Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
Yes, technology has come a LONG way since the days of tubes.
I think my first 'radio' was a crystal radio experiment, that picked up local AM radio stations with an earphone, a length of wire, and something to act as a rectifier (crystal diode). I was amazed that three things could pick up a radio signal!
These SDR devices are quite the thing, and even more so is the web sites I listed in the previous post where you can effectively listen to SW radio from the comfort of your own home without even spending a penny (except for your internet access).
But the adapter I listed in the post above would allow you to listen to most anything in your area or around the world via SW radio. Amazing technology!  Even though I have some ham radio equipment in my basement, I may pick up one of these things just to play with it. The amazing thing is that $149 adapter can receive much much more than some of my very expensive radio equipment! |
I had one that sounds similar to the one you had. I was 11, maybe 12 and pretty sure I got it from the Realistic catalog. It was a little red rocket shaped
device with a short antenna that pulled up from the top. It was really just a toy. My father helped me fabricate an extension; a simple wire wrapped around the antenna about 3 feet long with an alligator clip. I would fasten it to the radiator at night, turn the antenna round and round, and could actually pull in some stations. A few years ago, I purchased a Grundig GS350DL, primarily to use as an emergency radio. From time to time, I'll listen to the short wave at night just to see what I can pull in. Never lost the interest in it. As you say, now you can listen online. Quite amazing.