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Fisher 400 Stereo Beam motion

kappclark

kappclark

AK Subscriber
Subscriber
I have really been enjoying the FM on the Fisher 400 -- I had a question about the Magic Eye Stereo Beam tube... when playing music with a decent bass content, the blue line contracts and expands ...

I made a video of what it looks like

Just wondering if this is normal --- I remember the lights of the car stereo dimming a bit during heavy bass (back in the 70's)
 
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Check Dave Gillespie's classic thread on "improving the Fisher 400" or the stickies in the Fisher forum. You'll find it.
 
Read through some of the threads -- going to need to re-read them again (which I enjoy) -- looks like we have 21st century FM broadcasting technology hitting a circuit designed in the mid 20th century ... the good news for me is the behavior bodes no imminent disaster or meltdown ...it is normal dancing..

Most of the time, I like "normal" .... found a FM translator sending Classic Rock from 15 miles away --- the tubes once more shed a new light on music I grew up with ... I think I'll keep it..
 
kappclark said:
Read through some of the threads -- going to need to re-read them again (which I enjoy) -- looks like we have 21st century FM broadcasting technology hitting a circuit designed in the mid 20th century ... the good news for me is the behavior bodes no imminent disaster or meltdown ...it is normal dancing..

Most of the time, I like "normal" .... found a FM translator sending Classic Rock from 15 miles away --- the tubes once more shed a new light on music I grew up with ... I think I'll keep it..
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Good decision! Some things are worth modding but I consider this issue to be a "feature" actually :)
 
Nope, I have to say. I've done the mod on every 400 that's come across the bench, including my own. It kind of depends on where you live vs. FM signal strength. I live away from most of the transmitters in the area and the weaker signal strength spreads the stereo beacon beam out a good bit and you get a lot of 'dancing' on a weaker signal. To me, having a tighter beam helps to better tune the weaker stereo signals.
Dave
 
I agree with Dave on this. I'm out in the boondocks of Northern Baltimore County and the only strong signals are from a couple stations in York County PA. And only one if those is worth listening to. My favorite Baltimore Station is actually closer to me than down in Glen Burnie but with it being very hilly up here in Baltimore County, reception is hit and miss unless I put up a J-Pole on a 40ft mast. (NOT!). I stream a station (translator) from Prescott Az. more than I listen to radio up here. She likes Country and plays it constantly on the Executive. It's starting to look like one of the Duck Dynasty guys. ARRRGGGGGHHHHHH! All the rest of my gear is in the basement, so reception is a little harder. But a Channel Master 100mile FM/TV on a rotor in the attic does the job quite nicely. I'll wait on the rooftop mount a couple years. Ain't putting holes in a brand new 20K roof!!!!
 
Boy - would I love to have this setup back to see how the Fisher did ...
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A Winegard 6065P would easily get stations 100+ miles away with a stock Yamaha 950 tuner ... I sold the rig a few years back, but enjoyed DX adventures...

Sadly, it appears fewer FM antennas seem to be available ... I saw that APS stopped years ago, and that Winegard has stopped making this antenna ... everyone moves to the cloud, but I still believe FM has to be the most hassle-free way to listen to music (and discover new music/performers)
 
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It kind of feels like anything that has commercials is dying.... From people cutting the cable cord to FM radio dying and just playing netflix or a spotify play list.

I have a local station that plays 60s-80s all day and some of the local college stations have good programs.
 
College stations and small indies are the only ones with programming worth bothering with. The commercial stations are on a loop. I can tell what time of day it is by what artist is on the radio.
 
+1 on college stations ... and now we have Alexa and her ability to play the radio with voice commands ... I have it in the kitchen area and listen to CSPAN radio a lot of the time, and other times ask her to play Thelonius Monk ... the convenience is great, and she is quite obedient ... she even played some NWA the other day (but she would not say the entire title -- she bleeped herself (!)..
 
*beep* the police? LOL

I keep just enough tin foil around to not want a gizmo listening to me. Not quite enough to not own a cell phone though so it probably makes no difference.
 
gadget73 said:
*beep* the police? LOL

I keep just enough tin foil around to not want a gizmo listening to me. Not quite enough to not own a cell phone though so it probably makes no difference.
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Yes - she is quite a prude sometimes ...I asked her how much a pound of pot costs - she replies "I'd rather not answer that question " ...
 
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