Category Archives: Radio/Audio

This is category 17

Nakamichi MR-1 Balanced Output Specs

Contrary to what I’ve read online in a few places, the MR-1 cassette deck uses “Pin 3 Hot” for the XLR balanced output. I’ll admit there’s few people who care anymore about a phase coherent signal from a cassette output, but for those that do, the truth can be hard to find. I contacted Willy […]

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Before email, Ham Radio “Traffic Nets” would send 25 words anywhere for free!

Back in the 90s when I first got my ham radio license, I joined the local traffic net  out of Waltham Massachusetts. This net would meet every night at the same time and served as the “last mile” delivery link for messages sent via ham radio. It was the beginning of the internet, so its […]

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Vacuum Tube Display Idea

One easy and inexpensive radio-geeky thing that you can do that your significant other *might* let you display in the living room is a display of vacuum tubes. My original display was just a piece of bannister with some sockets glued into it so I could switch out with cooler tubes when I found them. […]

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I get paid for this?

Its always good when your work can be doing something that you love. For me one of these things is definitely radio. So when I got a chance to help Google with some of their wireless projects, I dropped everything and jumped at the chance. After two years, there have been many moments where I […]

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NPR Cello Project

For more than 10 years, All Things Considered (ATC) used several recordings I produced as musical “bumpers” during the show. The short story is that Richard Aaron, then cello professor at the Cleveland Institute of Music found out that I worked at the local NPR station (WCPN). Richard came up to me one day and […]

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A glimpse at the workshop

The workshop (also sometimes referred to as the “man cave”) is where I do my electronics work. He’s a shot of the parts wall. You’ll see the bins which have all of the replacement parts and pieces sorted and ready to be put to use. Also above there are some of my measurement devices. You […]

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Me, quoted in Radio World

Rich Rarey from Radio World (ex NPR)  included some quotes from me in his recent Streaming Guide eBook. Thanks Rich! Here’s an excerpt: We asked SHOUTcast Director of Busisness Development Jonathan Westerling which services broadcast stations are asking for. Westerling said because SHOUTcast’s corporate family now includes the TargetSpot digital audio advertising network, monetization products […]

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April Fool = Marketing opportunity!

I combined a team brainstorm with April Fools Day to generate significant exposure for my company. By spending $12 on a domain name, and an hour on some basic photoshop work, I was able to put together a website for a make-believe product that grabbed a few headlines and raised a few eyebrows. The supporting […]

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RIP – John Butler KF6GNI (sk)

My good friend, and Radio Sausalito consulting engineer John Butler passed away recently. I’ll try to get some more photos of his amazing radio “shack” which, it turns out, had over 100 radios in it. All in perfect working order. I look forward to displaying the “cream of the crop” (as he called it) recievers […]

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KCSM 91.1 antenna

Here’s a shot I took recently of the KCSM FM antenna tower on the campus of the College of San Mateo. You can see the primary antennas on top (4 bays) and their backup is underneath (5 bays). I think the little guys on the back are just antenna mounts, not actual antennas. It’s a […]

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