I have both receivers. Actually, I sold my SW77 only to buy another one
because I missed it so much. I'd have to give a slight edge to the Sat. 800
on the grounds that it has MUCH better audio than the SW77 and the synch
curcuit is outstanding (although the synch on the SW77 is fine). I relly
like the page tuning on the SW77 and its signal strength scanning, which the
Sat. 800 is missing. My only complaint about the Sat. 800 is that I've had
to send it back to R.L. Drake twice for repair in the 6 months I've owned
it, but the turnaround was very fast. Also, my set has the premature
blinking "Batt" indicator issue.

BTW, you might want to hold off buying a high-end portable until the new
Sat. 900 is released in Jan. '04. It looks great, at least on paper.
There's a thread already going on about it here somewhere.

JIAW

"drifter" wrote in message
...
was in the Sony Style store in my local, just
nosing around. noticed they had NEW, not refurb
sw-77 in glass case. on sale- $399.95. i have not
really checked web prices on this radio. been looking
at the sat 800, as a desktop for the old hobby/radio/
computer room. the sony is larger than i thought; this
is the first time i've seen it in the flesh. i have
read what a few places have to say about this radio-
P.t.W.B.R. 2003 compares to the icf-2010. been using
the smaller portable's at home for years- RS-398, etc.
i don't take a radio on the road too often, so a larger
radio, i could tune with one hand would be nice. i mostly
listen to local BC, sw BBC types, little ham/ults. any
comments on the sony over the sat 800? would be used at
home with a long wire only. also, at my age the eye's
aren't what they use to be, so, a fair size readout would
be good... please post to newsgroup... thanks...

thank you one and all. i think i will hold off
and see if the 900 shows up this time. i really
want the sat 800; i would go for one of the refos.
i'll let go for a month or two...
drifter...