AtariGeezer Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 Found some more Ham Radio gear made by Macrotronics listed in some magazines. Hoping to find the real thing soon 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+videofx Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 Never seen that before. I wouldn't mind picking one up. I am guessing that they didn't sell many so might be tough to find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtariGeezer Posted October 12, 2021 Author Share Posted October 12, 2021 2 hours ago, videofx said: Never seen that before. I wouldn't mind picking one up. I am guessing that they didn't sell many so might be tough to find. Well, they made them first for the TRS-80, then the Apple II and finally for the Atari. So they must have sold a few hundred at least.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMil Posted October 14, 2021 Share Posted October 14, 2021 Any idea about how old that add is? David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtariGeezer Posted October 14, 2021 Author Share Posted October 14, 2021 9 minutes ago, DavidMil said: Any idea about how old that add is? David Yep, from September of 1983. They first sold software for it in 1981 for the TRS-80... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMil Posted October 14, 2021 Share Posted October 14, 2021 Have you tried any of the HAM preservation sites? There are a lot of older uses there. This one has been over 70 years. www.cq-amateur-radio.com David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunstar Posted October 16, 2021 Share Posted October 16, 2021 (edited) Wow. I didn't know something like this existed for the 8-bit Atari's either. I'm in the middle of building a WEFAX decoder from an old Antic article, and have been pricing SW radios with SSB bands, the cheapest I've found are starting at $100. I need one that has enough range to pick up WEFAX signal from New Orleans (the closest to me in Oklahoma). This is interesting too, but too bad it doesn't have SSB bands with all that too for the Atari. Edited October 16, 2021 by Gunstar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtariGeezer Posted October 16, 2021 Author Share Posted October 16, 2021 On 10/14/2021 at 1:01 PM, DavidMil said: Have you tried any of the HAM preservation sites? There are a lot of older uses there. This one has been over 70 years. www.cq-amateur-radio.com David Yep, tried that one when I was looking for info on the RM-1000... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtariGeezer Posted October 16, 2021 Author Share Posted October 16, 2021 4 hours ago, Gunstar said: Wow. I didn't know something like this existed for the 8-bit Atari's either. I'm in the middle of building a WEFAX decoder from an old Antic article, and have been pricing SW radios with SSB bands, the cheapest I've found are starting at $100. I need one that has enough range to pick up WEFAX signal from New Orleans (the closest to me in Oklahoma). This is interesting too, but too bad it doesn't have SSB bands with all that too for the Atari. https://www.ebay.com/itm/333921917781 You can get one of these for $30.00 and use some free SDR software to listen from 100khz to 1.7ghz instead. The software lets you listen to modes from AM, FM, FM-Stereo, LSB, USB, DSB, CW and raw. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunstar Posted October 16, 2021 Share Posted October 16, 2021 (edited) 7 hours ago, AtariGeezer said: https://www.ebay.com/itm/333921917781 You can get one of these for $30.00 and use some free SDR software to listen from 100khz to 1.7ghz instead. The software lets you listen to modes from AM, FM, FM-Stereo, LSB, USB, DSB, CW and raw. Thanks man. But I went looking for SW with SSB after posting yesterday and found a reasonably priced one that also comes in kit form for $30, but I have enough projects already so I purchased an assembled one for $60. Both available from Amazon. It has a USB port on the back too, as well as the coaxial for antenna. I've got an old, large, CB antenna I can hook up to it and attach to my shop roof for better reception too. Edited October 16, 2021 by Gunstar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+MrFish Posted October 16, 2021 Share Posted October 16, 2021 20 hours ago, Gunstar said: I need one that has enough range to pick up WEFAX signal from New Orleans (the closest to me in Oklahoma). This is going to be down to your antenna setup in large part. You'll definitely need something beyond a whip in order to get consistent reception. With a whip it's more hit and miss. On a good day, I can can pull down maps like this on a whip. On a bad day, its a mass of random black and white pixels; and then, of course, I've gotten everything in between. I'll be setting up a better antenna in my attic when I get some time for it (building my own). I'm using an Eton Elite Executive. Nice little radio. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunstar Posted October 17, 2021 Share Posted October 17, 2021 @MrFish Very cool! Forgive my ignorance, but I'm not familiar with the name/term "whip." My guess is the small antenna that comes with the radio? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+MrFish Posted October 17, 2021 Share Posted October 17, 2021 46 minutes ago, Gunstar said: @MrFish Very cool! Forgive my ignorance, but I'm not familiar with the name/term "whip." My guess is the small antenna that comes with the radio? Yeah, it's the telescoping antenna that's attached to the radio. Some are better than other's (the longer the better); but none are really sufficient for consistent, reliable WeFax reception. I see now that you mentioned having a CB antenna that can be externally mounted. That should be an improvement over a whip; but you may end up wanting something better. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.