Category Archives: Electronics

Round-Up of RTLSDR Upconverter Choices

Posted on September 14, 2012 by retrovoltage

1/31/2026: This was originally written in 2012 and hasn’t been updated since 2016, but it’s preserved here in case any of the information is useful and to show the state of the ecosystem when RTLSDR first came on the scene. … Continue reading →

Posted in Collections, DIY, Electronics, Radio, Radios and Tubes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 50 Comments

Shortwave Radio Reception with the RTL-SDR Dongle

Posted on August 6, 2012 by retrovoltage

Need your own upconverter? Click here! I bought and did a quick setup on my RTLSDR dongle using SDR# a few weeks ago, where I used it to listen to FM radio stations around my area and a few public … Continue reading →

Posted in Electronics, Hardware, Projects, Radio | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

New Project: Jamo MPA-101 Amplifier Repair

Posted on August 1, 2012 by retrovoltage

Project’s Conclusion Here My friend brought me this Jamp MPA-101 amplifier he picked up at a garage sale, complaining in only puts out some rumbling and humming. It looks like it’s suffered a failure in the power supply at some … Continue reading →

Posted in DIY, Electronics, Projects | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

First Ever Bose 901 Series 1 Active Equalizer Repair

Posted on July 25, 2012 by retrovoltage

This post is almost 15 years old! Check out this much more recent round-up of Bose 901 Series I and II Active Equalizer repair tips and tricks, and leave a comment if you have any feedback. This post was one … Continue reading →

Posted in Electronics, Projects, Speakers, Vintage | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 38 Comments

Identifying Your Bose 901 Series 1 Equalizer

Posted on July 11, 2012 by retrovoltage

Bose 901 Series I Active Equalizers came in two varieties, which can be used interchangeably, but have fairly different circuit designs. It’s simple to tell them apart for ordering parts for a repair with a quick inspection of the inside. Both … Continue reading →

Posted in Electronics, Projects, Vintage | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Dell Inspiron 1545 with Broken LCD Screen – Dumpster Laptop Repair

Posted on June 22, 2012 by retrovoltage

My apartment has what I like to affectionately call the “free pile”, where neighbors leave things they were throwing out but might have too much value to throw in the compactor outright. I’ve left a few things there myself, and … Continue reading →

Posted in DIY, Electronics, Projects | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Build Log and Review: Mable Audio VT-86PP Kit Hi-Fi Amp Project

Posted on March 30, 2012 by retrovoltage

About a year ago, someone left a comment that really looked like spam on one of my pages advertising a web store selling tube audio gear and parts for guitar and audio amplifiers. Against everything I’ve ever learned about behaving … Continue reading →

Posted in Electronics, Hardware, Photos, Projects, Radios and Tubes, Technology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

More Strange Coiled Wires [Mailbag]

Posted on January 24, 2012 by retrovoltage

I had an interesting call the other day with a gentleman about a radio he’s working on, among other topics: That’s a Philco 46-420. They’re nice little bakelite radios with 6 tubes designed to receive the AM broadcast band. He’d come … Continue reading →

Posted in Electronics, Mailbag, Photos, Radios and Tubes, Vintage | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What’s that piece of wire, some kind of gimmick? [Mailbag]

Posted on January 17, 2012 by retrovoltage

I was talking with a fellow antique radio hobbyist on the phone the other day about a repair he was working on. A TrueTone battery radio, he’d taken care of all the important steps – checking out the tubes, replacing … Continue reading →

Posted in Electronics, Mailbag, Photos, Radios and Tubes, Vintage | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Unboxing my Sharp PC-4501 classic Personal Computer

Posted on January 9, 2012 by retrovoltage

It’s 1987 and I’ve been needing a new laptop. After a careful process of comparison shopping I settled on my Sharp PC-4501 from Montgomery Ward. Let’s open it up and take a look! For only $699.99, it’s a state of … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Electronics, Hardware, Photos, Vintage | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments