From MOORE@tmu1.mcrest.edu Thu Nov 11 00:01:55 1993 Received: from geraldine.mcrest.edu by cs.tut.fi with SMTP id AA24125 (5.65c/IDA-1.4.4 for ); Thu, 11 Nov 1993 00:01:40 +0200 Received: from charon.mcrest.edu by geraldine.mcrest.edu (AIX 3.2/UCB 5.64/4.03) id AA10588; Wed, 10 Nov 1993 16:00:52 -0600 Received: From TMU/WORKQUEUE by charon.mcrest.edu via Charon-4.0-VROOM with IPX id 100.931110160106.288; 10 Nov 93 16:03:34 +600 Message-Id: To: xx159@yfn.ysu.edu, acourt@ncc.uky.edu, gardner_a@kosmos.wcc.govt.nz, rko@cs.tut.fi, marshall@freenet.scri.fsu.edu, Elizabeth.Milewicz@sociol.utas.edu.au, munger@devl.fnal.gov, randyh@gvgadg.gvg.tek.com, ken.alexander@rose.com From: "Don Moore" Organization: Teikyo Marycrest University Date: 10 Nov 93 16:00:47 CST Subject: DX Humor - TEch stuff pt 2 Priority: normal X-Mailer: Pegasus Mail v2.3 (R4). Status: RO TECHNICAL STUFF .... continued Muhammed Vesterborg III sends us this information on Bleene's latest offering. A REVIEW OF THE BLEENE JDG-1001 By Muhammed Vesterborg III For years, fans of Kenya's Bleene Receivers have speculated as to when their favorite receiver company would issue its first portable radio. This, of course, would be no easy transition for the company that is the world's leader in gasoline-powered tabletop SW equipment. But, Bleene fans can rejoice with the release of the new JDG-1001. Not only is it portable - it's the first Bleene receiver that doesn't require an oil filter!! A true portable, the JDG-1001 is just slightly bigger than a book: the Webster's Unabridged. At 25 pounds, it's the first Bleene that can easily be carried by just one person. It can be powered by either AC or 96 AA batteries. That's right - no messy gasoline! In the company's first portable, Bleene has made more innovative improvements than for any other receiver in the company's history. First, the little function labels have all been GLUED on to the receiver instead of taped on with transparent tape!! What's more, all the labels face the same direction, so there's no need to spin the JDG-1001 in circles to read them! That old DX disease "Bleene wrist" should now be a thing of the past! Secondly, the antenna input on the side of the receiver is now a standard 1/8 inch "female" jack rather than Bleene's special sharply pointed "male" plug. This should cut injuries while using the receiver by an additional 10%. And, let's not forget that the JDG-1001 comes with a clock: a Taiwanese digital watch has been conveniently taped over the speaker. It only rattles when the volume is turned up high. Oh yes, in view of the fact that this receiver is likely to be taken on picnics and camping, each one comes with its very own flyswatter. Attention to detail like that makes Bleene number one! How does the JDG-1001 work? Here's the biggest surprise - not only is the JDG-1001 a portable - it's fully digital!! It has no conventional tuning knob - just 30 keys, one for each letter of the alphabet (minus J) plus "Enter", space, period, comma, and question mark. The keys are conveniently arranged in alphabetical order in a 5x6 bank, with the extra keys in the bottom row. For this receiver, Bleene has developed its own special 9.6MHz intermediate personality-based microprocessor detector circuit (the IPBMDC) which allows the receiver to understand typed-in commands in either English or Swahili (with all J's omitted). To tune in the BBC on 5975, for example, one just has to type "Please tune the radio to five thousand nine hundred and seventy five kilohertz." and push Enter. About 90% of the time you will be rewarded with the BBC, but on occasion the receiver will respond "What's in it for me?" Obviously, DXing with an IPBMDC receiver can be both challenging and entertaining! Below is an example of one of the many entertaining "discussions" you can have with the JDG-1001: DXer: "Please tune to seven thousand and sixty five kilohertz." Rcvr: "You have insomnia or something? Radio Tirana's there right now." DXer: "No, I just want to make a report for a QSL." Rcvr: "Sure, and get on their mailing list for pinko propaganda, eh, Comrade?" DXer: "No, really, I just want a QSL." Rcvr: "OK, but use the earplug. I don't want my ICs to be brainwashd by those commies. As you can see, DXing will never be the same!! What a way to DX and improve your conversational skills at the same time!! Now for the bad news. If you want to add a JDG-1001 to your shack, you may have to wait a while. The US Air Force has just contracted Bleene for 10,000 JDG-1001s, which is about six months production. Apparently the USAF has decided to replace all their aircraft receivers with the JDG-1001. But, at least when Uncle Sam buys it you know it has to be good! ----------------- Sounds great, Muhammed! More great material next month. Sid Tivoli will describe how to make a beverage antenna with a long string of shopping carts and Les Bowers will look at "Why Are Inactive Antennas So Lazy?" .... Christina Van Helder ************************************************************** The above items were excerpted from the 1991 edition of BLANDX, the annual DX humor magazine. Contributions are currently being accepted for next edition of BLANDX. This file and other DX humor files from BLANDX posted to rec.radio.shortwave may be reposted electronically in their entirety and without changes anywhere provided a message is sent to me informing me where it is being posted to and by whom. Anyone wishing to use this material in a publication should contact me first, although permission will normally be freely given. ************************************************************ * * Don Moore * What were once vices * MOORE@tmu1.mcrest.edu * are now * 11434 140th St. * good DXing habits. * Davenport, IA * * 52804-9538 USA * BLANDX 1990 * * * ************************************************************