An FM Atlas book, plus news of innovative radios and TV audio devices! Learn about FM/SCA or SCS, plus TV SAP and the mysterious TV Pro Channel! So scroll down this page. Later, return to this header and view the tower used by Bruce Elving for FM reception. . . and pick up some tips on  the hobby of FM DX listening—just by visiting the FM DX Page.

Unique Radios and Publications

FM Atlas Publishing and Electronics

Bruce F. Elving, Ph.D.
Carol J. Elving, office manager

A source of modified FM radios, a newsletter and a book listing all the FM radio stations of North America—on maps and directories..

FMedia! is our monthly newsletter, which is a "must" for updating the "FM Atlas" book. It has official news as well as chit-chat about your medium of choice: FM radio. It covers facilities and call letters' changes, format and stereo updatings, as well as slogans or "nonIDs" in use, as well as new stations about to come on the air. There's news about emerging technologies like digital audio broadcasting and low power FM. It's a lively, information-packed newsletter at $75 per year for broadcasters, $26 per year for hobbyists, retired people or students. Sample copies $4.50. It's being taken over by my daugther, Kristine Stuart, who is in the process of moving to Gardner KS. For now, send orders to P. O. Box 336, Esko MN 55733-0336.

And, looking down, you'll be able to read some testimonials.

The Radios

Our all-time best selling-radio is the RCA "Superadio III," unmodified (no SCS board inside the radio), $59.50 plus $17 shipping. Or buy it modified the way you want it, such as with a fixed 67 kHz or 92 kHz SCS adapter inside the radio, with a switch to select from "FM" to "SCS." Price $95 + $17. With a tunable Elf-2A adapter (see adapters listed below), along with an L-E-D which glows brightly when an SCS program is tuned in, and a switch and control to tune the adapter inside the radio from 57 through 92 kHz, $98 + $17. This is the RCA RP7-2887A model, which replaces the former G-E Superadio. And watch this space, or contact us, about the availability of the new HD Radios. [Logo used with permission by the iBiquity Corp.)

Sony ICF-36 radio, or other make or model radio with FM-AM-TV audio (2-13), AC/DC. It is for people who want both TV audio and TV SAP, as well as FM radio audio and the FM/SCSubcarrier bands. It's a medium size radio using its included a-c cord or batteries you can buy. Modified with an Elf-2 adapter with a switch to go from regular radio or TV to the special band, plus a control for 67-102.271 kHz tuning. It's been known to tune in the mysterious TV Pro channel at 102.271 kHz. Note that analog TV is scheduled to be discontinued by February, 2009, and this radio will not receive digital TV. Price $85 plus $11 shipping.

General Electric 7-2664, or similar make or model, is a smaller FM/AM radio with built-in FM/SCS band. This (or equivalent model) is the smallest we can put SCS into without attaching the adapter unit in a separate module. It is $51 plus $9 shipping with a tunable (Elf-2Adapter).

Sangean ATS 818ACS, a deluxe FM-AM shortwave radio with 45 memory presets plus cassette recorder. Plays FM stereo through headphones (not included). With a tunable (Elf-2A) SCS unit and switch to go from the main station to the special band, and a control to fine tune the adapter inside the radio for all the 67 or 92 kHz action; $231 plus $12 shipping.

Dayton Industrial AF-200A for professional reception of SCS at 67 or 92 kHz. Plays on 110 volts only and works best when played through a home component hi-fi system or PA system. Main channel reception is monophonic. Requires an external antenna. Has squelch or muting and internal switches to select various FM stations using a chart supplied. It's ideal for hearing background music or voice paging. The Dayton AF-200A SCS tuner $299.00 plus $12 shipping. Model AF210 an even more deluxe (mono) receiver with FM/SCS, FM/RDS display, $486 plus $12 shipping.

Welcome to FM Atlas!

We are an information machine about FM radio and an advocate for the incorporation of FM/SCS circuitry in all FM radios. FM subcarrier radio deserves to be "out of the closet," and readily available as a source of programming of music and the human voice without the need to create new stations, transmitters and increased electrical consumption. FM/SCS is a piggy-backed means of communication, and it's environmentally friendly.

Our print catalog is in short supply! Just e-mail, write or call for a copy (while still available). It's entitled, "From the SAPeople," and blends electronic with environmental themes. This catalog is very much out of date. It shows items not on the web page, but for the latest info as to what we have just call or e-mail.

Cassette catalog for the blind is ready! Catalog No. 14, $2.00 postpaid.

What do the special radios pick up? In most cities are stations broadcasting "closed circuit" to the blind. This includes reading of the daily newspaper, grocery ads, magazine artilces, and specialized information for "adults," usually in the sidebands of public stations. If you donate to public radio, be aware of what (else) your money might be supporting!

Naturally, there are positive things heard on subcarriers, such as church services, ethnic and foreign language programming and music. However, many of our customers don't actually listen. They take pride in knowing they have the ability to tune in a program service that 99 percent of their friends and neighbors cannot tune in. It's like owning a gun that is not used—a resource that is there "just in case." Or, it is like owning a scanner, and being able to explore all the electromagnetic radiations that might be impinging on your property and your very body. Now on to the hardware we go.

The Adapters

If you're an electronic do-it-yourselfer and handy with a small soldering iron and use rosin or resin-core (not acid-core) solder, you might enjoy assembling an FM/SCS adapter and figuring out how to install it in a radio you already own. We have a variety of SCS adapters and kits including:

The Elf-2A adapter includes a trimpot or control, for tuning SCS and SAP from 67 through 102.271 kHz. It plays on 3.5 to 14 v DC, and is recommended for portable radios. It features an L-E-D (light emitting diode) which glows brightly only when an SCS or SAP program is correctly tuned in—a neat feature! The Elf-2A is $24 kit or $28 assembled and tested. Add $4 for shipping. It's the most versatile of all adapters.

The SCS Radio Technologies' adapter shown right is physically larger, about 5 cm square, and is for either 67 or 92 kHz. It includes mute or squelch for use with background music stations that shut their SCS carriers off between songs, $32 plus $4 shipping. Now offered at the same price ($32 plus shipping), is a two frequency adapter, with 67 and 92 kHz outputs! It includes two toggle switches mounted right on the circuit board. One switch goes from main to SCS and the other from 67 to 92 kHz. Ask for quantity prices on any of our adapters.

SCS-RT adapter

SCS installation pictorial—for a wide variety of radios with FM. These are line drawings (not schematics) showing SCA hookup points--"in," "out," "+," and "-," as well as where to mount the adapter and the FM/SCSelect switch on the surface of the radio. Mention make and model number of the radio, and we'll supply the exact one if we have it, or one that might be similar. One pictorial $2, two pictorials $3.00.

An audio tape of the best in FM DX. Part I is with narration and includes historic FM DX from Duluth MN, while Part II has pure DX reception from south-central Nebraska. Hear how FM radio (88 to 108 mz) sounds as recorded from skip half a continent away, including reception from Canada and Mexico, $8 cassette postpaid. For more information on FM DXing, visit the FM DX web site and see the picture of my antenna!

Check with us for other models of radios, including antique AM-FM radios, a tuned radio frequency (shortwave) radio I built from a kit ($76 postpaid) and used radios, some of which have the FM/SCS circuit already installed.

All products can be ordered on American Express, VISA or MasterCard by phone (218) 879-7676 or toll-fee at 1-800-605-2219. Or mail to "FM Atlas," PO Box 336, Esko MN 55733-0336, USA. Tell us what you think of this web page, and E-mail your orders to FmAtlas@aol.com.