"-=jd=-" wrote in message
...
On Thu 08 Apr 2004 07:22:17p, "Michael" wrote in
message et:


{snippage}

Another thing that I didn't mention in my review was that the PL-550's
built in attenuator has three positions; "LOW", "MEDIUM", "HIGH". Most
portables that have an attenuator switch just have two positions usually
labeled "DX" and "LOCAL". I don't know if having three settings really
makes a difference, but I guess it could come in handy at some time or
another. Also... I have found that you can keep the display light turned
on all the time even under battery power when you press the "light"
button and hold it depressed for a few seconds. That comes in handy
too.


Speak of the devil! Just this evening, I ventured into the local (ahem)
"Radio" Shack and picked up some parts, brought them home and whipped
together a simple little attenuator.

My receiver (PCR1000) has attenuation, but it's either On or Off.
Sometimes
the "On" was too much, or (in the case of Radio Havana) doesn't seem to do
much of anything. Now, I leave the receiver's attenuation off and use the
attenuator I built to cut the signal only as much as needed. Radio Havana
was
coming in at +60db over S9 (my meter was pegged). Now, I can trim it
anywhere
from "no attenuation" all the way down to S7.

Let's see that's... (60 over down to S9 is 60db cut, less two S units
more...
times something per S unit)... a whole darn bunch of available attenuation
when needed!

Now, I do have one *seriously* strong local FM station that can only be
attenuated by yanking the antenna line and holding it just off the
connector,
but that's the only station where I experience that.

Yeah, it's one more knob that may have to be fiddled with, but the control
is
worth it in my opinion.


The more knobs the better :-)

Michael