I really appreciate the work you put into this. I'm a semi-retired 75 year old musician/professor with a passion for this. The more I watch, the more I learn and you are a great communicator. Thanks again.
@markrhine5809
3 жыл бұрын
Dear Radio Mechanic, I have watched this video about 8 times, and every time learn something new. You are very talented, and I enjoy watching all your videos. I know you spend a lot of time with them and I for one am so thankful that you do. I am building the Elenco 108CK, I just finished the alignment, and I followed your procedure to the letter and it works so good... The FM section will begin next...
@alasdairyoung1567
7 жыл бұрын
Built that same kit a few months ago. Pretty good learning tool, but due to the Chinese instructions, it did have it's frustrating moments. A little tip to others out there building these Chinese kits, I used a camera translating app on my iphone. Just pointed the camera at the instructions and got some pretty decent translations. This at least helped me work out the colours of the cans and transformers. I'm getting better at soldering, but I've got very little knowledge on the actual workings of the radio. My station tuning was way off, after watching this video, I have it all tuned up perfectly. Even though it was a cheap kit, this is my first home built radio that worked, so it takes pride of place next to my bed.
@theradiomechanic9625
7 жыл бұрын
HI Alasdair, your story makes all the work to make the video worth it. Very happy to hear I helped you out. Thank you for watching.
@alpcns
5 жыл бұрын
This the best explanation of radio theory I've ever seen, period. Very well done and very enjoyable. You have the gift of communicating effectively and pleasantly. The "no-equipment" trick of injecting a signal into the circuit is simply brilliant in both simplicity and effectiveness. Thank you very much for sharing this. My hat off!
@tonybell1597
7 жыл бұрын
Found your channel the other night. Superb, returning to my hobby electronics after a long break, always wanted to know about radios.... This hits the spot, thank you, keep up the good work.....
@theradiomechanic9625
7 жыл бұрын
Thanks Tony. Nice to know when someone finds the videos useful. Appreciate your watching and leaving a nice comment. Vern
@opus1952
7 жыл бұрын
Great series's so far. I'm actually hooked on your videos and go to your site every night. Thank you.
@theradiomechanic9625
7 жыл бұрын
Thanks Graham, nice to hear that folks are enjoying them. Makes it worth the work. Vern
@kevchilman5894
3 жыл бұрын
😀🙂
@jeroenderycke1075
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks - great video! Very informative, not just for the "younger players" but also for us less experienced older guys wanting to build a radio like that.
@maxgiucastro8849
7 жыл бұрын
Hi Vern I absolutely loved your video, I loved how you showed how to tune the radio with no expensive equipment. Not all of us hobby folk have scopes, or signal generators. we only have basic equipment like multi meters. You are the only person I have seen teach us this way. I have given you a thumbs up, and have subscribed. Thanks again.
@theradiomechanic9625
7 жыл бұрын
No Problem Max. Your Welcome. I believe in KISS. As in " Keep It Stupid Simple" Too much gear just make it complicated. My old brain likes simple.
@user-xo7qt8fs1n
5 ай бұрын
Excellent ,great video. thanks for sharing your expertise.
@21anthem12
7 жыл бұрын
Hi Vern, I'm a grey beard, but a young player when it comes to electronics. Thanks for your efforts posting all this great educational content. 👍
@theradiomechanic9625
7 жыл бұрын
Hi 21, Pretty darn grey myself. More coming soon. Thanks for watching.
@mirsadahmetspahic2511
6 жыл бұрын
Love radio. I'm 52 now, but still I love to sit at night in darker room and travel over the world on short and long waves. Thank you for the video.
@theradiomechanic9625
6 жыл бұрын
If I wake up and can't sleep I go to the radio room ( darkened ) and tune around till I get sleepy. Sadly the noise floor is getting so bad now ( cheap Chinese cell phone chargers and all the other crap with cheap switching supplies ) that it is getting pretty hard to listen. Thanks for watching.
@douglasjarvis9221
15 күн бұрын
Hello, Thank you for your video. I am more interested in the technical aspects of this build and I will be re-watching your other video. Regards, Doug J.
@mrbambix
3 жыл бұрын
what a wonderfull video and thoughtfully explained too. Thanks
@theradiomechanic9625
3 жыл бұрын
Your Welcome, thanks for watching.
@ralphmills7322
5 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the video. I was watching K7QO (Chuck Adams) recent video series on the HX108-2 kit and was looking at any other videos that was about it. Thank you for spending the time on the build, trouble shooting and alignment hints. Almost every other video I've seen was a short "I did this kit. watch it work. It was (not) easy!" In case you wondered the mfg hasn't corrected the battery placement on the schematic on Chuck's recent kit.
@stanburdick9708
4 жыл бұрын
You are very efficient sir and have some good shots of the tiny component placements so I can stop/start to figure out where they all go................... thanx for your time
@YouAllKnowBob
7 жыл бұрын
Excellent series!
@theradiomechanic9625
7 жыл бұрын
Thanks Robert. And thanks for watching. More to come.
@mosfettg6857
3 жыл бұрын
thanks for the video ,from a learner in the uk
@davidtabberer820
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the Video It Helped me Finish off my Radio 73's
@cesarbordallo8997
5 жыл бұрын
Very nicely presented. Very enjoyable to watch. Thanks a lot for all the effort you put to make this video.
@Pyridox
6 жыл бұрын
Thank you for taking the time to explain everything in detail. The radio seems very good for what it is.
@theradiomechanic9625
6 жыл бұрын
Hi Pete, the "Bread board" version I built works very well. and the portable set I use to sniff out radio interference. Thanks for watching.
@stephenwilliams5201
3 жыл бұрын
Finaly got it together. Af trans formers in right sequence. Antenna wires, in place and ant coil slid over the ferrite bar. To best spot. Then hit her with the wax. It's a better radio by a factor 100 over my hx-6. Love em both thanks Fer letting me ride along.
@philpartin8618
Жыл бұрын
Your awesome. Great video.
@terencejones5484
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you I enjoyed your work 🙂
@hadireg
3 жыл бұрын
This was a nice YT suggestion!! new sub indeed! Thanks for sharing.
@saturn5tony
2 жыл бұрын
Just got that 108 am radio a few weeks ago and almost done. I am an old fart myself so .01uf sounds better to me as well. An old electronics guy myself but still love to do (non heathkit) , lol... projects myself and love building these somewhat crappy kits myself. Not a beginner at all but love these kits, wish we had heath or Eico,s but what the heck, we got China now..hehe.... Thank you so much for your insite as well. You did a great job for us as well as many beginner's.
@ralphburns6659
3 жыл бұрын
Good assembly job now on to your next kit!!!!!
@fuzzwack1
7 жыл бұрын
HI,I just found your channel,and subscribed. I find your videos full of good hints and Ideas,and you explain out things in a nice kind manner. I will be watching more!
@theradiomechanic9625
7 жыл бұрын
Thanks Robert, and thank you for the kind remarks.
@bergarteric5713
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for your explications !!!Really good for me i build this kit now and whith i'm sure about the result !!! Thanks a lot good day for you and your familly .Eric from France
@crouchingjaguar
4 жыл бұрын
Just ordered this radio and glad to see a video in case I get stuck is out there.
@uxwbill
7 жыл бұрын
I found this to be a _very_ enjoyable and informative video. A friend of mine recommended this little radio kit and your video discussing its assembly. I'm looking forward to it. I'm glad to see cheap little kits like this proliferating, since I was almost too late for the Heathkit era. (It was also nice to see kits coming back to RadioShack, and while I'm sad that they couldn't make it in their current iteration, that did mean I could buy a *bunch* of them for pennies on the dollar.) Now I hope that will save me from having the oscillators in my radios detuned. :-P
@theradiomechanic9625
7 жыл бұрын
Wish more of these were made in the U.S. But it is still fun to build them.
@RegiPavan
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the video, I am buying a kit like that for learning about radios. That will be a nice guide for the task! Cheers from Brazil!
@stephenwilliams5201
3 жыл бұрын
1370? Wspd. Toledo. Ohio. Shares that spot. Listened for 50 years. Good show. Hi Fi? Who cares? It's easy on BATTERYS. That matters. Tks
@JosephLorentzen
5 жыл бұрын
This radio looks like the National my father brought from Korea when the dinosaurs and I were young. The ferrite stick was highly directional. It actually was a good DX performer due to that fact.
@jimhumphrey
7 жыл бұрын
Not very many people these days are willing to go through the tedious process of building and tuning a radio kit. You are providing a training course that would be hard to find anywhere. Good job!
@theradiomechanic9625
7 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the nice comment and thanks for watching. I have actually ordered a second one and plan to breadboard the kit so I can do experiments that the young players can follow along with. Kind of brings be back to my childhood. Best Regards, Vern
@mirceacraciun4091
3 жыл бұрын
My kit have a If frecvency about 540Khz. The radio working very good, it is sensivite, and the sation are good placed on the scale...
@aaronsgunsmithing
7 жыл бұрын
Hi new Sub I found you from the Podcast QSO today on Episode 133 Eric and his Guest Paul recommended your channel. I like what i see so far. =)
@theradiomechanic9625
7 жыл бұрын
HI Aaron, Thanks. I will try to keep you happy. :-)
@theradiomechanic9625
7 жыл бұрын
Thanks Aaron.
@englishrupe01
5 жыл бұрын
Great job and very useful video....thanks!
@felixcosty
7 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the video. Just got started play with electronics, working on arduino. This video and what you did in it is very interesting, looking right now for a scope in my area to purchase and learn more. Have a good text book from a course a friend did a few years back, going to give that a read and learn more. Looking forward to the video on how to you a scope to tune the radio. Have a day
@theradiomechanic9625
7 жыл бұрын
HI, Thanks for watching.
@markrhine5809
3 жыл бұрын
These video's just keep getting better and better... I have watch the video on where you are using the generator to do the alignment, I am using an Eico 324 which works like new, will you ever do a video on the Elenco AMFM 108CK Kit?
@TheDisorderly1
7 жыл бұрын
I've always wanted an oscilloscope but never knew what to buy and certainly don't want to spend a bunch of money getting one. If you're looking for video suggestions I think buying your first used oscilloscope would make a great video or series. I really enjoyed the video. thanks for posting.
@theradiomechanic9625
7 жыл бұрын
Lots of used scopes out there at the Ham Radio Flea Markets. Look for Tektronix, HP, or Phillips for a some. Watch what people are using on the videos. BK precision makes useable scopes. Tenma is an import scope that works O.K. Used Analog scopes without probes should go for about a buck a megahertz of bandwidth. Example a 10 MHz scope is only worth about 10 bucks. A Tektronix 100 MHz scope in good working condition will go for around 100 bucks. 30 to 50 MHz will let you get your "feet wet" without spending a lot of cash. Digital scopes, and Analog scopes with "on screen" measurement functions will be slightly more. Stay away from Heathkit scopes unless you are ready to do a lot of trouble shooting. They usually issues. I love Heathikt, but their scopes are not for beginners. Look on line for Hamfest or Ham Fest, Ham radio flea market etc. Visit a couple and look around. Buy good probes, plan to spend some money there. If you buy probes rated for 2 or 3 hundred MHz you can use them on a better scope when you buy one. Invest in decent probes. Higher frequency is better where probes are concerned.
@radiorob007
7 жыл бұрын
nice video! Again here too Do not think you can complain! Only the price is already ridiculous. friendly greetings from The Netherlands! Rob.
@theradiomechanic9625
7 жыл бұрын
Very true, thanks for watching.
@g7npl
7 жыл бұрын
Hi just say your videos are great happy new year from christopher in the UK.
@theradiomechanic9625
7 жыл бұрын
Hi Christopher, Thank you for your kind words and for watching. And best of the New Year to you. Vern
@AR-hb1yk
7 жыл бұрын
Good video, the red tuning coil in mine was open circuit, managed to repair it, working ok now.
@theradiomechanic9625
7 жыл бұрын
Chinese Quality Control.......Thanks for watching.
@erichkeyes5578
2 жыл бұрын
I build this radio HX108-2+ this not a start up radio kit by no means . One hour to build, 3 hour to trouble shooting and alignment . The Elenco 108CK am/fm or am550CK is the best kit for new player but at $59 plus not no $10 radio. Maybe a xtal radio?
@stephenwilliams5201
3 жыл бұрын
To help put the tuning dial on easyer. I trimmed the center thinner. to lower the profile and promote easyer installation. .
@lampmanpaul7459
7 жыл бұрын
Hi Vern, Hello from Northern Ireland, great Video really enjoyed it. Keep er lit 😊
@theradiomechanic9625
7 жыл бұрын
Ah, Northern Ireland, another place on my bucket list. Beautiful Country. Thanks for the nice note. And thanks for watching. ....
@stephenwilliams5201
4 жыл бұрын
That's how they can find you if you want to hide a radio. They look for the difference frequency. Ie 455 or 10.7-8 ie the radio emits a give away Sig that caught many prison camp radios.
@sherakhela4044
2 жыл бұрын
Great. Thanks
@stephenwilliams5201
3 жыл бұрын
I am trying NPO CAPS Around THE the if and tuneing cap. early test gives LESS DRIFT. Though more expensive my first test went well. Kv4li 73 looks like recapping for NPO , and the solder sucker . Hi hi.
@MoTown44240
7 жыл бұрын
Nice video. I am sure if I tried to tackle this without watching your series my result would be disastrous.
@theradiomechanic9625
7 жыл бұрын
No Problem my friend, thanks for watching.
@petrovski1948
2 жыл бұрын
Great video. Do you slide the ferrite rod coil along the ferrite rod to peak the low frequency end of the band and then peak the antenna trimmer, for the high frequency end of the band? Repeating the process until no improvement in volume level can be achieved . Thanks.
@theradiomechanic9625
2 жыл бұрын
you are correct. Thanks for watching.
@Robertw1636
4 жыл бұрын
Can you show where the ferrite Antenna is connected....
@tectalabyss
7 жыл бұрын
Hello new subscriber here. I Liked,Shared and added to playlist.Thank you for sharing.
@theradiomechanic9625
7 жыл бұрын
HI Bobby, it is I who thank you for watching and subscribing. Vern
@frankpennington
3 жыл бұрын
Very useful - enjoyed even though I am a 69 year old kid - thanks for posting
@stephenwilliams5201
3 жыл бұрын
I baught a six banger. That extra stage in the seven rig is redundant. Other than quieting. Baught 7 bangers to assemble for cold winter nights. Six, seven, what comes its a hoot to fire them up. Kv4li. 73
@RICKYDENNIS49
7 жыл бұрын
Did the follow up video with test equipment get recorded ?, I would love to watch that one, great work, thanks, yours, Ricky
@theradiomechanic9625
7 жыл бұрын
Hi Ricky. Actually there are two follow up videos on this radio. The Breadboard radios are the same exact radio spread out over the schematic. More to come when time permits.
@RICKYDENNIS49
7 жыл бұрын
The Radio Mechanic , many thanks for your reply, I did find the videos shortly after my post. Great work, appreciated by all. Cheers.
@theradiomechanic9625
7 жыл бұрын
Hi Ricky. I will be doing more on this as time permits. Thanks for watching and the comments. Vern
@whatislove2735
Жыл бұрын
Nice
@bradleyhatchen4786
4 жыл бұрын
Mine was the blue radio everything went well in silver ingredients I'm using a 25 watt soldering iron till around the red led the circuit broad lifted up that was it to the blue radio
@stephenwilliams5201
3 жыл бұрын
Tks I am 70 years old and the local judge calls me"senior delinquent" so I'm building radios to keep off the street hi hi cheers om de kv4li 73
@wickerbill7793
3 жыл бұрын
Hello RM, just watched this vid. Wish I would have watched it before I started to build the Bangood HX 207 that’s similar to this kit. I finished it, powers up, but nothing coming thru. I’m a 75 year old radio newbie, (hey give me kudos for tryin !!!). Are you still doing these vids cuz I have some questions about these builds. Thx Mark, No Calif
@theradiomechanic9625
3 жыл бұрын
Hey "old timer". I'm 70 myself. Haven't been doing a lot of videos lately. Eyes are not what they used to be. Memory either. Also have a very ill sister who takes up time. And trying to get back to Thailand to live out my days. Will try to answer what I can.
@wickerbill7793
3 жыл бұрын
@@theradiomechanic9625 Hey RM thanks for the quick reply. I watched your vid again and realized I did just what you advised NOT to do when first powering up the radio. The first obvious error was the battery polarity. Then the second was the IF transformer positions, wrong colors in the incorrect locations, then when the radio powered up and nothing but silence, sure enough I started twisting the IF transformer screws. So at this point the radio is probably toast but I’m curious to know where the failure/failures occurred. I like your idea of a simple signal tracer, especially after I dropped $150 for an old Eico 147A, ( oh well my curiosity got the best of me, but they say using our brain is what keeps us from getting senile..... LOL). I bought several of these cheapo China radios so perhaps I’ll shit can the toasted one and start another one by following this excellent tutorial. Good luck on caring for your ailing relative and stay healthy yourself. Mark, No Calif.
@theradiomechanic9625
3 жыл бұрын
@@wickerbill7793 It's all part of the learning process. Been doing this for almost 60 years and still make mistakes. Bet you win on the next one. Vern
@davidrice6052
4 жыл бұрын
New to electronics. Greatly enjoy your instructional videos, but I've tried to build 3 of these but they don't work. All I get is a tiny bit of static from the speaker. I'm doing something wrong
@michaelturner4457
6 жыл бұрын
This Radio is about $1.50 here in China,.
@theradiomechanic9625
6 жыл бұрын
Hi Michael, not surprised it is cheaper without the shipping. Where in China? I have traveled there on business several times.
@michaelturner4457
6 жыл бұрын
Hi, I'm in Jinan City, Shandong Province. I have ordered this radio as well, should be building it in the next couple of weeks.
@nor4277
7 жыл бұрын
You ordered this radio from where,and how much
@theradiomechanic9625
7 жыл бұрын
Go back and watch the video. It is right in the beginning.
@SianaGearz
7 жыл бұрын
I don't think "you may not have a voltmeter" is much of a valid assumption, by all reason, that's the first thing anybody should get. The usual 2000count DMM for $5 from a home improvement store is useful enough for low voltage kits, for checking batteries, etc. But good to know other troubleshooting approaches too.
@theradiomechanic9625
7 жыл бұрын
In several of my videos I tell people that the voltmeter is the number one tool to purchase.
@gintarasstgintaras4546
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks :-)
@bradleyhatchen4786
4 жыл бұрын
My radio is totally dead I'm striping part out of it the circuit board is toast can't fix it due to the cheap broad copper just broke off the circuit I'm got a few days ago cheap am radio
@mikedrz
6 жыл бұрын
Banggood has is for 5 USD with free shipping. Just built mine, works well, but is shit quality. I will over look that, as it only cost 5 bucks and was fun to build.
@theradiomechanic9625
6 жыл бұрын
Yes, for 5 Bucks your not getting Agilent quality. But they do work.
@armisteadab
4 жыл бұрын
Great stuff! Thinking about ordering this 7-transistor one. Keep making 'em and check out my vids, if you like. I built a clock.
@edgaralbo6433
2 жыл бұрын
this Is the best of the .best. First scuze my english im not mother tongue english speaker. i write to you cause i bought this kit. but it Is not equal ti yours in the sence that It Is said hx108-2+ yours Is hx108-2. mine hot the IF in the following colors that asambled as followed. black(oscilator)b2, White First IF (b3), Yellow second IF(44) and Green as demodultor (b5) . not the normale Red Yellow wight black. the the speaker i got with the kit Is 4 ohms instead of 8ohms. the output and drive Transformers of audio color diferente. but ok i put the less ohms as the output One. -the variable condensador Is 160-170pf instead of 270pg -also got a resistence name R14 =100k but came with 200k this R Is in paralel to v3 IF in the part of the threr contacts of the IF (that join with r3=100ohms to the oscilator can as i dont have RF signal generator i made Am transmiter and transmiting at 1300khz and at 600khz One at a time. It Easy fine resiving those signal i ajusted the way the tuner Is in Place with the frequence. i live in Italy and the am Is almost useless. only three station that at the end i got them. but there Is a problem It Is sounded very low. i got to put the radio ti the ear. i would like yours opinion please. thanks.
@edgaralbo6433
2 жыл бұрын
ok, for all of u with my problem, if u have the dame problem. the 4ohm speaker must be change for an 8ohm. Better now
@theradiomechanic9625
2 жыл бұрын
Hello Edgar. Your English is fine. Sorry to hear you had a problem. I looked on e-bay for the HX108-2+ but only see the listing for HX108-2. I was going to buy the new one and see if it had the same problem. Did you buy this on e-bay? I see you changed the speaker for 8 ohm and it got better. Let me know if it is OK now.
@edgaralbo6433
2 жыл бұрын
@@theradiomechanic9625 yes It Is Better now. i bought It on Amazon, i think It Is worst than the One u have. al capacitors in the schematic Is 203(20nano) but capacitors are 223 but all of the metered 16,17,18nano. variable Is 170pf the antena Is a litter smaller. i Will buy another One but this time on eBay but i Will send a massive to the Seller. there was a transistor 9018 that i out in the modulator that Was sonething strange. but i font have other. 9018h Is 700mhz. well thanks a lot
@raykiii
7 жыл бұрын
Hi
@theradiomechanic9625
7 жыл бұрын
Hi Ray, Thanks for stopping by.
@raykiii
7 жыл бұрын
Hey Mechanic, Have you ever made a digital LCD oscilloscope? I saw Julian Ilett make one and he had problems with it but he not only corrected the problem he was having, but he found a mod from a group of people and made it work well. The reason I bring it up is Ebay has one with a case for 17.50 USD. Another $2.00 gets it shipped to your door. What could you do in your ham workshop with a $20.00 one channel oscilloscope? I thought you be the man to ask. Would it fit into the $10.00 test bench videos?
@theradiomechanic9625
7 жыл бұрын
HI Ray. It would be a fun project to build. And would teach the basics of using a digital scope. In reality however they are of fairly limited use as most of them are under 1 MHz bandwidth. OK for audio, or perhaps the 455 KHz I.F. in old radios. Analog scopes ( at Ham Flea Markets ) are going for around 1$ a MHz. So a 50 MHz scope is $50 and so on. Much more useful. Thanks for watching.
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