Radio During the Day or at Night, AM or FM?

[Gnesen]

When I listen to the radio it’s mostly non-commercial FM music stations in the evening, but I will occasionally listen to sports talk or the local AM news station.

On a related topic, I just discovered a really neat app called Radio Garden, which gives one the ability to stream most any station around the world via a map-based interface. I’m still learning all of the ins and outs but the sound quality generally seems adequate. It’s free to use aside from some pop up ads.

 

[Pio1980]

In the morning, I generally listen to one of the local FM sports talk stations using the Boston Acoustics Recepter on my bedside table (though I have a Proton 320 in reserve). Occasionally I'll cycle through the presets, listening to music on FM or AM (there are a couple of stations around here which still play oldies on AM, including WGHM 900 and WMEX 1510). From time to time, I'll fire up my Hammarlund SP-600 J-25 'boatanchor' receiver at night and see what's going on on what's left of the shortwave bands. Not nearly as much left to listen to as there once was, but occasionally I'll come across something interesting. Here are some photos of said radios:
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My aspirational "dream" receiver as a teen, found this fine example at my fave recycler/salvage/tube sales in SLC ca 2000. All dressed up, no place to go, but I look Mahvelous!
A pinnacle of 1930s radio technology.
BC-1004-C/ Hammarlund Super Pro SP-210X all-wave BCB version.

 

[hendertuckie]

Very once in a while driving long distances I may listen to NPR but that's it.

 

[AdamAnt316]

My aspirational "dream" receiver as a teen, found this fine example at my fave recycler/salvage/tube sales in SLC ca 2000. All dressed up, no place to go, butView attachment 2762284 I look Mahvelous!
A pinnacle of 1930s radio technology.
BC-1004C/ Hammarlund Super Pro SP-210X all-wave BCB version.

Nice find! I've posted this before, but I've got the BCB-less version of that, a BC-779/SP-210LX, which I got a few years back for $50 from a guy who showed up at the Kutztown radio show with a trailer full of BAs and regular ham gear. It's still waiting for me to get around to futzing with it, but seems to be largely complete other than the name tag, and with a SO-239 connector installed in place of the normal antenna terminals:



What sort of power supply do you use with your BC-1004? I was lucky that a friend of a friend had a couple of original Hammarlund SP PSUs lying around, both RA-84 military and civilian types:

 

[Pio1980]

Nice find! I've posted this before, but I've got the BCB-less version of that, a BC-779/SP-210LX, which I got a few years back for $50 from a guy who showed up at the Kutztown radio show with a trailer full of BAs and regular ham gear. It's still waiting for me to get around to futzing with it, but seems to be largely complete other than the name tag, and with a SO-239 connector installed in place of the normal antenna terminals:
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What sort of power supply do you use with your BC-1004? I was lucky that a friend of a friend had a couple of original Hammarlund SP PSUs lying around, both RA-84 military and civilian types:
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Mine was $60, without missing ps & umbilical. The bandswitch knob is an oversize DakaWare replacement of the same style and pattern for the missing knob from the same place.

My BC-1004-C PS is kind of an RA-84 factory kluge I swapped an RME receiver for. A gigantic open unpotted multiviltage power xformer and multiple oil caps remounted on a standard ps chassis, mismatched chokes, iirc, with umbilical. I kept it, just because, tho I had a much nicer standard ps that came with a ragged SP 400 I could have kept with it. I intend to refit the keeper with silicon rectifiers, lose the 80, lose bias and the audio xformers with it. The 5Z3 socket is damaged and unreliable, silicon makes sense for it as a kluge.
The whole thing sits on a sturdy steel typewriter table with retractable wheels and a foot shelf for the ps, like it was made for it, a trash pile find.

 

[RossW]

Mornings and evenings in the bedroom it's one of the local college stations (WERS 88.9).

On days I need to go into the office there are a few (super commercial) rock stations that I cycle between in the car. The one saving grace is that radio personalities cost more than a playlist on a computer in a closet so there's no talk, just music and the occasional ad.

 

[jobrewer1983]

When do you primarily listen to the radio? Do you prefer the daytime programming full of commercials or the generally less-commercial night-time listening? Do you prefer the fidelity and lack of noise on FM or the silky warmth and power of AM? Do you listen to AM stereo? Do you like FM mono? Headphones or speakers?

I prefer FM at night if I'm listening to music on the radio, but I also love AM and shortwave listening. We have a couple of great AM stations around here that actually play rock and roll, plus one AM stereo station that is unfortunately country.

Since I am also an amateur radio operator, I have a penchant for trying broadcast DX and that works best at night. For DX listening I like headphones, but generally prefer the sound to fill my room via speakers.

Fantastic post!




I have a number of little radios and a few tuners around. Picked up this one a few weeks back, have the adaptor and the boxes with it. Have been loving it a lot.

I listen in the day time to a few classic rock stations if I’m working or cleaning, but in the evenings I really like to listen to the news on AM and there is also a station that plays old radio sketches at midnight on the weekends, it’s an hour long. 2 shows one usually comedy and the later show is usually horror or SiFi. Usually a great show.

 

[Gnesen]

This is my table radio corner. These are what I usually listen to for non-music radio listening in the evening, although they can sound pretty good with music too. I refurbished each of them, including all-new e-caps and lamps throughout. I'm not a huge MCM fanatic, but I think the Panasonic with the door is just plain cool. The Sony is probably the best performer of the bunch but that's debatable.









Addendum: I've been known to use a little FM transmitter like the one below to play music and podcasts through these radios, akin to what one would do with Bluetooth.

 

[jobrewer1983]

This is my table radio corner. These are what I usually listen to for non-music radio listening in the evening, although they can sound pretty good with music too. I refurbished each of them, including all-new e-caps and lamps throughout. I'm not a huge MCM fanatic, but I think the Panasonic with the door is just plain cool. The Sony is probably the best performer of the bunch but that's debatable.

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Fantastic set!!

 

[Ron Brown]

That's quite a nice collection. I used to have some table-top radio sets and a few nice cabinet shortwave receivers, but mostly gave them away to people who'd get more use out of them.

This is my table radio corner. These are what I usually listen to for non-music radio listening in the evening, although they can sound pretty good with music too. I refurbished each of them, including all-new e-caps and lamps throughout. I'm not a huge MCM fanatic, but I think the Panasonic with the door is just plain cool. The Sony is probably the best performer of the bunch but that's debatable.

View attachment 2763243

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Addendum: I've been known to use a little FM transmitter like the one below to play music and podcasts through these radios, akin to what one would do with Bluetooth.

 

[59volvo]

I listen to FM OTA locally in LA to a few shows on public/college radio and public radios on the internet. Early saturdays its KPFK for jazz and roots music, then more roots music over the internet on KCSB then later Saturday the car show on KPFK, then saturday night Groove time on KXLU (World Music), Monday nights surf music over the internet on KFJC, tuesday nights eclectic on WEVL on the net, then Wed nights eclectic DJ Barnabus on KBFG on the net, 3rd thursday of the month afternoons Africa Oye on KBOO (african music from the 70s) over the net, thursday nights witching hour on kxlu, friday nights demo listen, bomb shelter, neds mystery machine, stray pop on kxlu. Sundays Tangled Roots on KCSN, then America's back 40 and pan handle country on KPFA. Sunday night folk scene on KPFK, etc.

 

[RunOutGroove]

I listen to FM OTA locally in LA to a few shows on public/college radio and public radios on the internet. Early saturdays its KPFK for jazz and roots music, then more roots music over the internet on KCSB then later Saturday the car show on KPFK, then saturday night Groove time on KXLU (World Music), Monday nights surf music over the internet on KFJC, tuesday nights eclectic on WEVL on the net, then Wed nights eclectic DJ Barnabus on KBFG on the net, 3rd thursday of the month afternoons Africa Oye on KBOO (african music from the 70s) over the net, thursday nights witching hour on kxlu, friday nights demo listen, bomb shelter, neds mystery machine, stray pop on kxlu. Sundays Tangled Roots on KCSN, then America's back 40 and pan handle country on KPFA. Sunday night folk scene on KPFK, etc.

Cool... Sounds like you enjoy an eclectic mix and I appreciate that as I'm very much the same. As it happen KBOO is right in my neighborhood as it's broadcast in Portland. I have heard that Africa Oye show and have really enjoyed ii - I love that kind of music... though I don't really tune it in and only really catch it if I happen to be tuned in when it's on. I really should listen to more music on the radio becuase I really like hearing what a good DJ will program... and there are lots of really great, super knowledgeable DJs. Plenty in my town for sure...

 

[DeadRock]

I/we have radio running most of the "daytime hours"....everyday. Our default station is CBC Radio 1...a state funded public broadcaster. Lots of talk, info and news as well as cultural and political programming, interspersed with regional and Canadian music. Our day starts at around 6am with news weather sports and "human interest/community" stories. Afterwards...the radio becomes kinda background...Our Marantz 2265B pulls in the station very well. Oh...CBC Radio is pretty much "commercial free", except for heads-up on programming line-ups... In the evening - at least during the week - (I'm retired, my wife is a teacher) we tend to drift into solitary pursuits which may include radio listening or TV (I'm an admitted TV junkie). Weekend days start the same as week days vis a vis the radio...but after 9am we're on to other things...as much outside the home as is possible/desirable...Friday and Saturday nights...I run The Big Rig (vinyl and/or CD).

Cheers!

David

 

[59volvo]

I/we have radio running most of the "daytime hours"....everyday. Our default station is CBC Radio 1...a state funded public broadcaster. Lots of talk, info and news as well as cultural and political programming, interspersed with regional and Canadian music. Our day starts at around 6am with news weather sports and "human interest/community" stories. Afterwards...the radio becomes kinda background...Our Marantz 2265B pulls in the station very well. Oh...CBC Radio is pretty much "commercial free", except for heads-up on programming line-ups... In the evening - at least during the week - (I'm retired, my wife is a teacher) we tend to drift into solitary pursuits which may include radio listening or TV (I'm an admitted TV junkie). Weekend days start the same as week days vis a vis the radio...but after 9am we're on to other things...as much outside the home as is possible/desirable...Friday and Saturday nights...I run The Big Rig (vinyl and/or CD).

Cheers!

David

I like this show on CIUT - "The Mouth" https://ciut.fm/shows/dr-mouths-rock-and-roll-lunch-party/

 

[Ds2000]

FM, lots of FM. The market here is good.

 

[audiojones]

With a rotating rooftop antenna I’m lucky to get so many awesome FM stations, mostly from NY but lots of small independent college stations and some Philly stations too. I generally listen to jazz on WKCR from Columbia University in NY and WBGO out of Newark, independent stuff from WVPH (The Core) out of Piscataway, WRSU from Rutgers, WPRB from Princeton U, WTSR from Trenton State (now College of NJ), WRTI, WDHA when I can get it (love it during lunch at work) and a number of others.

At night if I can’t sleep I’ll usually flip around between AM 880 CBS all news, Coast to Coast on 710 WOR and 1010 WINS news (which is now on 92.3 FM). I love listening to Funky Fridays on WXPN and usually when I’m in the garage working on mowers all summer long XPN gets the lions share of radio time (mostly because of fewer commercials). When it gets too adult contemporary or country for me I’ll go to WZZO, WMMR, WDHA, WIOQ or one of the oldies stations. Definitely no shortage of stuff to listen to on FM around here but you’ve gotta have a decent antenna and explore a bit. Spotify will do in a pinch too, I do have a subscription but I don’t use it very often.

 

[w3jn]

Nice find! I've posted this before, but I've got the BCB-less version of that, a BC-779/SP-210LX, which I got a few years back for $50 from a guy who showed up at the Kutztown radio show with a trailer full of BAs and regular ham gear. It's still waiting for me to get around to futzing with it, but seems to be largely complete other than the name tag, and with a SO-239 connector installed in place of the normal antenna terminals:

The SP-10, SP-100, SP-200, SP-400, and BC779/1004 are some of the best communications receivers of the era. The continuously variable selectivity and the push-pull 6F6s really make them stand out.

Be aware that there are bypass capacitors hidden away in those IF cans which by this time need to be replaced. Also be careful if you're gonna do an alignment - some of the trimmer caps on the IF cans are hot with B+. Almost killed myself as a lad by figuring I needed to touch up the IF alignment on a SP-400 someone gave me. One of those hot, humid days; I gripped the front panel and with the other hand grabbed the shaft of the screwdriver for some reason. BAM - 250V right across the heart. I felt sick for a week afterwards and had I not been 14 at the time I could have died.

The other hazard is the 10-position terminal strip in the back.... 120VAC and 350 or so B+ lurking in the back, and it seems most of the time the covers are missing. Bonus - there's full B+ across the standby terminal strip also.

All that said, it's well worth the effort to get it going.

 

[Pio1980]

The SP-10, SP-100, SP-200, SP-400, and BC779/1004 are some of the best communications receivers of the era. The continuously variable selectivity and the push-pull 6F6s really make them stand out.

Be aware that there are bypass capacitors hidden away in those IF cans which by this time need to be replaced. Also be careful if you're gonna do an alignment - some of the trimmer caps on the IF cans are hot with B+. Almost killed myself as a lad by figuring I needed to touch up the IF alignment on a SP-400 someone gave me. One of those hot, humid days; I gripped the front panel and with the other hand grabbed the shaft of the screwdriver for some reason. BAM - 250V right across the heart. I felt sick for a week afterwards and had I not been 14 at the time I could have died.

The other hazard is the 10-position terminal strip in the back.... 120VAC and 350 or so B+ lurking in the back, and it seems most of the time the covers are missing. Bonus - there's full B+ across the standby terminal strip also.

All that said, it's well worth the effort to get it going.

Found a nice (looked like fresh 1950s surplus) BC-1004-C/ SP-210X allwave receiver minus PS at my fave ( now defunct) surplus salvage ca yr 2000 for $60. My "dream" receiver as a teen realized. Found PS and umbilical later elsewhere. Mostly recapped, made 20" tabletop tuned BCB loop for it. Haven't fired it up in years now, but still love the idea of having it available as a paragon example of 1930s radio receiver tech and it still looks factory fresh topside.

 

[PastorTube]

I am blessed to have a variety of public radio stations in the area and can pull in Chicago classical station WFMT. There are many nights that I am just too tired to turn on my main system and find records or cds to listen to so I fire up either of my Grundig radios (table top or my Majestic console HI-FI and just enjoy what ever is on. Classical, jazz, folk or world music. I find it just as satisfying as my main stereo most nights. There is something magical and calming about radio listening if you have good stations around.

 

[AlTinkster92]

I still use a GE Super Radio each night on AM, picks up tons of stations and from WJR in Detroit to stations in NY, love the fade in and out and reminds me of the good ole days. I wait till its dark, tune a station and set it and forget it. KInda cool waking up at times and hearing the call letters, etc.