"Lisa Simpson" wrote in message
.. .
If you wanted to try an old bandspread tuning radio for a good price, I
would just buy one. Try to find a good clean one with the dial in good
clear
condition and make sure the bandspread is not broken or defective if
possible, because you depend on them. I remember when it dawned on me
how
to determine where I was on the dial, once you do that, you can't be as
accurate as a digital radio, but with practice and patience, you can get
real close, as the used to say, maybe just a "scosh" off.

Anyone care to try to write up a tutorial, or point at an existing one,
that
explains how to do this magic? My 160 should arrive any day now! : }



Lisa, first, you will want to find the WWV signals at 5, 10, 15 Mhz, if they
are accurate, then your main tuner is aligned, and will give your point of
reference. Use the band selector to chose which band you are going to tune.

On the long scale along with the regular frequency numbers there will be
some colored "marks" resembling diamond shapes, if I remember right. Set
the main tuner on one of the marks to tune a Meter band. Then, with the
bandspread dial all the way to zero, you will begin to tune slowly across
the band, when you find the station or signal, note where on the bandspread
you are. It's not really to hard to do.

Also, on the main tuner, (long scale), it's marked in MHz, so, for example,
between 9 & 10. You know halfway, you will be at 9.50 MHz. Halfway between
9 & 9.5, you will be at 9.25 on the dial, just keep that in mind when just
using the main tuner alone.

Hopefully, you can obtain a good copy of a uers manual. There are usually
some manuals for sale on E-bay. The use of the receiver controls is a snap,
because they are right in your face, but it will give you the information
about the color of the marks for the meter bands, because I cant remember
the color's now. It will also give you the detail of setting up the meter
band better than I can, it's been along time since I had one sitting in
front of me.

The dial on the Dx-160 is beautuful when lit, because it's all color coded.
I think you will enjoy many hours of SW listening on it. Once you get the
hang of bandspread truning, I think you will enjoy the challenge. I still
do on my old Kenwood R-300. I hope this will help you somewhat.