SP-600 benefits greatly from the decade-plus of
technological improvements and wartime advancements that came after the
early models. Even simple things like the smooth flywheel tuning and larger
knobs improve functionality from a user perspective. But like Collins &TMC
receivers, the R-390 family and others, the SP-600 is intentionally built
for govt & commercial communications performance, not entertainment. Hence
the lack of a more substantial audio section.

The earlier Super Pros were also built to commercial standards, but in days
before TV when Radio was king, the entertainment factor was considered
equally important. When introduced in the mid-30s, they were the most
expensive set available as I recall, or perhaps second to the AR-60(1936?).
Standard coverage only extended to 20mc or so until the S version appeared.
And of course, you were meant to turn them on and leave them on for long
stretches, not cycle them on for a few hours and back off. They took a
while to stabilize which is mentioned in the manual.

But all things considered, for casual listening and even some more
determined DXing, they work just fine and are a joy to listen to. They're
not as refined as a -600 or -390 but also not as crude as using a FB-7 or
early TRF set, and a lot of fun for delivering that 'short wave radio'
experience of days gone by.

~ Todd,  KA1KAQ/4