Buzzygirl wrote:
"John S." wrote in message
ups.com...

It's interesting how many people focus on a different feature of the
DE103 to complain about but we all like it's basic performance. For me
it is a memory that uses base 16 to number channnels and memory
firmware that is seriously buggy.

Hmn, I have to admit I haven't had any issues with memories or firmware with
this model, but then again I rarely make use of the memory functions of any
of my shortwave receivers. Now I am curious... what's buggy about the memory
firmware of the 1103?

Jackie

Here's my take.

First off the memories are numbered using base 16 so keeping track of
specific stations and allocating groups of memories to bands is
difficult at best unless you can count in hexadecimal. Additionally of
the hexadecimal memories can't be accessed using keypad entry because
they include numeric and alpha characters.

The firmware bug involves transferring a station from memory to the
current band. Each band has a memory channel that makes it easy to
flip between a program on AM 740 to FM 88.5 to shortwave 3965 to
shortwave 9580, etc., by using the band switch. If you transfer one
station from main memory (256 slots) to a band memory it transfers the
highest frequency stored for other bands at the same time.

For example, assume I was listening to AM 740 and FM 88.5 and had those
frequencies plus AM 1500 and FM 107.3 stored in memory. If I transfer
AM 1500 to the band memory the firmware also transfers 107.3 to the FM
band at the same time. It's really irritating and comes close to
defeating the usefulness of 256 memories.

I've managed to get used to the multipurpose wheel used for volume
control. I really can't get over how much space is wasted with the
digital/analog frequency display. I think the space occupied by the
analog dial could have been put to better use as a larger numeric
display with full time clock and a properly aligned keypad.

All that said, I do enjoy using that $60.00 radio because it does catch
radio signals well.