LOL, my wife uses a different word, but yes- I am a collector.?
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You have more than one and are, therefore, a collector!
On Sat, Apr 5, 2025, 6:37?PM Dominic Dambro via <dominic1967= [email protected]> wrote: I think I'm done buying R-300s. I found the European ham band version. I was actually pretty excited about that- I assumed finding one would be very difficult, as it wasn't intended for the American market. I'm not sure how many ended up here, but the owner's manual describes how to change the wiring internally to accomodate our 117V mains.
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This one was a "for parts or not working" eBay buy. In fact, two out of my three have been that way and they all pretty much have the same issue- dirty bandswitch. There was no reception until I cleaned the bandswitch with a liberal dosing of Deoxit.
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This model, intended for the European market with the Ham band, was originally wired for 220V, but the previous owner had already performed the simple rewiring and fuse swap for 117V.
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My plan was originally to only have one working radio but now I'm tempted to keep both versions, just because. The service manual states the differences between both depended on the shipping destination of the radios. The "K" version was for the Americas, "W" for Europe and "W2" for Europe with the Ham bands.?
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I think I'm done buying R-300s. I found the European ham band version. I was actually pretty excited about that- I assumed finding one would be very difficult, as it wasn't intended for the American market. I'm not sure how many ended up here, but the owner's manual describes how to change the wiring internally to accomodate our 117V mains.
?
This one was a "for parts or not working" eBay buy. In fact, two out of my three have been that way and they all pretty much have the same issue- dirty bandswitch. There was no reception until I cleaned the bandswitch with a liberal dosing of Deoxit.
?
This model, intended for the European market with the Ham band, was originally wired for 220V, but the previous owner had already performed the simple rewiring and fuse swap for 117V.
?
My plan was originally to only have one working radio but now I'm tempted to keep both versions, just because. The service manual states the differences between both depended on the shipping destination of the radios. The "K" version was for the Americas, "W" for Europe and "W2" for Europe with the Ham bands.?
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So, the "new" R-300 arrived and though it's cosmetically nowhere as nice as my other one, I believe it's better electronically. The audio is better, at least on first listening. It's also very close to accurate on the dial, so hardly any alignment is needed. What I'll probably do is put my "good" guts into my "good" body and sell the other for parts. I'll still work on it to try and make it better- it'll be nice practice for my other one.
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The following items have been added to the Files area of the [email protected] group.
By: Dominic Dambro <dominic1967@...>
Description:
A PDF scan of my used R-300 manual. The quality is way better than any of the PDFs floating around on the internet. Apologies for the handwriting on the cover. (Whoever Dave is, he's happy to have gotten a good deal.)
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Pretty sure when I find one at a price too good to pass up another will grace a desk here. They may drift, have image issues, etc but I find the backlit green lettering on the tuning drums appealing when tuning the hfbc bands.
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Yep, not much going on in this group. I am, however, getting another R-300. My current unit receives well, but it was purchased very cheaply as a "for parts or not working" eBay item. When I received it, I noticed the dial string had come off it's track. I fixed it, but it's never been aligned properly since. Drives me nuts- it's really hard to tell where you are on the dial. I recently bought a frequency generator and will run some tests to see just how far off it is.
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At any rate, I found another one on eBay for a good deal this weekend but the description was pretty vague, so I cannot wait to see what condition it's in when it arrives! I asked the seller if it was fully functioning and they replied in the affirmative. I low-balled and they accpeted. I'll be pleasantly surprised if it really does receive on all bands in all modes. Looks fine cosmetically.
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Thanks,
Dominic
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The Sad Shack never marketed a real radio.? The AX/SX-190 kinda
looked like one, but the two I got hold of over the years were
slugs.? Terribly insensitive.? A guy had a web page extolling the
virtues of the thing while publishing a 20DB preamp that could be
built into the front end.? Not sure what his game was.
I got the R300 apart yesterday and through the judicial use of
C-Clamps and patience was able to straighten the Bandspread tuning
shaft/front framework enough to get it tuning again.? The set is
off frequency by a similar amount on all the bands.? Seems
strange.? Main tuning is OK so hesitant to start turning screws to
realign the bands.? I'll look it over some more.? Rainy days
coming later this week.
So far, great sensitivity and fairly stable with a few minutes of
warmup.? I'm impressed.? Set is just cute.? Very clean sounding
audio.? I enjoyed part of a baseball game yesterday afternoon on
it.? Due to the dial being off freq, I found I was listening to
580 instead of 610, both distant stations to me.? I usually can't
hear 580.? Probably band conditions.
With it on end, CRC Electrical Cleaner flowed down into the
bandswitch sections and they cleaned up great.? It doesn't appear
to have ever had a screwdriver on it.
On 7/1/24 11:48 AM, Dominic Dambro via
groups.io wrote:
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Cosmetically, the Realistic DX-200 is remarkably similar but when
you take the covers off, that's where it all ends. The inside of a
DX-200 is amazingly sparse. It's naturally much lighter than the
R-300, as well. I believe GRE made the radio for Radio Shack.
Somewhere in my files I have a photo comparing the guts of the
two. It's almost laughable how different they are.?
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Cosmetically, the Realistic DX-200 is remarkably similar but when you take the covers off, that's where it all ends. The inside of a DX-200 is amazingly sparse. It's naturally much lighter than the R-300, as well. I believe GRE made the radio for Radio Shack. Somewhere in my files I have a photo comparing the guts of the two. It's almost laughable how different they are.?
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I didn't find the other group, but this one showed up when
searching the web whilst waiting on FedEx to bend my tuning
shafts!? I hate Ebay.
It's a neat set though.? How they could take a few parts and make
a radio with that sensitivity is amazing.? I've been into many
entry level radios of that type and this one takes the cake.?
Great band scanner when you don't want to punch buttons, but just
want to see what's there.? Wish there WERE more there.
On 6/30/24 1:25 AM, n0sya via groups.io
wrote:
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Nice to hear ppl are still keeping these things going. Mine has
been gone for ages but if I find one at a sale cheap enough it'll
be on the desk and stay there. On the lack of activity and members
here, I inherited the group when yahoo shut down their operations
thinking it would be a shame to let all those files go away.
There's a larger online 300 group I think but I don't recall its
name. So the 6 of us keep it alive at io, lol.
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Nice to hear ppl are still keeping these things going. Mine has been gone for ages but if I find one at a sale cheap enough it'll be on the desk and stay there. On the lack of activity and members here, I inherited the group when yahoo shut down their operations thinking it would be a shame to let all those files go away. There's a larger online 300 group I think but I don't recall its name. So the 6 of us keep it alive at io, lol.
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It showed up yesterday afternoon.? Haven't pulled the covers yet, but it could be worse.? Does work, but really dirty controls and off frequency.? The Bandspread seems to have been pushed into the radio.? Hmmm.? I hope it's just a straightening of metal thing.? I managed to get the knob off and the shaft turns with some difficulty.
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The aluminum ring is missing from the Antenna Tune knob.? Maybe I can make one!? :)
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Darrel
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And if you want one that reeks of nicotine...
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Those green dials are pretty, aren't they.? Hopefully this guy
will pack it well and get it out here.? His feedback indicated he
knew how to do that.? I've had bad experiences before and will no
longer buy boatanchors through the mail.
I'm thinking the R71A AGC issue might be a known problem.? Dig
around some more on line.? I have the 71A and an R70.? My 71A
needs some TLC in the VCO.? Someday!? I need an extra workbench.?
I always wanted an R820 until I visited a ham West of Kansas City
and saw his shelf with 8 of them.? Might have been 9!? Few years
back.? I looked down at those and looked up at him.? He said, "I
don't sell radios."? Fine.? I got a free TS-830 soon after for
fixing a guys Yaesu and think it's a better radio anyway.? Plus
you can talk on it!
They're all fun.? I'll let you know how mine turns out.? Supposed
to be here this week, but no shipping notice yet.? If it's an
empty shell, I'll have knobs for? sale!
Darrel
On 6/23/24 9:16 AM, Dominic Dambro via
groups.io wrote:
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Hmmm.... not sure we can handle an extra member. Starting to get
crowded. LOL.
I just had to look and a couple more people have joined, but you
and I are really the only ones so far who have posted.
Hi Darrel, I'm Dominic and like you, I'm a hoarder I mean,
collector. I've been an avid DXer since about my pre-teens but my
earliest memories of childhood involved staying up late at night
listening to distant AM broadcast stations and being mesmerised by
a transistor multiband radio at a relative's house when I was
maybe 8 years old. Now that I'm an adult and have disposable
income, I find myself buying all of the radios I drooled over as a
kid in shortwave magazines but could never afford.
Unlike you, I'm not a licensed amateur, though I do believe I
could pass the Technician class right now. I've studied and have
all the current ARRL books (I'm a member, for whatever that's
worth) and do intend to at least get my General class license.
Some day. Along with receivers, I enjoy any transceiver that both
looks cool and is known to have great receive capabilities. But
lets be honest- "looks cool" is maybe higher up on my list than it
should be. I'm shallow.
As to the '300- mine was also a "for parts" eBay purchase. When I
received it, the dial string had somehow come loose but amazingly
was still fully intact. I managed to get it back on track and the
radio receives beautifully but is out of alignment because of
tuning around without actually moving the tuning capacitor. Duh. I
STILL have to get around to fixing that. It's on my "to-do" list
of radio repairs, along with my beloved R820, which just started
having display issues and an ICOM R71A (I have three) that has an
AGC issue. I did go ahead and put in an SO-239 in the back of the
R-300 so I could hook a decent antenna up. Obviously, it could
stand a recap but as it is, it's completely doable. A little
deoxit in those tone controls is probably called for, as well.
Can't wait to hear about the radio when you receive it. I'll think
positive thoughts for finding a seller who knows how to pack and
ship a radio. Ugh.
  
-Dominic, Still Studying
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Hmmm.... not sure we can handle an extra member. Starting to get crowded. LOL. I just had to look and a couple more people have joined, but you and I are really the only ones so far who have posted. Hi Darrel, I'm Dominic and like you, I'm a hoarder I mean, collector. I've been an avid DXer since about my pre-teens but my earliest memories of childhood involved staying up late at night listening to distant AM broadcast stations and being mesmerised by a transistor multiband radio at a relative's house when I was maybe 8 years old. Now that I'm an adult and have disposable income, I find myself buying all of the radios I drooled over as a kid in shortwave magazines but could never afford. Unlike you, I'm not a licensed amateur, though I do believe I could pass the Technician class right now. I've studied and have all the current ARRL books (I'm a member, for whatever that's worth) and do intend to at least get my General class license. Some day. Along with receivers, I enjoy any transceiver that both looks cool and is known to have great receive capabilities. But lets be honest- "looks cool" is maybe higher up on my list than it should be. I'm shallow. As to the '300- mine was also a "for parts" eBay purchase. When I received it, the dial string had somehow come loose but amazingly was still fully intact. I managed to get it back on track and the radio receives beautifully but is out of alignment because of tuning around without actually moving the tuning capacitor. Duh. I STILL have to get around to fixing that. It's on my "to-do" list of radio repairs, along with my beloved R820, which just started having display issues and an ICOM R71A (I have three) that has an AGC issue. I did go ahead and put in an SO-239 in the back of the R-300 so I could hook a decent antenna up. Obviously, it could stand a recap but as it is, it's completely doable. A little deoxit in those tone controls is probably called for, as well. Can't wait to hear about the radio when you receive it. I'll think positive thoughts for finding a seller who knows how to pack and ship a radio. Ugh.    -Dominic, Still Studying
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Wow.? Guess they work so well no one needs help then?? :)??? I'm
a collector and have been into shortwave receivers as long as I
can recall.? Many have come and gone over the years, but hang on
to some eclectic stuff.? There's an RCA AR-60 on the bench right
now.? I'm also a ham and love my TS-830, but there's just always
been something about receivers.? Not much to listen to anymore.
Always thought the R-300 was cute.? Never saw one in person.??
From time to time I would check Evil Bay and there have been a few
on there of late.? $250 plus $100 shipping type stuff.? One guy
had a parts set last month with a missing top and some wrong
knobs.? Starting bid was $9.95 and he wanted $100 shipping as I
recall.?? I emailed and asked what it might stand me to get it
overnighted.? He did not respond, but did lower the shipping to
$82.? Anyway, last night I checked and found one for $150 and free
shipping.? Lit up was all the guy said, so obviously won't work
and probably won't even have the battery door or power cord, but
for that price we'll see.? It'll be a lifetime hobby since the
antenna trimmer knob is wrong.? That'll be as much fun as finding
a nameplate for that RCA (have a company in Chicago says they can
make me one for $335 from an old scan I have).
Count me in then.? Do I make four or am I the third one?
Darrel, N0DBX
On 6/22/24 2:45 PM, Dominic Dambro via
groups.io wrote:
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LOL, it's just three of us. Sad story. There was once a thriving
Yahoo group, someone wanted to rescue it but I guess time got away
from him and I asked if I could help. I uploaded a few files and
then... nothing. It blows my mind that there is so little
interest. I don't even see that many on eBay anymore. Great
receiver. I collect vintage shortwave receivers (sometimes
transceivers) and even though this isn't one of the best, I just
won't part with it. It's too fun to tune around with. What's your
story?
-Dominic
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LOL, it's just three of us. Sad story. There was once a thriving Yahoo group, someone wanted to rescue it but I guess time got away from him and I asked if I could help. I uploaded a few files and then... nothing. It blows my mind that there is so little interest. I don't even see that many on eBay anymore. Great receiver. I collect vintage shortwave receivers (sometimes transceivers) and even though this isn't one of the best, I just won't part with it. It's too fun to tune around with. What's your story?
-Dominic
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Just found the group.? Did everyone just up and move someplace else??? Where?
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J
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I found this on an eHam review;
One easy reversible mod to aid in CW/SSB reception is to add an external 5K pot to the (-) side of the S-meter and ground, to give a true I/F gain control. The radio's RF gain control is actually a front end attenuator and the RF and I/F circuits run full blast with only the AGC to adjust it.
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Hi and no, what i saved is in the folder uploaded to io, might have other bits, will have to check.
On Tuesday, August 25, 2020, 07:34:35 PM EDT, Dominic Dambro <dominic1967@...> wrote:
Just curious- did you manage to save all of the old Yahoo group data??
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Dominic Dambro