====== Nordmende Galaxy Mesa 9000 ======
Manufactured by [[Nordmende]], Bremen; chassis 6.100A.

When [[Nordmende]] revised their receivers from the Galaxy Mesa series, in 1972 not simply a slightly improved [[Galaxy Mesa 7000]] was released, but the set underwent profound improvements and was given the model number 9000. The "big" Nordmende set now had got all the features that the 7000 lacked: continuous shortwave coverage, [[SSB]] reception, FM broadcast band presets. The Galaxy Mesa 7000 could equal the [[Grundig]] [[Satellit 2000]], but only if the Grundig was equipped with the [[SSB]] adaptor, otherwise the Nordmende is even ahead thanks to the internal [[BFO]].

The variant [[Galaxy Mesa 9000St]] is equipped with a stereo decoder in addition.

{{:images:nordmende-galaxy-mesa9000st-front.jpg?direct&600|Nordmende Galaxy Mesa 9000st}}
===== Technical data =====
  * [[Principle]]: [[Single conversion superhet]] for LW, MW, SW1-3; [[Double conversion superhet]] on the spread shortwave bands, [[IF]] 2000 / 460 kHz / FM 10.7 MHz
  * [[Operation modes]]: [[A1]] with BFO, [[A3|AM (A3)]], [[F3|FM (F3)]]
  * [[Frequency range]]: FM broadcast band, LW, MW, 11 x SW (80 / 49 / 41 / 31 / 25 / 20 / 19 / 16 / 15 / 11 / 10 m)
  * [[Frequency display]]: Analogue dial, turret tuner with band spread dials
  * [[Frequency memory]]: six FM presets
  * [[Signal strength indicator]]: [[S-meter]]
  * [[signal processing]]: [[BFO]]
  * [[Features]]: 
  * [[Sensitivity]]: [[A3|AM (A3)]] / [[Selectivity]]: kHz (-6/-60 dB)

==== Power supply ====
  * [[Mains operation]]: 110, 220 V
  * [[Batteries]]: 6 x 1.5 V ([[UM-1]])

==== Dimensions ====
  * 490 x 270 x 120 mm, weight 7 kg

==== Accessories ====
 
===== Operation =====
Take a [[Grundig]] [[Satellit 2000]]/[[Satellit 2100|2100]], add an internal [[BFO]] and a few more features - take yourself back to the early seventies in terms of technical possibilities - and you will end with a set like the Galaxy Mesa 9000 which was launched by Nordmende in 1972.

The Galaxy Mesa is one of the biggest (49x27x12 cm wxhxt) and heaviest (7 kg) portable multiband radios and can in terms of size compete with the big [[Grundig]] [[Satellit 3400|Satellit]] or Sony [[CRF-320|CRF]] series.

On the top of the set, the push-buttons for the reception ranges, the two telescopic antennas for AM and FM broadcast band reception as well as a sturdy carrying handle are located, and on the back are the compartments for batteries and the mains cable.

{{ :images:nordmende-galaxy-mesa9000st-skala.jpg?direct&400|Nordmende Galaxy Mesa 9000st}} A little more than a third of the front panel is taken up by the speaker grill on the left. Like found on the [[Galaxy Mesa 7000]], the Mesa 9000 has a green coloured frequency dial. Below the dials for long and mediumwave are the dials for SW1 (tropical band 1.6 - 5 MHz resp. 60 m), the SW2 and SW3 dials cover the entire shortwave range up to 18.5 MHz and so allow reception of out-of-band frequencies without band spread. In position BANDS, the turret tuner with the spread shortwave bands is active. As found in the previous models, a red triangle shaped mark indicates the selected shortwave band. Tuning within the spread shortwave bands is done with the outer ring of the middle tuning knob. The bottom tuning knob tunes the FM broadcast band. The [[Galaxy Mesa 9000St]] variant is additionally equipped with a stereo decoder.

Below the frequency scale are three slider controls, for volume, treble and bass control. To the right of these are four switches for the [[BFO]] for single sideband reception, for AFC active in the FM broadcast band, for the PA amplifier function and, at the bottom, the mains switch. On the far right, there are 6 FM broadcast band presets, each station is pretuned with a spiral potentiometer, very similar to early TV sets with station presets - in any case, it worked without digital technology.

Operating the impossive set is unproblematic: after switching it on and adjusting the volume to a low hiss, the band spread mode is selected with the BANDS key, the turret tuner is set to the 49 m band by means of the fold-out grip in the centre of the tuning knob. With the correct band selected, the red triangle points to the 49 m mark, the dial with the frequency markers for the 49 m band is visible in the dial window. Somewhere between 6.1 and 6.2 Radio Austria Intl. should be audible and the S-meter should indicate a strong signal.

The [[BFO]] is activated for [[CW]] and [[SSB]] reception, fine tuning is only possible within the spread broadcast bands, manual control of the RF gain is not possible. Nevertheless, the Galaxy Mesa 9000 also covers spread amateur radio bands.

In conclusion, I consider the Galaxy Mesa 9000 nowadays as a collector's item and maybe as a secondary receiver with pleasant audio and not as a top DX receiver; reception of radioteletype signals ([[CW]] with a decoder, [[RTTY]]) is nearly impossible.

When the set was manufactured, the Galaxy Mesa 9000 had everything that made it a desirable domestic shortwave receiver for the home. But professional sets set completely different landmarks already in the late sixties, especially as SSB reception and frequency dial accuracy is concerned, but there were only few private owners of a Collins [[R-390A]] or a [[51S-1]]... 

===== Technical principle =====
Single conversion superhet, double conversion superhet in the spread shortwave bands.

==== Components ====
The set is equipped with semiconductors.

===== Technical documentation =====

==== Development ====
{{gallery>:images?nordmende-galaxy-mesa9000*.jpg&0&80x80&lightbox&showtitle&titlesort}}
==== Further information ====
  * [[https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/nordmende_galaxy_mesa_9000_6100a.html|Nordmende Galaxy Mesa 9000 on www.radiomuseum.org]]