Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave
Date:         Fri, 11 Dec 1992 12:30:22 GMT
Reply-To:     Operator <dennis@IRISSUN2.FP.TRW.COM>
Comments:     Warning -- original Sender: tag was SWL$L@CUVMB
From:         Operator <dennis@IRISSUN2.FP.TRW.COM>
Subject:      RE: Preferred look and feel of radio dials

<>

"robert.f.casey" <wa2ise@CBNEWSB.CB.ATT.COM> writes:

>Was wondering what most people perfer in a radio's tuning dial.

I have to confess that I don't really care for the digital displays with regard
to their look and feel.  (I'm speaking strictly of appearance and look and feel
NOT functionality)  There's  something about  the old  tube  type  radios  with
their massive tuning knobs which appeals to me.  But  even within  the category
of the older tube  radios there are  varying degrees  of success.  Here are  my
models with dials I feel are particularly good and bad:

GOOD:

1) Perhaps my favorite is the R388/R388A, or 51J3/51J4 series from collins.  It
   has excellent dial accuracy for receivers of that vintage.  I still think it
   ranks among the most attractive of any receiver. It does lose points for the
   fact that it is difficult to change bands...

2) Another big favorite is my Racal RA-6117A, which I believe is similar to the
   RA-17.  It takes an  approach which I have not seen on other brands of radio
   in that the kilocycles pointer  is stationary, and  when you  turn the kilo-
   cycles change knob, it moves a "reel" of  film across  the window, from  one
   reel to the other.  So the pointer is stationary, but the scale moves!

   Other than that, it is similar to the Collins R388/51J series in that it has
   separate dials and  knobs for changing megacycles and  kilocycles.  However,
   the Racal has an advantage over the  Collins in  that the  megacycles change
   knob has no mechanical stops and moves much  more  quickly  across  the  MHz
   bands.  In  addition,  the  Kilocycles  change  knob is very smooth and will
   coast almost to the end of the band if you give it a hefty twist.  I think I
   can change frequencies faster on this receiver than on any  other, even  the
   ones with digital readout.

3) My Hallicrafters SX-73/R-274 has  a nice  smooth, heavy  feel to  its tuning
   knob, and will also go from one end to another with a hefty twist.  I  don't
   think the lighting is very effective, though.


BAD:

1) Almost anything from National.  My HRO-60 has poor accuracy, is not all that
   smooth, and is difficult to change bands, since you  have  to change  coils!
   Add to this the fact that each receiver does  NOT come  with  all  the  dial
   scales needed, nor does it come with  all  the  coils  needed!  I  am  still
   searching for the E and F coils for this receiver.


2) As much as I am fond of the R389/R390A/R392 series, the  frequency  readouts
   aren't much to look at.  In addition, the knobs are quite hard to turn.

DIGITAL:

The thing about this category is that there isn't much  difference  in my  mind
from one receiver to another.  I am particular fond of my NRD-535D, but I don't
think the readout is that much better than the R71A I had...


Dennis
Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave,rec.video.satellite