sputnik

We just bought a great cd named "Moroccan Spirit". It's put out by Higher Octave Music and Virgin. Recorded over a three year period in Casablanca by various local musicians. Very exotic and rich music. If you like Lorrina McKennitt you'll love this.

Here is a link to an eBay sale for a pair of Fotes from several weeks ago. The sale is over but the story is timeless. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5749681222&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

All of the sudden, I don't feel so stupid asking this question.

---------------- On 3/6/2005 3:22:26 PM D0N wrote: I think there are actually little tiny performers inside the cables making all the music. ---------------- I think I may be finally getting this. So the guys with really fat cable probably listen to alot of opera.

---------------- On 3/6/2005 4:33:04 PM bsafirebird1969 wrote: the GROUND of the power cord . is what is used for the antenna ---------------- The radio has a two prong plug, so would the neutral act as the antenna?

---------------- On 3/6/2005 1:14:51 PM scott0527 wrote: Gilligans Island The Professor could rig up a hell of radio. ---------------- Yeah. He could build a nuclear reactor out of coconuts and sea shells but couldn't fix a boat. EDIT: I didn't mean to question the abilities of the Professor - he and Dr. Benton Quest have been my role models. But honestly, I think that Dr. Quest would have had them off of that island while the series was still black and white.

---------------- On 3/6/2005 12:51:26 PM Dylanl wrote: I hate to say I think the other components contribute much more to sound than any wire combination but I do. ---------------- That's true, of course. But the way I see it, wire is cheap and even an electronic knucklehead can have some fun "wire rolling." Most wire seems pretty good but bad wire can probably degrade sound substantially even using good components. I started my playing around with wire when one of my amps ran hotter than the other and things just sort of snowballed from there. You should see my livingroom right now - I probably could just use the tone controls on my preamp for the differences I'm hearing with the different wires.

---------------- On 3/5/2005 10:06:55 PM Gramas701 wrote: ... the antenna built into the power cord is using you (literally) as a source of reception, the human body is a great source of fm reception... anyways hope this answers your question ---------------- Thanks. I remember an episode of Gilligans Island where that happened. In order to be a human antenna, do you need to make electrical contact? I always assumed that the way reception changes as I move about is just interference. But just touching the radio sometimes has an effect. This is probably elementary stuff to most but I'm just a simpleton.

---------------- On 3/6/2005 9:43:32 AM Audible Nectar wrote: Like the fellow who splits 10's on a blackjack table - it irritates some, but we cannot control what others do - just how we react to those situations. ---------------- Watch those guys carefully. In most card counting systems, you split tens when the count approaches plus five or better.

It's like debating zone defense over man to man coverage. Different conditions may warrant different bidding approaches. As far as bidding goes, I go both ways . You need to account for all levels of expertise and intelligence on eBay. Speaking of intelligence. Maybe everyone does this, but one interesting thing I look for are misspellings. Right now there are five Bang and Olufson items on eBay. There are some Solomon skis and ski boots. Also, some Calloway golf clubs. I think that most buyers search by product name more than by category so it cuts down on bidding competition. I don't think it's taking advantage of anyone as long they have the option to set a reserve or not. I'm always on the prowl for a Krel or Macintosh amplifier as well as those elusive Klipshorn speakers.

---------------- On 3/5/2005 9:01:27 PM scott0527 wrote: Phew, at least you're not asking about what sonic differences an upgraded power chord will bring you. ---------------- And I'm not asking if high end power cords get cleaner FM reception either. Added: I've been thinking about my question and Googling around a bit. Does this anntena thing work just because frequncies of say 100MHz and 60Hz are so different that they can peacefully coexist in the same transmission?

There seems to be alot of power cord knowledge and attention lately here in the Technical Questions. If it is alright, I'd like to ask a completely uninformed question. Ok, I'll admit it here - I own a Bose Wave Radio. I didn't find it in a ditch and it wasn't a gift, I actually bought it and it sits in our kitchen. For the sake of brevity let's just assume all of the abuse this admission might bring is all over now (I know what POS means too). Anyway, the radio that I mentioned earlier has an antenna in the power cord according to the literature that came with it. It seems to work. I live out of town and when the signal gets weak or fuzzy I'll jiggle or move the power cord and the signal gets better. Maybe most desk radios also use the power cord as an antenna and this particular manufacturer just makes a big deal out of it. I'm fairly uninformed on electronics but I would like to better understand how this works.

Glad it helped. You're right, it doesn't cost much and it may or may not be an improvement, but it's fun to try and we could learn something. I think Wierd Al said it best when he said "dare to be stupid." That's a philosophy I live by whether I try to or not.

---------------- On 3/5/2005 12:05:58 PM fini wrote: This morning, I've been considering a product called TV Ears, available on Amazon and at Costco online. ---------------- Thanks for posting that - I never knew that technology was out there. It looks like a good way to go. I remember that there were these portable radio type things in the early 80's that you would wear around your neck like a yoke or towel. They had controls and batteries where the ends hung down over your chest and small concealed speakers that would ride on your shoulders right near your ears. All contained in a nicely padded light weight 1x3 inch yoke that was maybe two to three feet long. I remember people in my office using them so that they could listen to music without disturbing anyone. I think they were called "Bone Phones" ("bone phone" now refers to the cellular phones you hold up to your cheek bone or forehead) and maybe they were a Sharper Image product. I think the Walkman eventually obscured these. This sort of configuration using a wireless transmitter would be perfect for seniors. Maybe there is something like that out there or we could get rich inventing one.

I have been experimenting with the same idea. Logic tells me that wire is wire and that 18 gauge zip wire is more that enough for my application but it is still fun to try out different ideas. I have all kinds and gauges of wire strewn about my living room right now. Each type of wire "sounds" a bit different from the others - there are alot of smart people here and they seem to use anything from 6 gauge cable to lamp cord to very high end powered cables and all of these could be wound, braided or solid (well maybe not 6 gauge) and be made of copper, silver or kryptonite. There are so many variables to experiment with and it's one thing I can have fun with since I don't possess the skills and tools to actually open up my gear to test and tinker with electronics. At least, it's a way to learn something about wire. In my week long experience of tinkering with coax, I have found that it is very difficult for me to strip the outer insulation without breaking strands in the braid. Instead of stripping, I use a knife and wittle away a line just to the braid down along the end of the cable and then just peel away the outer cover. I also found that it is best for me not to unbraid the wires but to enlarge an opening by pushing the braid back along the inner insulation (the way you "unlock" Chinese hand cuffs) and poking a pencil point between the loose braids to enlarge an opening large enough to push the inner core through (it's kind of tedious but it is easier to do after you've done it about three times). See if that might work for you Zman. Have fun.

I have some Sony wireless headphones for our excercise room that have alot of background noise. Yuck. I've been told that the Sennheiser is quite good though and would have been a much better choice than mine. Now they tell me. There could be some considerations for an elderly person using headphones. Does your mother wear glasses that could cause skin irritation with headphones? Is it important for your mother to hear external sounds such as the telephone or doorbell? More importantly, will she be able to hear a smoke alarm while wearing headphones with the volume up? In hospitals, don't they use some sort of small personal speaker near the bedside or even by the pillow? Perhaps something like that next to her TV viewing spot could solve the problem and not isolate your mom from important outside sounds. Just some thoughts.

Two from The Blues Brothers: So, what kind of music you play here Bob? Both kinds, country and western. and We're on a mission from God.

Has anyone seen this auction? Isn't this the same seller that just sold a nice custom set of seven Klipsch speakers? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=61378&item=5754870295&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

In his last post on this thread Gil said "You fellows should watch e-bay for a re posting". With that insider information, anyone who wanted to pursue these could have contacted the seller to see when they were going to be relisted and have been the first to pounce. Gil did all right.

Can't keep from admiring those Abbys and at the same time recalling that Cheerios and gummi bears have a way of appearing in the strangest places. All the best.

Barefoot, pregnant, and a tolerance for all that gear. Way to go, you got a good woman.

Thanks for replies. The "paper cane" covers on the Wendell site look good. I also found this on ebay if any one is interested - it's replica material for old Fender amps and speakers. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=43375&item=7304141295&tc=photo

I've always liked the person to person transactions on ebay. It's based on honor and trust and I always felt reassured that most people are fair and honest. I've scored great deals on very hard to find things. I was restoring a motorcyle last year and I could not have found the NOS OEM parts without ebay. I even dealt with a great guy in Tasmania that had a treasure trove of parts - he sent me way more than I paid for. I don't think that connection could've happened without ebay. I've become somewhat jaded lately with ebay too, but I wouldn't dismiss it either. This little episode worked out well because people felt like part of a community and took action. I think that that concept of an "ebay community" is a real and positive social force. Someone might have lost thousands of dollars if it weren't for the attention of klipschaholic and shuff and maybe others that also reported this scam. I still think that there is way way more good than bad out there.

I wonder if he'll be waiting for his moneygram there on Millfied Road Handsworth Wood. Do you think Byshop was just an alias?

Did he spell his name wrong?