On Sun, 4 Jan 2004 11:55:43 -0500, "Jack Painter"
wrote:

The down side to the radio is that it is
_easily_ overloaded with signals from any kind of antenna longer than the
recommended 20' or so provided with the unit.

Hi Jack, Harlan,

This is very significant. I should have thought of this too.

This is the hidden sensitivity killer because a nearby AM stations's
signal going in these style of front end will develop AGC that
absolutely de-sensitizes the SW bands. You don't hear the signal at
the speaker, but the receiver hears it at the antenna (quite loud).

Put a cheap antenna tuner between your sets and the antenna to prevent
this. Or simply build a cheap high pass filter (antenna through cap
to set, AND with antenna through coil to ground). If you make the cap
variable, you can peak SW reception in a couple of bands. If you also
tap the coil, you can switch its value and peak in most bands (thus a
tuner). The tuner will short out the local power house that is
swamping your sets and allow the SW through to a more sensitive
condition. The cheapest, simplest (two or three control) Ham tuner
will do.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC