Dave wrote:
Cecil Moore wrote:
Doesn't an S-meter perform the same function?

It depends on how you define function!
To tune a dial and watch that green eye close up is ... well ... nostalgic.

So paint the S-meter needle and 60 dB over S9 a
phosphorescent green color? I'm sure the display
on my IC-756pro could have been programmed to
simulate a "Cat's Eye Tuner". Maybe someone should
notify ICOM that it should be a feature? :-)
--
73, Cecil http://www.qsl.net/w5dxp

Cecil Moore wrote:

Dave wrote:

Cecil Moore wrote:

Doesn't an S-meter perform the same function?


It depends on how you define function!
To tune a dial and watch that green eye close up is ... well ...
nostalgic.


So paint the S-meter needle and 60 dB over S9 a
phosphorescent green color? I'm sure the display
on my IC-756pro could have been programmed to
simulate a "Cat's Eye Tuner". Maybe someone should
notify ICOM that it should be a feature? :-)

Cecil, did you ever own or use an original GOONEY Box?

Turn the dials ... watch the green eye ... !

I don't have any meaningful tuning dials or functions on my IC-706MK IIg, IC-746
or IC-756 Pro III.

Dave wrote:
Cecil, did you ever own or use an original GOONEY Box?

A GOONEY box was probably beyond the means of anyone in
my home town. However, I remember a Philco AM/SW radio
with a 6E5 tuning indicator. I never understood the
difference between tuning while looking at the "cat's
eye" and just tuning until it sounded the best.
--
73, Cecil http://www.qsl.net/w5dxp

Cecil Moore wrote:
Dave wrote:

Cecil, did you ever own or use an original GOONEY Box?


A GOONEY box was probably beyond the means of anyone in
my home town. However, I remember a Philco AM/SW radio
with a 6E5 tuning indicator. I never understood the
difference between tuning while looking at the "cat's
eye" and just tuning until it sounded the best.

:-)

Don't we do the same thingee when we touch up our modern rigs for either max S
meter or best sound?

But, you are correct in your observation.

A GOONEY box was probably beyond the means of anyone in
my home town. However, I remember a Philco AM/SW radio
with a 6E5 tuning indicator.

In the Gooney box the cat eye appearance was given by a properly shaped metal screen hidding the upper half of a magic eye tube (e.g. 6E5).

Well, the 6E5 is nice (I have several radios using it) but not as much as the European EM4. Similar in appearance, it has two opposite triangular dark areas (instead of just one). When tuning a station, just when one of the two triangles has got fully lit, the second triangle begins to narrow down. In a way, it is similar to a bandspread tuning system. The synchronization between the two triangles is remarkable. But I am sure there also are US-made tubes doing the same thing.

73

Tony I0JX