On 04/07/2011 9:39 AM, Gisle Vanem wrote:
Please folks, tell us about what radio got you into DX-ing. I.e.
which radio was the first "fix". The one that made you pursue DX-ing?

Here is a picture of my first, named "Radionette Combi Star":
http://www.nnrm.net/Teknisk%20info/R...0CombiStar.htm

Some technical data (translated from the above):

Year of build: 1960 (by Radionette A/S, Oslo, Norway)
Transistors: 2x OC71, 2x OC604 (germanium with long legs).
Frequency bands: LW, MW, 1.6 - 3.3 MHz ("fishery-band" on our lingo
since
fishermen used it to "phone" home) and SW 49m - 19m bands
(continuously).
Price in 1960: NOK 590,- (approx. 90 US$ then).
Power alternatives: 110V, 130V, 150V, 210V, 230V or 7.5V battery pack.
# produced: unknown.

Variants in the750001-751600 series had Garrard record-player. While
the 755001 had a
Star record-player (45 RPM). The first model which came in 1958 had a
mix of germanium transistors and tubes.

I remember it had an internal loop antenna hidden around the inside rim
of the wooden chassis. So the MW reception and null-effect
(figure-of-8) was
rather good. It had exactly the same colour as in the picture above
(but available
several others). It was sturdy built and had a good speaker. Since it
also had a battery
pack, I could even take it to the beach and play my 45 RPM records.

I remember my first good DX on this radio; Radio Australia (ABC) on
the 25m band. As a 12 year old, I couldn't really believe my ears. Got
it from my step-mother after she got tired
of it. And since FM was long common then (1970), she had no use for
it. So, that was some
tales of my first radio-love.

--gv

Wow! A post that is on topic. What's going on here?

My first radio that I began spending hours at a time trying to find
distant stations was a Wilco ST7 that my older brother loaned to me when
I was a young boy on the farm. Not much to look at now, but it was a
source of wonder to me back then.