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  • [SSDN] Repairing the Sony ICF SW1 Receiver -- Used for Numbers Station

    From SSDN via rec.radio.amateur.moderate@21:1/5 to All on Sat May 21 16:48:34 2022
    XPost: rec.radio.amateur.moderated, uk.radio.amateur, free.uk.amateur-radio

    SolderSmoke Daily News

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    Repairing the Sony ICF SW1 Receiver -- Used for Numbers Station Reception?
    Why no replacement for C-625?

    Posted: 21 May 2022 11:03 AM PDT http://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2022/05/repairing-sony-icf-sw1-receiver-used.html


    Ten years ago, my friend John gave me this tiny Sony receiver. It wasn't working. I tried to fix it but quickly discovered that the tiny size of
    the device made repair difficult. All you needed to do was to swap out
    some leaking electrolytics, but they are surface mount electrolytics -- replacing them is not for the faint of heart. Kits are available, but
    again, this is not easy.
    In 2020 I got one of the kits, but didn't try to use it until yesterday.
    It only supplied six of the electrolytics. In the video above, they
    discuss replacing seven electrolytics, including the one that seems to be placed in the round black holder. C-625. Why didn't my kit include a replacement for that one? Could it be that this capacitor was not one of
    the leaky SMD caps?
    Replacing these caps really wasn't easy. At one point I inadvertently
    removed not just the bad cap, but also a nearby surface mount resistor.
    Luckily the schematic showed it to be 0 ohms. That was easily replaced. I lifted one of the pads on one of the other caps -- I just slid it back into place and hoped for the best.
    BTW, I just today discovered that this little receiver may have been used
    late in the Cold War by those who needed to receive messages from the
    infamous Numbers Stations:

    https://www.cryptomuseum.com/spy/sony/icfsw1/index.htm

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    500 WYKSYCDS IBEW Stickers Arrive in Europe! Order yours today! Free!

    Posted: 20 May 2022 04:27 AM PDT http://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2022/05/500-wyksycds-ibew-stickers-arrive-in.html

    Lex PH2LB in the Netherlands has gone the extra kilometer for the IBEW.
    When he saw the stickers that had been placed in New York City, he asked
    for the design. I sent him the files that Jesse N5JHH (designer of the stickers) had sent to me. Very quickly, Lex had 500 of these stickers
    printed up and ready to go (see above). His shack now serves as a
    veritable beachhead in Europe for the IBEW and the CBLA. Thank you Les!
    Les has even set up an on-line order form for those who seek to assist in
    the noble campaign to spread the word about our cause: https://ph2lb.nl/webshop/sticker.php
    Les is making the stickers available for free -- all you need to do is pay
    the postage.
    Please be sure to send us pictures of the stickers after they have been
    placed.
    And let's not forget that the quote on the sticker is from Pete Juliano,
    N6QW.
    Here is one that recently showed up in Blacksburg, Virginia (zoom in on the green utility box):

    And here is Lex's very interesting site, with his Knack Story: https://www.ph2lb.nl/blog/index.php?page=history

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