Vintage Radio HeadlinesNew e-mail policyFacelift for the forums Radio of the Week to feature members' radios Plans for 2010 New site features Merry Christmas to members and guests Live Chat - Saturday, 5th December at 20:30 Live chat - 19th September at 20:30 New host server to be installed tomorrow morning Members: Are you having difficulty in posting comments? Inclusion of images in forum posts Web slices come to Vintage Radio Vintage Radio live chat More site tweaks Centre of attention |
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New e-mail policy
Recently I have found that spam arriving in my inbox has started to increase. Many members will note that I have posted my e-mail address numerous times to allow them to send photos they'd like included in their comments and for other reasons.
Whilst there is a mechanism in place to assist with blocking spam robots syphoning e-mail addresses on this website there was a period prior to this feature being included that I still posted the same address.
Have any of you noticed an increase in spam? If so then please let me know by replying to this thread below.
Because my own intake of spam is starting to eat into time I could be doing other things with I've decided that it is time to add an extra layer of protection for members who want others to be able to contact them. I am hoping this doesn't take too long to set up and roll out.
Part of the new policy will include the following:-
1. All e-mail addresses included in posts will become invisible to non-members and also members who are not signed in. E-mail addresses will be disguised with e-mail address hidden to anyone not registered and logged in. This will completely block any further attempts at syphoning addresses by hostile spam robots.
2. Members will soon get the ability to either show or hide their e-mail address in their profiles. The default setting will remain as 'hidden'. Even when a member enables their e-mail address to become public it will only be available to members who are signed in. Anyone not registered and logged in will continue to receive the message that appears now.
3. A third option will be available, again, settable on/off by members. This option will allow members to keep their e-mail address hidden but enable an e-mail form to appear in their member profile. This will allow messages to be sent to that member by other members but a sender will have to be a registered member and logged in before they can use the form. It will be a strict condition of membership of this website that members do not abuse any of these features for any reason.
I am sure that we are all of one voice regarding spam. It's rude, annoying and always against the receiving party's wishes. Hopefully this new feature set will make it too unproductive and time-consuming for any potential spammer to exploit.
Again, your thoughts on these features, ideas on better ways to roll them out or your thoughts on spamming in general are most welcome. Just reply in this thread in the usual way. 
Update: Please see Special Announcements on the Forums home page for further news on these features.
Written at 22:18 on 20 April 2010 by Brad.
Comments: 2
Facelift for the forums
Over the next few days I will be making a few small visual changes to the forums. This is intended only to provide a fresher look for the new year but there will be no changes to how the forums are navigated.
Above is a photo of the workstation where it all happens.
Written at 20:42 on 12 March 2010 by Brad.
Comments: 3
Radio of the Week to feature members' radios
Before Christmas one of our fellow members came to me with the idea that members be able to contribute pictures of their radios to feature in the Radio of the Week part of this website and I thought that this would be a pretty good idea.
Assuming that there is still interest in this I will make the necessary changes to accomodate it before the end of next month. Any member who is interested in having their favourite receivers on display for all to see can start by sending a photo of the radio they'd like to see in Radio of the Week. Member's radios will be displayed subject to the following:-
1. Members should submit a photo of one radio along with a description of the receiver including the valve compliment and the year the set was manufactured.
2. The photo will be shrunk, expanded or cropped as necessary to fit inside the page correctly but such editing will be sympathetic to the purpose of the photo. Members will retain full copyright to the photos they supply and will be granted copyright to any modified copies of that image. Contributing members will also receive a credit for the photo and information they provide.
3. At this stage, to gauge interest, members will be allowed to submit only one photo at this time and only 26 weeks will be allotted to members' radios though this may be increased at a later stage.
4. Photos should be as good quality as possible but contain no text, just the portrait of the receiver including the background. Naturally, any images supplied should not cast an undesired reflection on the reputation of this website.
Members may send their photos and descriptions to brad
mail.vintage-radio.com.au and they will be notified of the week allotted to their radio. Members will be allotted their week on a first in, first served basis so getting that e-mail to me as quickly as possible is advised.
Written at 21:07 on 11 February 2010 by Brad.
Comments: 0
Plans for 2010
Some of you will have already noticed the two small features rolled out this week, they being the inclusion of forum signatures for the first time (you'll soon be able to add a signature to your account if you have not included one when registering), and the much sought after ability to edit your comments after posting them.
2010 will be a big year for improvements to Vintage Radio. Soon, your member profile page will include links to modify/add/delete certain information in your account settings. For example, you may be using a different e-mail address now and would like to change that in your account here. You may want to change your password or perhaps add a signature or a web address linking to your new website or avatar image. Soon all this will be possible.
Most members will be familiar with the Service Directory. In 2010 this will be replaced with a new directory that allows members to add their own submission. If you offer repair services, circuit diagrams, spare parts, tuition services, and other products or services that relate to vintage radio repair and restoration then you will be able to advertise in this directory for free and for perpetuity.
There will also be space in this directory for vintage radio clubs and associations to advertise their contact details and the main purposes of their organisations. This directory will only be for those offering products and services that pertain to vintage radio and those taking part in one-off transactions should still advertise these in Wanted and For Sale rather than the new directory.
Some new articles will appear here in 2010. Subject matter will include dial lamps (however humble they may be), tuning dials, tuning aids, record changers and after being reminded of it in this month's Silicon Chip vintage radio article, we'll also take a look at one of the forgotten apsects of vintage radio - the radiogram. I am in possession of several radiograms which are unique in their own way and I think coverage of this subject is fairly important even though most of us simply don't have the room for them. The fact is, you'll never play a vinyl record on a more appropriate piece of machinery.
Finally, Vintage Radio will get a visual overhaul, bringing members and guests a fresh new look. Whilst the layout won't change too much, links will stand out more and the forums will be easier to navigate.
This will most likely be my last front page posting for 2009 so I will take this last opportunity to wish you all the best for the Christmas period and hope that 2010 will bring us all good fortune.
Written at 07:58 on 19 December 2009 by Brad.
Comments: 1
New site features
As of midnight tonight there are two new features on the Vintage Radio forums.
The first allows those who have included a signature when registering their account here the chance to display that signature in their forum posts. For those who would like to add a signature to their account, this account update feature will be available before the end of the year.
The second feature is one requested by several members over time and will thus prove quite popular - the ability to edit your posts after you have submitted them. This feature has been available on the front page comments system for a long time however it is now available in the forums as well. Whilst the edit feature on the front page commenting system has a two hour time limit there will be no time limit on the same function in the forums. The 'edit' link will appear in your posts no matter what. Of course, it goes without saying that members will only be able to make changes to their own posts! 
If you have a suggestion for new forum features then please feel free to comment in this thread.
A note to spammers: We are not interested in the products and services you continually post on websites and e-mail to people. This website covers only one specific subject matter and I would greatly appreciate it if you would advertise elsewhere. Anyone who spams will be banned, have their post(s) deleted and risk being reported to their ISP and/or the police.
Written at 00:14 on 17 December 2009 by Brad.
Comments: 9
Merry Christmas to members and guests
We are almost at the end of another year and many of us are left wondering why time goes quicker as we get older. Still, we are drawing closer to a time of the year we can take as slowly as we like.
On that note I would like to wish all members and guests a Merry Christmas and at the same time I would like to thank everyone who has helped make this website a great place to visit in 2009. Let's hope for big things in 2010.
On that very subject I have had a fairly quiet time in 2009, vintage radio-wise. I've only purchased one receiver this year, an AWA Radiolette from 1935, which now takes its place on the shelving above my computer. After buying close to thirty receivers the year before, including no less than ten consoles, I felt it was time to take a break from acquisitions and concentrate on where I was going to put what I'd purchased. Unfortunately the space requirement for a collection of consoles now affects me about as much as it does anyone who's tried collecting them. They take up a lot of room and it may be that I have to offload some of them in the new year but I'll make a decision on that at a later stage.
Eat and drink lots - I know I will be. But please, please, please do not drink then drive. I want all members and guests to be safe over Christmas and back here for more fun in 2010.
Written at 00:35 on 13 December 2009 by Brad.
Comments: 0
Live Chat - Saturday, 5th December at 20:30
There will be a live chat on the night of Saturday, 5th December, starting at 20:30 and will go for an hour (or longer if necessary) and will give all members and guests an opportunity to meet and talk about vintage radio at an organised time. This chat will take place in the Vintage Radio chat room and be hosted by me (Brad).
I look forward to seeing you there.
Update: The second live chat has concluded for tonight. The next organised live chat will take place in 2010, time to be announced.
Written at 20:52 on 25 November 2009 by Brad.
Comments: 0
Live chat - 19th September at 20:30
On the night of Saturday, 19th September at 20:30 (NSW time) I will be hosting a live chat for members and guests in the Vintage Radio chatroom which can be located via the "Chat" link in the main links bar at the top.
I know many of you have already paid one or more visits to the chatroom however because there have been no pre-arranged events the actual amount of chat has been minimal. Hopefully a few organised chats before the end of the year will change this.
All vintage radio enthusiasts are invited to take part and I look forward to seeing you there.
Update: The live chat saw a good talk about vintage radios between around six collectors. We hope there will be more next time. Remember that the Vintage Radio chatroom is open all the time but before Christmas we will have a couple more organised chats. I'll let you know when.
Written at 20:59 on 13 September 2009 by Brad.
Comments: 0
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Friday, 20:44. (GMT + 10).
30th July, 2010.
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
148 days to Christmas!
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Tutorials
These tutorials contain a lot of worthwhile information relating to specific aspects of vintage radio. I recommend a read of these though some of them are quite large. You might need a cuppa tea and a few hours to get through them all in one hit.
Knowing how to date old radios
The listener's licence and the sealed set
Batteries used in valve radios
Safety with electricity
Valve radio model life cycles
The brands of antique radios
The survivors - Where are they now?
Replicas and outright pretenders
Restorations
Back by popular demand are a few articles of mine that deal with restoration of vintage radios. As I edit them for clarity they will be republished.
Glossary
Vintage Radio's glossary contains the definitions for dozens of words and phrases.
Older Threads
To view older threads please visit the Vintage Radio archive.
Outside links
On our free links page there are dozens of other vintage radio-related websites which may be of interest to you. Everything from national vintage radio clubs to personal and business websites is included. Outside links.
Sites of Interest
Peel River Artist Blacksmiths
Sofala Central Acclimatisation Society
Sydney Tramway Museum
Vintage Caravans
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