Being a radio fanatic, I keep an eye out for unusual radio-themed items. With the holiday shopping season upon us, it’s as good a time as any to share some recent finds, particularly since we haven’t done any Radio Survivor gift guides in awhile. With that, here’s my 2018 Holiday Gift Guide for those in […]
Archive | Electronics
Radio Review Follow-Up: The Tivdio V-115 – Still Great, But Not a DX Champ
Back in March I released a video review of the Tivdio V-115 portable digital radio. I praised it for being very nice sounding – especially for being so small – having decent reception, and for being able to record airchecks to a microSD card. After using the radio during some travels I decided to record […]
Building a Better Portable Turntable: The Modified Numark PT01USB
A couple of holiday seasons ago I wrote about some inexpensive turntables that are very good alternatives to buying a cheap plastic Crosley or Victrola suitcase-style portable record player. Though some audiophiles are a little hyperbolic about how quickly these players will destroy your precious, it is true that they take their toll over time. […]
Apple Kills Off Its First and Only FM Radio
Apple recently announced the end for two more of its iPod music player models, the iPod Shuffle and the iPod Nano. The cancellation of the latter also eliminates Apple’s first, and only, radio receiver. While the iPod Touch remains in production, it’s really just an iPhone without a cellular phone function. Nice as it is, […]
Podcast #96 – Are Smart Speakers Smart for Community Radio?
Amazon Echo. Google Home. And soon, Apple’s HomePod. Smart speakers are quickly taking up residence in homes. Taking voice commands to deliver news, weather, music and more, they play a very radio-like role in people’s daily routine. Radio journalist Brian Edwards-Tiekert joins to explain what these speakers can do, what they can’t, and what the […]
Progress Report: Archiving Cassettes & Minidiscs
As I’ve written before, I’m in the process of archiving my collection of audio work that’s on audiocassette and minidisc. It’s a process that has unfolded in fits and starts over the last few years, but I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. I’m nearing my last couple dozen tapes […]
Preserving Audio That’s on Cassette
In my continuing quest to stay a step ahead of recording media degradation and obsolescence, I have undertaken the digitization of my remaining audiocassette collection. Last year I wrote about preserving my archive of interviews and air checks on minidisc, with the hope that the post would be informative and maybe compel some readers with […]
Technics SL-1200G: The Wheels of Steel Are Back, But There’s a Catch
DJs, vinyl-heads and radio nerds rejoiced at the unveiling this week of the new Technics SL-1200G turntable. It’s an all-new version of the venerated DJ deck that ruled clubs, radio studios and many living rooms for nearly 40 years until being discontinued in 2010. However, for many there’s a grey cloud looming over this sunny […]
Reasonably Priced Turntables for Your Radio Station
I fear I didn’t write last month’s post on good inexpensive turntables soon enough. To the surprise of many, Amazon announced that its top selling item in electronics during the 2015 holiday season was a turntable. Unfortunately, it was a too-cheap, plastic, vinyl-chewing record player that barely costs more than two new LPs. My only […]
I’m Going Nuts for this Little Acorn Radio
I must have been a pretty good boy in 2015 because on Christmas morning I found in my stocking a cute wooden radio that is shaped like an acorn, and is about the same size. It’s made by the Dutch company Kikkerland, which also puts out other small novelty accoutrements, like robot tea infusers and […]