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G4EBT > OLDEST 07.09.05 15:14l 92 Lines 3842 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 670694G4EBT
Read: GUEST DK5RAS
Subj: Australian Vintage Radio info
Path: DB0FHN<DB0RGB<OK0PPL<DB0RES<DK0WUE<GB7FCR
Sent: 050907/0836Z @:GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU #:401 [Blackpool] FBB-7.03a $:670694G4EB
From: G4EBT@GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU
To : OLDEST@WW
As a member of the British Vintage Radio Society, I receive CDs covering
service data("Trader Sheets") of British pre and post-war vintage radios.
(The CDs can be purchased by non-members).
"Trader Sheets" were never made available to the general public. The
information was jealously guarded by the fledgling radio repair trade
who didn't want the info to get into the hands of DIYers or "cowboy"
repairers who might get the trade a bad name.
Most public libraries in the UK keep a full set of "Radio and TV
Servicing" volumes, which for many years was published by Newnes. Maybe
something similar is available in Australian libraries for people who
occasionally need a copy of the data for one or two radios.
However, I've recently become aware via the BVWS that the "Australian
Official Radio Service Manual" Vol 1 - 14 is available on CD. I've no
idea if any VKs or their friends are into vintage radio restoration,
but if so, one of the inevitable problems is finding data to help in
the task.
Here's some info from a review of the CD:
Quote:
Using buttons on the main screen you can step forward and backwards
through the pages, or jump forwards or backwards through manufacturers.
The currently displayed manufacture, model and year are displayed on the
screen.
When a page is displayed you can zoom in or out and rotate it in 90 degree
steps. This is helpful for pages where the diagram is shown sideways.
Normally you will probably want to print out the data, and this can be
done easily from the main screen.
The "Search" button brings up the search dialogue. From here you can
select a manufacturer and optionally type a model number or choose a year.
The program will list all data that matches the search, then you can
choose one to display. This works very well, although it may take a couple
of goes to get used to using it.
The data is scanned as TIF files at good resolution. The displayed and
printed data is clear and legible.
The type of data on this CD-ROM appears to be similar to that provided
in the "Newnes Radio and Television Servicing" manuals in the UK.
As I do not know the Australian vintage radio market I cannot comment on
how comprehensive the range of data is. However it does contain 14
complete volumes of the Australian Official Radio Service Manual, so I
assume it is a comprehensive range. There are a total of about 4,400 pages
of data covering years 1939 to 1954.
The software works with Windows 95 and later. The CD-ROM version I
received apparently has a printing problem with Windows XP. I am using
Windows 2000 so did not experience any such problems. I received my CD-ROM
a few months ago and understand that the publishers have now resolved this
problem (an additional patch and instructions are included).
The Visual Basic source code is included on the CD-ROM (I don't know
whether this is by accident or intent), which would allow any Visual
Basic programmers to refine the interface if they felt so inclined.
End quote.
The price of the CD-ROM is 110 Australian Dollars within Australia and
120 Australian Dollars international. At today's rate of 2.4 $Aus/GBP
120 $Aus is 50GBP, or at $Aus/Euro at 1.62 is 75 Euro, it does seem
rather expensive for a single data CD-ROM.
However, if you regularly repair Australian radios it will probably
soon pay for itself compared to obtaining printed/photocopied data.
I've not seen the CD, I'm not recommending it, I just thought the info
might be of use to someone out there. If so, for ordering details please
email Ray Pedri: vk6ti (at) iinet.net.au.
73 - David, G4EBT @ GB7FCR
Eddystone User Group Member
G-QRP Club Member No: 1339
QTH: Cottingham, East Yorkshire.
Message timed: 08:43 on 2005-Sep-07
Message sent using WinPack-Telnet V6.70
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