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Ybor
Radios

Karl, when I was in Vietnam, late 1960's, I bought a Zenith Trans-Oceanic radio.
Big thing - took a lot of D batteries!
It had a knob on the L side, turn it to rotate to different 'bands'.... not that I knew a thing about this. It was new - but the manual didn't make it to our compound.
Pretty sure some were short wave.

Whenever I was back at my hootch at the 71st Evac Hosp I'd try to get something, anything, on it from back in The World.
I ran an 'antenna' wire along the top of the sandbag wall, outside. No idea if that helped anything.
We could get AFVN, of course (think Robin Wms), but that was out of Saigon, or someplace in-country. That was akin to being on Mars, getting music from DJ in a tent on Mars.
"Back in the World" was what we wanted. The USA.
A few times I got San Fransico - maybe Australia.


Wish I'd been able to bring that thing home - no dice. Got $50 for it.
Thanks for posting Karl!

Stig

Tom, you just shook loose a SEA STORY!
I do not think I ever told you guys this one about a duty day aboard an LST based in San Diego, CA. This was my first tour as a Mustang LT(jg) Engineering Officer [LT(jg) = 1st LT in other services]. I had duty that day as CDO (Command Duty Officer) and was prowling the ship to bolster the troops on watch and self-satisfying that she (the ship) was not sinking, on fire, being threatened by pirates..you know, you seen the movies! I came upon Radio Central and looked in on the man standing watch there. He was RD2 Robert Bokum, one of the brightest men I had encountered in my 8 to 9 years of service. RD is radarman or radar operator and he was tasked cross rate as radioman  for in port duty which is very busy copying and printing a ton of message traffic coming over shortwave radio. In the midst of this tiny radio room was a Zenith Transoceanic portable radio. E-5 Bokum explained that one of the ship's receivers was out of service and he hooked his personal radio up to the system to copy one of the important teletype message broadcasts!

This is an example of the beyond outstanding men who populated my Navy from 1959 to 1977!

Tom, you were right on track by stringing wire for your excellent receiver! The more wire the better for receive!

SEA STORY FINAL. OUT.

Hi ! Remember me? Har, har!

Started readying the DT for spring to sell. One brake switch won't and the start switch won't either. Had a perfect spring day today to fiddle. Screw driver and a can of contact cleaner and all switches will !

She started after two revolutions like always! I be clam happy!

I pray all of you have successful spring rides that lack any pain or abrasions! I am busy with honey-do's and building kit radios for other hams who are real operators.

May God bless you all !

Looks like a really great decision, Stig! Ham radio is a great hobby on days like this!

That's neat, Stig! I wonder if my Subaru Crosstrek has a C to F button...Har, har!

And I thought I have it bad with self-pruning oak trees and their leaves....
Just walk cautiously or not at all during high winds!

I find a Segway "Turf" model very handy for a gimpy, old guy like me for daily chores out side. An electric scooter for in-town errands makes perfect sense IF purchase cost reasonable. However, the electric pickup Ford "Blue Oval" factory near here has slowed in building because Ford has THOUSANDS unsold sitting about. Seems people don't like the prices....

Neil, that worn back tyre (!) is exactly why the car tire is on the rear of my 300i (which is still for sale!).

Stig, I weep, too for you are the example for superb care. My grandson drives his flatbead big truck for his livelyhood and he needs to write a book about the in-COMPETENT so-called mechanics....

I think we need a ceremony to commemorate this! That is a LONG time for a battery to last!