nordmende globetraveler

[thornev]

I searched this Solid State forum for both "globetraveler" (my radio) and "globetrotter" (the original German version of my radio) and no results ! Wow. So I'll give it a shot...

I bought a Globetraveler in part because my best friend had one at the camp where I went in 1967. I remember that "Light My Fire" had just reached #1 on WABC AM (NY) and it sounded so good on his radio. And this one is the same - sounds great for a transistor radio.

EDIT...
On my other radios I can pick up AM stations easily but not on this Nordmende. I've been restoring and modding tube receivers the last 3 years (and one solid state guitar amp, Peavey Renown) and I'd like to see what shape the inside of this baby is. I've downloaded all the schematics and other documentation (including all the PHOTOFACT docs) I can find (which is pretty much everything available online, some of it in German!). I've bookmarked videos and other forums where radios in this Nordmende radio series are discussed. The only document I can't find is the Owners Manual (I've seen pictures of the cover).

Actually "AM" is not a displayed band on the Globetraveler. I believe it is "BC" on this radio. I can't even guess what "BC" stands for (maybe BroadCast?). I know it's AM only because the dial for BC goes from 55 to 16kc (yes, the trailing zeros are not displayed on the dial). Germany refers to the AM band as medium wave. If I do nothing else, I'd like to open up the radio and see if there is a way to measure and fix the AM reception.

Is there anyone on AK that has a similar Nordmende and has done restoration/modification work? Please sign in. Thanks, Thorne

 

[llwhtt]

BC = Broadcast

 

[Ray Gianelli]

I searched this Solid State forum for both "globetraveler" (my radio) and "globetrotter" (the original German version of my radio) and no results ! Wow. So I'll give it a shot...

I bought a Globetraveler in part because my best friend had one at the camp where I went in 1967. I remember that "Light My Fire" had just reached #1 on WABC AM (NY) and it sounded so good on his radio. And this one is the same - sounds great for a transistor radio.

On my other radios I can pick up AM stations easily but not on this Nordmende. I've been restoring and modding tube receivers the last 3 years (and one solid state guitar amp, Peavey Renown) and I'd like to see what shape the inside of this baby is. I've downloaded all the schematics and other documentation (including all the PHOTOFACT docs) I can find (which is pretty much everything available online, some of it in German!). I've bookmarked videos and other forums where radios in this Nordmende radio series are discussed. The only document I can't find is the Owners Manual (I've seen pictures of the cover).

Actually "AM" is not a displayed band on the Globetraveler. I believe it is "BC" on this radio. I can't even guess what "BC" stands for (maybe BroadCast?). I know it's AM only because the dial for BC goes from 55 to 16kc (yes, the trailing zeros are not displayed on the dial). I found one web site that says BC might mean "Bitcaster" whatever that is. Germany refers to AM bands as medium wave. I read that in some Grundig German radios, L and BC must be pressed simultaneously to get the AM band. My radio does allow those 2 buttons to be pressed and held down, but still no AM stations are received. If I do nothing else, I'd like to open up the radio and see if there is a way to measure and fix the AM reception.

Is there anyone on AK that has a similar Nordmende and has done restoration/modification work? Please sign in. Thanks, Thorne

You might want to check out the Antique Radio Forum. I think your questions would be answered there.

 

[thornev]

I did, Ray. Thanks. There I found the most discussion of anywhere else.

 

[radioactive]

You could also ask over at audiokamas sister site videokarma.

 

[gadget73]

my rather limited experience with transistor radios is they suffer the same problems everything else does. Usually dried up electrolytic caps, and there tends to be a bunch of them.

 

[thornev]

Hey, it's gadg at Solid State ! Thanks, gadg. Yeah, I see it's a bitch to get into these Globe* radios. At least there's a video for disassembly. And once I get in there, it's another case of Germans' taking extreme use of what little space there is. I'll sure appreciate Fishers when I'm done with this baby !

radio - Thanks, I did see videokarma's Globe* discussion. I will create an account so I can see pictures and post.

 

[sp58]

I remember well the Globetrotter name and there are some for sale in the German fleabay - but really not cheap !
These ones have FM limited to 104 Mhz, M = AM, L = Longwave, S = Shortwave, Bands = the switch at the right side is active and 11 Shortwave Bands can be selectet.
There is no need to push 2 buttons for AM reception.
The buttons of FM and Bands pushed together means the DIN tape input is active.

As a boy I owned the later Nordmende Galaxy Mesa 6000 - proudly !

Found something in English language: https://www.radiomuseum.org/forum/nordmende_globetraveler_nordmende_globetrotter.html

 

[thornev]

Yes, sp, you're right, not cheap, and I finally figured out AM. Now I'm studying the schematic so I can get ready to open it and do the surgery thing.

 

[thornev]

I finally got my Globetraveler picking up AM stations by adjusting some caps and coils. But I still cannot figure out which control(s) will align the dial pointer with the station frequencies. I followed the AM alignment instructions and I thought adjusting at the low and high calibration marks (550kc and 1500kc) would do the trick but no. Does anyone know which controls will move the scale left and right on this 7/601C (i.e. move the station up and down the dial)? I've got the service manual which talks about an oscillator coil and an oscillator trimmer, but it doesn't seem to say anything specifically about moving the scale. And it's a little confusing that when it mentions which controls to adjust, it states a PAIR of controls, not just a single control (e.g. "L41/44" and "L22/23"). I guess that means there are top and bottom slugs to adjust? I've got the dial pointer on the string mechanically in the correct position so that's not the problem. It's the the oscillator that needs adjusting, right? Trimmer or coil? Appreciate some help.

PS - FM dial is also not in sync with the frequencies, but I'll work the AM issue for now. I suppose I could find stations whose frequencies I know and fiddle with the controls mentioned previously to see which one moves the scale, but I used a signal gennie last night to get to where I am and don't want to screw that up.

Here's L41 and C42 that adjusts the low end in case it helps you help me.

And here are L22 and C22 that adjust high end. However, alignment instructions state that L41 and L22 are to be adjust at 550kc, and C22 and C42 are to be adjusted at 1500kc. Confusing for sure.

 

[Pio1980]

I finally got my Globetraveler picking up AM stations by adjusting some caps and coils. But I still cannot figure out which control(s) will align the dial pointer with the station frequencies. I followed the AM alignment instructions and I thought adjusting at the low and high calibration marks (550kc and 1500kc) would do the trick but no. Does anyone know which controls will move the scale left and right on this 7/601C (i.e. move the station up and down the dial)? I've got the service manual which talks about an oscillator coil and an oscillator trimmer, but it doesn't seem to say anything specifically about moving the scale. And it's a little confusing that when it mentions which controls to adjust, it states a PAIR of controls, not just a single control (e.g. "L41/44" and "L22/23"). I guess that means there are top and bottom slugs to adjust? I've got the dial pointer on the string mechanically in the correct position so that's not the problem. It's the the oscillator that needs adjusting, right? Trimmer or coil? Appreciate some help.

PS - FM dial is also not in sync with the frequencies, but I'll work the AM issue for now. I suppose I could find stations whose frequencies I know and fiddle with the controls mentioned previously to see which one moves the scale, but I used a signal gennie last night to get to where I am and don't want to screw that up.

Here's L41 and C42 that adjusts the low end in case it helps you help me.
View attachment 2152582
And here are L22 and C22 that adjust high end. However, alignment instructions state that L41 and L22 are to be adjust at 550kc, and C22 and C42 are to be adjusted at 1500kc. Confusing for sure.
View attachment 2152649

And repeat each section's L/C as they interact. Understood if you dont want to mess with L22/23, try peaking C22 lower down, maybe1200 to improve overall sensitivity.

 

[thornev]

Pio - That's what I've been doing and it doesn't solve the problem of mistracking. I'm assuming there is a single control that adjusts tracking.

 

[Pio1980]

Pio - That's what I've been doing and it doesn't solve the problem of mistracking. I'm assuming there is a single control that adjusts tracking.

Not really, it's done from a known starting point with oscillator L at low end and oscillator C at upper end, repeat. Everything has to line up for it to work.
Fwiw, this rather vague dial may be approximate in spots, a dial with higher resolution frequency markings might be more precise from the factory. It costs more in production to provide closer resolution if hand tweaking is involved, I don't think that happened here.

 

[thornev]

I opened the radio and discovered that it is the oscillator COIL that moves the frequencies up and down the scale. So L41 does that.

 

[Pio1980]

I opened the radio and discovered that it is the oscillator COIL that moves the frequencies up and down the scale. So L41 does that.

I've been saying that for AM, it's how that FM adjustment is made that I don't know on that set. You'll probably still need to adjust C42 at the upper end to make it hit the AM marks up there.

 

[thornev]

Yes, once I get L41 adjusted so the frequencies match the dial pointer, I have to readjust C42 to get the strongest signal. It's a work in progress. C22 seems to be fine as is probably because I'm not touching L22.

 

[thornev]

Not really, it's done from a known starting point with oscillator L at low end and oscillator C at upper end, repeat. Everything has to line up for it to work.

That's not what I'm observing. L is adjusting the scale up and down while C is adjusting the strength of the signal. I'm concerned that you and I are disagreeing. I must be missing something?

 

[Pio1980]

Yes, once I get L41 adjusted so the frequencies match the dial pointer, I have to readjust C42 to get the strongest signal. It's a work in progress. C22 seems to be fine as is probably because I'm not touching L22.

You're getting it now, hands-on learning is the best. It should be the same for any similar set, which is most before synth tuning.

 

[Pio1980]

That's not what I'm observing. L is adjusting the scale up and down while C is adjusting the strength of the signal. I'm concerned that you and I are disagreeing. I must be missing something?

L moves it, the parallel C42 tweaks the upper end tuning. The antenna C22 peaks the reception mainly in the upper end of the scale, tho perhaps overall.

 

[thornev]

It's not just the upper end that C is making stronger. I've been adjusting C to make a midpoint station signal stronger. I believe C42 affects all frequencies, not just high end ones.