All this talk about the Yaesu FT-818ND being ‘end of production’ made me wonder what’s coming next…my guess is it will be a touch screen job to rival the wonderful ICOM IC-705. That’s fine, but it won’t be as slim and compact as the FT-818ND…which of course is the successor to the FT-817ND and original […]
Wideband Modification for your Yaesu FT-...
The FT-817 from Yaesu has been one of the most popular portable QRP radios ever made; the discontinuation of the FT-818, its successor, was announced in early 2023. They give you essentially, a shack in a box. Full HF coverage plus 6m, 2m and 70cm, using all popular operating modes: USB/LSB/CW/AM/FM/Packet/PSK-31/RTTY. Power output is up […]
Bush EBS3A followed me home
When is a DAC90A not a DAC90A? …when it’s an export model. Some time ago, I noticed what I thought was a Bush DAC90A sitting on a friend’s shelf, alongside other Bakelite radios including a round Ecko. He suggested I look closer…instead of Long Wave, there were two Short Wave bands; it was an EBS3A. […]
New Lift Top Lid for Addis 50L Bin
I don’t like throwing things away, just because parts of them are broken. I don’t tend to replace things ‘just because they look a bit dated’ either. Suffice to say, I still have all my bathroom suites, kitchen units and all but one of my windows…from 1991. Once I stopped working I also stopped needing […]
My Collins KWM-380 is sick
Yesterday I switched on my Collins KWM-380 as I often do. The lights and LEDs came on, the few short beeps emanated from the speaker, but no signals or S meter deflection. No tuning ‘blips’ as the main tuning knob is turned on the megahertz dial either. The volume control gave an increase in hiss […]
Lucas Wiring Colour Code Key
If you’ve ever wondered what the colour code for wiring on your British bikes was, here’s your answer. The colour code is standard across the various brands to make it easier for garages and dealers to make quick repairs. If you’re thinking of making modifications to your bike or adding things such as indicators, it […]
Resurrecting a Philips PM6671 High Resol...
I do like older test gear…it’s normally repairable quite easily and it’s possible to buy it for a fraction of its original price. Equipment that once cost thousands, can be had for just hundreds, or sometimes tens of pounds. I went to the 2022 Galashiels Radio Rally on the 30th of October and spotted a […]
Microwave Modules 15dB Attenuator
The Microwave Modules MMT1296 and other transverters, rely on a 15dB attenuator between the transverter and the driver radio for matching. When these transverters were designed, 10W output base and mobile transceivers were the norm. When you buy a second hand transverter, these attenuators are often missing. I had a similar experience and wondered what […]
012825 Matchless AJS Front Wheel Spindle...
I thought I’d write this page as a result of problems encountered whilst replacing the front wheel bearings and spindle on my 1953 Matchless G3LS. (# see my ‘update’ at the bottom of this page) My bike has a 1956 ‘barrel shaped’ front hub and uses a complete front spindle and bearing assembly, part number […]
Tekaloid Black Paint
At one time all vehicles were offered in black, black…or you could choose black instead. Then came maroon, dark green then some of the more sombre colours British vehicles were famous for. One of the leading brands of paint was Tekaloid by Thornley & Knight, a very durable coach enamel that was originally applied with […]