It was driven to Caldwell, Idaho where was the factory of Summerwind campers.
They had built a custom-made truck camper with an aluminium frame to be put into the bed of the Ford F 250.
One of the special items in the new Summerwind camper was a Sony car radio.
Bought from Jacky’s in Dubai in the Middle East.
A special Sony car radio, the XR-CA640X, because it can also receive short wave radio stations.
The Summerwind had obviously no Internet nor XM radio.
So, to stay informed with news and listen to nice music, a good radio was indispensable.
Because of its short wave ability, radio stations like the BBC from London, UK could now be listened to.
Eventually the Summerwind and the Ford F 250 were sold, but the Sony XR-CA640X radio was kept.
And built into the Fuso Szulc.
By then there was XM-radio but the Sony XR-CA640X still functioned as the vital link for the sound.
Over the last few weeks this Sony XR-CA640X has started to act in a funny way.
Not switching on anymore every time its services were needed.
Whatever could be cleaned, has been cleaned.
Whatever could be lubricated with special anti-humidity spray for electronics from RadioShack, has been treated.
But this inadequate operating of the Sony XR-CA640X became more and more eminent.
Until it failed completely.
Showing on its screen the time only and not wishing to be of more service than that.
This was of course dramatic.
Music, living in an expedition vehicle, is essential.
As well as the news.
But fortunately it was realized that the XM-radio receiver has three ways of offering the signals to a sound system.
One is by a FM signal.
Hence, a radio with FM can receive the XM-transmission.
For sentimental reasons, over the years, a Sony ICF-7600 DS radio has been kept.
Very unusual because there is a general policy never to keep things that do not have any purpose.
This radio has been on many journeys all over the world.
To listen in hotel rooms with the short wave to the news from Europe and elsewhere.
In campers in Europe, the USA and Mexico.
For years and years.
This Sony ICF-7600 DS has not been used for a long time.
But now it has come out of its box and serves as the transmitter of the XM-radio.
As a temporary solution for the problem with the build-in Sony XR-CA640X.
Of course, the sound is now coming not from the four high quality Kicker marine loudspeakers built into the Fuso Szulc.
Now it is a mono sound from the relative small loudspeaker of the Sony ICF-7600 DS.
But better this than nothing.
Next visit to La Paz, a car audio shop will be visited to ask if the Sony XR-CA640X can be fixed.
If not, it will be replaced.
Maybe with a Sony radio of marine quality?
That has circuit board coating and drip shields.
Because, it is suspected that because of staying close to the sea and its salty humidity, electronics are affected and do give up.
.
3 comments:
This Preferred, fervent and somewhat loyal blog reader is confused how the Sony ICF-7600 is able to serve as a transmitter.
The XM-radio is only a receiver, nothing else. But it transmits a FM signal. This FM signal is captured by the Sony radio and transmitted as if it was a radio station.
Probably a good idea to get a marine grade Sony car radio. Since you spend so much time in a marine environmnet, no doubt the salt air has finally affected your radio.
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