starman wrote:
Mike Maghakian wrote:

all these issues are covered by easy fixes, if you don't
want to do them , then the DX-394 is NOT the radio for
you. My 394 is selective (mod), quiet (inherently), has
no pops(mod) and is a very nice radio.

I would pay a lot lot more than $50 for one and buy a
dozen at a time if I could.

What are the main weak points of the DX-394 that need to
be addressed to make it a decent receiver?

By joining the RADIOSHACKDX394 SIG at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RADIOSHACKDX394/, you will automatically
receive the DX-394 FAQ and an index to over 50 mods. From the FAQ:

Best Mods
Much depends on your listening objectives and the radio frequency
environment in your area. The DX-394 is certainly deficient in the areas of
selectivity, overload and shielding so these are areas of improvement that
are probably of common interest and benefit. Other modifications may be of
more special interest. Here are the key mods and tips:
1. Frank Cathell's Crosstalk mods are a must to correct a design deficiency
in all models that results in strong stations 15-40 kHz away from the
desired frequency being detected as though they were on frequency.
2. One of the IF filter mods is also highly advisable - Frank's "Poor Man's
Kiwa" that changes the logic to force the narrower filter in all modes is
the easiest.
3. The DX-394 is susceptible to overload from strong signals and internally
generates multiple appearances of them. Countermeasures depend on the
desired frequency band and the frequencies of the offending signals:
a) For SW listening bothered by LW/MW overload, a 1.8 MHz outboard high pass
filter is a great start.
b) For SW listening suffering from SW overload, a passive pre-selector
(tuned or fixed bandpass) or a high quality active pre-selector may help on
SW bands removed from the interfering frequencies.
c) For LW and MW listening, it may be necessary to shield or disable the
built-in antenna and use a tuned loop external antenna for added selectivity
and directionality to discriminate against the strong signals.
d) An outboard attenuator may also be necessary in difficult conditions in
any of these cases.
Fortunately, apart from shielding or disabling the ferrite antenna, all of
these are tips, not modifications of the DX-394, but are covered under Mods
because overload is such a common problem.
4. Shielding is also essential for the suppression of interference picked up
from computers and CRT's operating in close proximity to the DX-394. Its
plastic case is useless in this respect - SW signals can be picked up even
with the whip antenna removed. Tom Holden's "Ultimate Shields" mod is among
the most effective for both RF and magnetic screening

Tom