Re: New to me FRG-7 - questions - antenna connectors on rear panel
Also check 75m and the 60m 'tropical' band in the evening, where you will also hear genuine 'dx' from China domestic stations.
The extended MW band from 1.6 – 1.8MHz is always full of low power Dutch and Greek pirates.
Gd dx - Julian
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Re: New to me FRG-7 - questions - antenna connectors on rear panel
Most stations are around 6 MHz but WMR from Denmark also broadcasts on 15700 and on 25700 (weekends), while Delta from the Netherlands
has had long-distance successes on 12030 and 9800.
At this very moment Casanova (NL) is on 6020 and RealMix (FIN) on 6195.
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73, Alex
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From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
On Behalf Of David M0EZP via groups.io
Sent: vrijdag 11 april 2025 10:05
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Yaesu-FRG-7] New to me FRG-7 - questions - antenna connectors on rear panel
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Alex, interesting about the new low power European stations. I know Netherlands are permitting MW QRP broadcast. What bands do you think are worth a listen to?
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Re: New to me FRG-7 - questions - antenna connectors on rear panel
Alex, interesting about the new low power European stations. I know Netherlands are permitting MW QRP broadcast. What bands do you think are worth a listen to?
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73 David
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Re: New to me FRG-7 - questions - antenna connectors on rear panel
You have the alternative of all those new low-power European stations. Not exotic but at least a challenge. What is happening in Germany,
Denmark, the Netherlands and now also in Finland is encouraging.
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73, Alex
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From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
On Behalf Of Mark Feltham via groups.io
Sent: woensdag 9 april 2025 13:12
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Yaesu-FRG-7] New to me FRG-7 - questions - antenna connectors on rear panel
?
It is indeed a lovely radio, but just sad to listen to Chinese propaganda all day long as there is nothing to hear any longer
73
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On Wednesday, April 9, 2025, 12:09 pm, Pentagrid via groups.io <dayleedwards@...> wrote:
I totally agree. The lack of powerful SW? stations though has its upside, especially with the Wadley loop receiver designs that have severe shortcomings with dynamic range and internal noise issues. Many weaker stations could not previously
be heard especially with adjacent power house transmitters.? Almost all European countries have low power SW transmitters to serve internal communications, either domestic or utility. The FRG7 actually receives a swath of frequencies in a one meg bandwidth,
or window. The wanted station is selected from this mess of frequencies by what in effect is a seperate radio receiver, ie, the tuneable IF. The minimalistic first mixer must cope with all that? mishmash of signals and atmospheric noise coming in through that
wide open window.
With the big transmitters gone, patient and careful tuning can receive many many of these low power internal broadcast stations, of which there are literally thousands serving isolated parts of the world.
With? three signal mixing stages, the FRG7 will never be a quiet receiver, an optimised aerial will help enormously here.
If the wanted signal can be made strong enough, the internal self generated noise can be overridden to a great extent.? I have had very good results using a small MLA 30 amplified loop to reduce local noise, but any additional gain should
be reduced to a minimum. With any amplified aerial , reduce the gain on atmospheric noise to what it is without the amplified aerial attachment. This will increase dynamic range and further reduce noise in the radio.? Additional? amplifier gain will NOT increase
performance, its only? the local noise cancelling that is needed.
Sadly, modern houses are full of RFI from all those SMP supplies that nowadays are in everything. Not much can be done other than switching off the main offenders. RFI used to be policed well, but now, noone is bothered, especially the
manufacturer who can save a penny or two by leaving any noise suppression out.
There are many ways to improve the performance of the FRG7, but its an interesting challenge to go with what you got. There are very few stations that my Icom R8600 can receive that the old Yaesu cant, and I know which radio is more fun
to use.
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Re: New to me FRG-7 - questions - antenna connectors on rear panel
It is indeed a lovely radio, but just sad to listen to Chinese propaganda all day long as there is nothing to hear any longer
On Wednesday, April 9, 2025, 12:09 pm, Pentagrid via groups.io <dayleedwards@...> wrote: I totally agree. The lack of powerful SW? stations though has its upside, especially with the Wadley loop receiver designs that have severe shortcomings with dynamic range and internal noise issues. Many weaker stations could not previously be heard especially with adjacent power house transmitters.? Almost all European countries have low power SW transmitters to serve internal communications, either domestic or utility. The FRG7 actually receives a swath of frequencies in a one meg bandwidth, or window. The wanted station is selected from this mess of frequencies by what in effect is a seperate radio receiver, ie, the tuneable IF. The minimalistic first mixer must cope with all that? mishmash of signals and atmospheric noise coming in through that wide open window.
With the big transmitters gone, patient and careful tuning can receive many many of these low power internal broadcast stations, of which there are literally thousands serving isolated parts of the world.
With? three signal mixing stages, the FRG7 will never be a quiet receiver, an optimised aerial will help enormously here.
If the wanted signal can be made strong enough, the internal self generated noise can be overridden to a great extent.? I have had very good results using a small MLA 30 amplified loop to reduce local noise, but any additional gain should be reduced to a minimum. With any amplified aerial , reduce the gain on atmospheric noise to what it is without the amplified aerial attachment. This will increase dynamic range and further reduce noise in the radio.? Additional? amplifier gain will NOT increase performance, its only? the local noise cancelling that is needed.
Sadly, modern houses are full of RFI from all those SMP supplies that nowadays are in everything. Not much can be done other than switching off the main offenders. RFI used to be policed well, but now, noone is bothered, especially the manufacturer who can save a penny or two by leaving any noise suppression out.
There are many ways to improve the performance of the FRG7, but its an interesting challenge to go with what you got. There are very few stations that my Icom R8600 can receive that the old Yaesu cant, and I know which radio is more fun to use.
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Re: New to me FRG-7 - questions - antenna connectors on rear panel
Julian and Pentagrid -
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Many thanks for the responses! I was just curious if I had a "unicorn" FRG-7 due to it missing the other antenna/mute connector on the rear panel.
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I too, remember the "golden era" of SWL as my late father bought me a RS DX-160 swl receiver around 1979 or so.. enjoyed listening to the big stations back then and getting their QSLs after submitting my reception reports via post. As a 15-year-old, nothing sparked more excitement than finding a SWL QSL card in my mailbox. It was only a matter of months before I was hooked on radio in general and went the ham radio route. The DX-160 was sold eventually to purchase another piece of ham gear. Took a hiatus of approximately 23 years from the hobby - getting back in early '23. I always had a soft spot for the DX-160... but fell in love with the FRG-7 once I saw it for the first time online. I purchased a Tecsun PL330 last year and use it occasionally with a 25' wire - usually indoors. Paid $40 USD for this FRG-7 on Facebook Marketplace from a former ham in the next county over - so, I had nothing to lose at that price.
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Thanks again & 73!
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Daniel/K4DB
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Re: New to me FRG-7 - questions - antenna connectors on rear panel
I totally agree. The lack of powerful SW? stations though has its upside, especially with the Wadley loop receiver designs that have severe shortcomings with dynamic range and internal noise issues. Many weaker stations could not previously be heard especially with adjacent power house transmitters.? Almost all European countries have low power SW transmitters to serve internal communications, either domestic or utility. The FRG7 actually receives a swath of frequencies in a one meg bandwidth, or window. The wanted station is selected from this mess of frequencies by what in effect is a seperate radio receiver, ie, the tuneable IF. The minimalistic first mixer must cope with all that? mishmash of signals and atmospheric noise coming in through that wide open window.
With the big transmitters gone, patient and careful tuning can receive many many of these low power internal broadcast stations, of which there are literally thousands serving isolated parts of the world.
With? three signal mixing stages, the FRG7 will never be a quiet receiver, an optimised aerial will help enormously here.
If the wanted signal can be made strong enough, the internal self generated noise can be overridden to a great extent.? I have had very good results using a small MLA 30 amplified loop to reduce local noise, but any additional gain should be reduced to a minimum. With any amplified aerial , reduce the gain on atmospheric noise to what it is without the amplified aerial attachment. This will increase dynamic range and further reduce noise in the radio.? Additional? amplifier gain will NOT increase performance, its only? the local noise cancelling that is needed.
Sadly, modern houses are full of RFI from all those SMP supplies that nowadays are in everything. Not much can be done other than switching off the main offenders. RFI used to be policed well, but now, noone is bothered, especially the manufacturer who can save a penny or two by leaving any noise suppression out.
There are many ways to improve the performance of the FRG7, but its an interesting challenge to go with what you got. There are very few stations that my Icom R8600 can receive that the old Yaesu cant, and I know which radio is more fun to use.
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Re: New to me FRG-7 - questions - antenna connectors on rear panel
The rearrangement of the antenna connectors sounds like a sensible afterthought; I;m not so sure about removing the fine tune control, as this is essential for accurate tuning to SSB transmissions. This makes it sound as if the FRG-7 was now regarded as a broadcast receiver rather than a 'Ham' model.
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I have previously warned about being too strongly influenced by Mark's cynical advice to owners that there's no point owning one unless you just want it for decoration on a shelf! The biggest decline in transmitter populations has been in Europe, but that makes room for the smaller broadcasters who have taken over from state media. As a small example, Australia is now back on SW, due to HCJB / Reach Beyond acquiring the redundant state transmitter sites.
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Good listening - Julian
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Re: New to me FRG-7 - questions - antenna connectors on rear panel
Just a shame there is in 2025 very little to listen to The Golden era is over now and the FRG 7 lays silent… 73
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On 8 Apr 2025, at 16:09, Justin Bowser - KI5GKD <justin.bowser@...> wrote:
? There probably lots of little changes over the production history.? The "Frog" that I have has the connectors you mention, fixed cord, plus a fine tuning knob.? If you need the other connectors I imagine you could find a schematic for an earlier model and figure out where to add them.? I know that I use them...
--
Justin B.
KI5GKD
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Re: New to me FRG-7 - questions - antenna connectors on rear panel
There probably lots of little changes over the production history.? The "Frog" that I have has the connectors you mention, fixed cord, plus a fine tuning knob.? If you need the other connectors I imagine you could find a schematic for an earlier model and figure out where to add them.? I know that I use them...
--
Justin B.
KI5GKD
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New to me FRG-7 - questions - antenna connectors on rear panel
I picked up an FRG-7 last week for a very attractive price - and have done a bit of research on it already - but there's a nagging question that I have that I've been unable to find an answer to anywhere so far.
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My receiver does not have the shortwave/BC band/Mute connector on the rear panel - all it has in that spot is what appears to be a factory-installed "blank panel". The only antenna connector on the rear panel is the
SO-239 coaxial. This receiver appears to be a later production run unit as it does have the "fine-tuning" knob on the front panel. In additional the power cord on the rear panel is "detachable" - not hard wired like all the other ones that I've seen previously...
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Thanks in advance!
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Daniel/K4DB
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Decal / Fascia Transfer Number / Letter Sticker Kit
Hi All,
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I have recently got my hands on one of these and would like to make it look pretty again and it has not been looked after that well.
Its all good from a functional point of view but some of the lettering on the front fascia has been rubbed off and there are a few scratches around some of the knobs.
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I was wondering if anyone is doing a front fascia Transfer/Sticker kit that would give my set a refreshed look?
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Or, if anyone has any ideas of how I can achieve the same (or close) by means of a different process, then please share.
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Thanks in advance guys.
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Re: Beginning a FRG-7 restoration
Hello John,
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Much appreciated. I have good measurement gear in my shack, including a boat-anchor Agilent 8753 network analyser :)
73
Dieter
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Re: Beginning a FRG-7 restoration
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Re: Beginning a FRG-7 restoration
Hi Dieter
Also in the files section "4 - FRG-7 Service Notes" there is a lot of useful info. The two magazine articles by Lindsay Hood are highly recommended reading re theory of operation and alignment.
Regards
Steve
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Re: Beginning a FRG-7 restoration
Hi Dieter.
take a look in the files section, you will find the manual, it’s a little challenging to follow without a scope in that range?
I measured my voltages the other week as I’m chasing issues around a heavily modified unit
i don’t have records with me but there is a pdf that gives a realistic table, it has Fluke in the title
br john
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Beginning a FRG-7 restoration
Hello FRG-7 friends
I have purchased a relatively well preserved FRG-7 from a friend. I owned one as a young SWL and used it to learn CW by copying maritime CW broadcasts on HF.
I wonder if there are recommendations for a general restoration strategy. My FRG-7 is working quite well. I note the locking is perhaps a bit difficult to adjust in certain ranges.
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I am aware of the need to check/replace electrolytic capacitors and I have also seen resistors losing their nominal resistance due to ageing effects.?
So, I am keen on any "must-do" restoration actions and also "don't do" ones. I can imagine that some fine-tuning may perhaps be necessary. Perhaps there are also some often encountered faults in these old receivers.
I bought my unit in 1977 if my memory is correct.?
I understand there is perhaps no separate service manual for the FRG-7. I recall seeing a "voltage chart" which may be the first thing to check.
?
Thanks in advance for any comments, advice and information.
73
Dieter
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Re: BBC Short Wave Schedule
Glad they're still on the air. Need to fire up my FRG-7 and listen in. I don't use it enough.
On Wed, Feb 26, 2025 at 3:18?PM Julian_Hardstone via <julian= [email protected]> wrote: As an update to my earlier recommendations for listening to BBC World Service transmissions from Wooferton and external relay stations, I see that the Malaysia and Madagascar tx are no longer used. Vatican City and Oman have been added as relays.
The current schedule can be seen at , and follow the links for more details. This page is updated seasonally.
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?- Julian
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As an update to my earlier recommendations for listening to BBC World Service transmissions from Wooferton and external relay stations, I see that the Malaysia and Madagascar tx are no longer used. Vatican City and Oman have been added as relays.
The current schedule can be seen at , and follow the links for more details. This page is updated seasonally.
?
?- Julian
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Re: FRG-7 Mechanical adjustment
So sorry to read your cynical view of SW Broadcast listening Mark; in my experience, as long as you can get a reasonably quiet receive on a long wire or a loop, you will find delights throughout the band. An FRG-7 is a pleasure to drive, and the ability to step in 1MHz increments is good for Broadcast listening.
Before you go out for your daily exercise or shopping round, check the Broadcast bands from 30m up. On 22m you will identify RNZ on a good day. Turkey is everywhere, though English broadcasts are in the afternoon and evening, while China dominates SW 24 hours of the day in all languages. Remember that CRI can be surprisingly strong in the UK, thanks to relays from Wooferton and Germany. In the evening the 'Equatorial' bands are far from equatorial these days, once again CRI is everywhere, and India, the far East, and Dutch pirates. 75m always interests me, if you're lucky you may hear BBC WS from the Singapore relay. Others I like to look for in the morning are BBC French for Africa from Ascension and Madagascar.
Switch to USB and another world opens up, with Volmet stations around the British Isles. Trawlers are everywhere, they don't seem to bother with 'bands' these days.
If you aren't getting anything interesting on your home, just try one of the many Kiwi online SDR systems, some of which have good reception from VLF upwards. I've just spent an hour transfixed while listening to a good one I use. Go to https://rx-tx.info/map-sdr-points , select KiwiSDR and zoom in on your location. When you select one, the operating instructions are linked from the Welcome panel. It may give you a standard you can strive for!
?- Julian
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Julian_Hardstone
David M0EZP
Dieter VK3FFB