152 lines
5.1 KiB
Plaintext
152 lines
5.1 KiB
Plaintext
Path: saviour!scifi!bywater!uunet!uunet!caen!kuhub.cc.ukans.edu!moe.ksu.ksu.edu!unlinfo.unl.edu!news.unomaha.edu!news
|
|
From: ACM005@Zeus.unomaha.edu (Paul W. Schleck KD3FU)
|
|
Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave
|
|
Subject: GE Superradio II FAQ's
|
|
Message-ID: <1991Sep29.190815.11024@news.unomaha.edu>
|
|
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 1991 19:08:15 GMT
|
|
Sender: news@news.unomaha.edu (UNO Network News Server)
|
|
Organization: University of Nebraska at Omaha
|
|
Lines: 140
|
|
X-News-Reader: VMS NEWS 1.11
|
|
|
|
Someone is bound to ask some of these questions in the near future, so let
|
|
me head it off with this list. Don't expect this to be a regular posting
|
|
and please don't ask for reprints. The maintainer of the r.r.s archives
|
|
at funic.funet.fi is more than welcome to put this in a "hallowed" place.
|
|
|
|
If you had one like I do, you'll know why I'm making such a fuss... :-)
|
|
|
|
What is the GE Superradio II?
|
|
-----------------------------
|
|
|
|
It is portable radio for receiving broadcast AM and FM radio, supposedly
|
|
giving excellent long-distance reception and fidelity.
|
|
|
|
What are its specs?
|
|
-------------------
|
|
|
|
1. It covers the AM band from 540-1610 Hz and the FM band from 88-108 Mhz.
|
|
|
|
2. It has an internal ferrite bar for AM that is 200mm (over 8 inches long)
|
|
and a 36" inch FM whip (which is easily replacable if broken).
|
|
|
|
3. It uses tuned RF amplifiers on both bands and ceramic filters and
|
|
AFC (Automatic Frequency Control) on FM.
|
|
|
|
4. The tuner is an analog design, using an IC-type AM and FM receiver chip
|
|
and an air-variable capacitor. Since it uses no PLL's or digital displays
|
|
it is electronically "quieter" than most radios.
|
|
|
|
5. It runs on AC house current, or with 6 "D" cell batteries. On DC
|
|
power, it has a battery life of 460 hours (intermittent duty).
|
|
|
|
6. It uses a woofer-and-tweeter speaker system which gives it outstanding
|
|
fidelity (1 *WATT* of audio).
|
|
|
|
7. External connections include AM and FM antenna terminals and a 1/4"
|
|
headphone jack (which will give monaural sound in both ears)
|
|
|
|
What will it not do?
|
|
--------------------
|
|
|
|
It will not do:
|
|
|
|
1. Weather band
|
|
|
|
2. Sub-carrier audio (SCA)
|
|
|
|
3. Shortwave
|
|
|
|
4. The new AM sub-band from 1610 to 1710 kHz
|
|
|
|
5. adjustable selectivity or noise-blanking on AM
|
|
|
|
6. AM or FM stereo
|
|
|
|
How big is it and what does it look like?
|
|
-----------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
It is about the size of a metropolitan telephone book, about 4 inches thick,
|
|
10 inches high, and 12-14 inches wide. It weighs a few pounds.
|
|
|
|
Styling has been described as ranging from "cheap" to "ugly". It is a typical
|
|
black and silver consumer-product plastic design, which helps make it so
|
|
inexpensive.
|
|
|
|
How much does it cost?
|
|
----------------------
|
|
|
|
Retail price is about $54, but it can be obtained for as low as $36 (a
|
|
few dollars above wholesale cost)
|
|
|
|
How do I get one?
|
|
-----------------
|
|
|
|
Since it is pretty much a specialty item, you will either have to get
|
|
it from one of the larger electronics chain stores, or via mail order.
|
|
|
|
Ask for GE Model # 7-2885F.
|
|
|
|
Stores where you can pick one up by walking in:
|
|
|
|
1. Best Products
|
|
|
|
2. Montgomery Wards
|
|
|
|
also other local chains (like Carrefours in the Philadelphia area). In
|
|
short, check your yellow pages and look around!
|
|
|
|
Stores where you can get one via mail order (use this only as a last
|
|
resort, it is back ordered 4-6 weeks):
|
|
|
|
1. Bennett Brothers (Stock # R8883)
|
|
|
|
Chicago, IL: 1-800-621-2626
|
|
Mahwah, NJ : 1-800-631-3838
|
|
|
|
2. Best Products (Stock # 140457)
|
|
|
|
Nationwide Order Number: 1-800-950-2398
|
|
|
|
You can also try the GE Answer Center at 1-800-626-2000. All they
|
|
will be able to do for you is give you the names of local GE dealers
|
|
and send you a catalogue via mail. Although the radio is GE-brand,
|
|
the Consumer Electronics Division was sold off to Thomson-CSF a few
|
|
years ago.
|
|
|
|
If you have one and enjoy it, or can't get one and want it, write to
|
|
Thomson Consumer Electronics, Box 1976, Indianapolis, IN 46206.
|
|
|
|
And finally...
|
|
|
|
Why is it so popular?
|
|
---------------------
|
|
|
|
It fills a unique market niche that other radios do not. It offers
|
|
outstanding reception and fidelity for such a small package at such a
|
|
cheap price. Most compact shortwave radios offer AM/FM, but it is usually
|
|
an add-on design compromise. By concentrating only on broadcast reception,
|
|
it does its job very well.
|
|
|
|
It will give you reliable reception of most U.S. clear-channel AM stations
|
|
and reliable FM reception of 50kW FM stations from 100 miles away. It offers
|
|
very good selectivity and sensitivity on the FM band, particularly if you
|
|
live in a crowded market, or listen to your radio inside steel and concrete
|
|
buildings (like most of us working stiffs!)
|
|
|
|
It isn't clear yet whether it is powerful enough to pull in overseas
|
|
AM stations, such as the "revenge" stations up and down the AM band from Cuba
|
|
and the multi-Megawatt AM station in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (anyone had any
|
|
success?)
|
|
|
|
Nevertheless, it is far superior to most other receivers on the market
|
|
today.
|
|
|
|
On the slim chance I actually missed something in the above post, send
|
|
me some E-mail and I will try and answer it for you.
|
|
|
|
Paul W. Schleck KD3FU
|
|
|
|
ACM005@zeus.unomaha.edu
|
|
|