"Jenni_is_a_Whore" wrote in message
news:PKlIb.2423$zf.1216@okepread05...
Subjective opinion to follow:

The 909 was the first SW radio I ever purchased back in the summer
of 2000.
I bought it from Amazon after doing little/no research on the
receiver; I
simply bought it because, at the time, it was the most expensive
receiver
they carried (a very bad logical rule to follow, I know). I found
it to be
a disappointing receiver, especially considering its price class. I
live in
the USA midwest so a sensitive receiver is essential even for
brodcast
listening, let alone DX. After having owned several other portables
in
various price classes, I have to say that the 909 is rather
insensitive for
its' price, even with an external or amplified antenna. I even used
a Sony
AN-LP1 with it and it didn't seem to help very much. Again, at its'
price
it is shocking to find that it lacks SSB reception modes, as well as
a synch
detector. I own a Sony ICF-SW77, SW100, with the SW07 on the way.
All of
these models have a synch detector (with selectable sideband) and
ssb
capability. If the SW07 uses the same synch detector that the
SW77/SW100
uses, then it's a sure bet that it will be a much better unit than
the 909
for SW broadcast listening & DXing. Also the SW07 comes with an
amplified
antenna similar to the LP1, but without an active preselector (that
function
is performed by the radio itself, a nice feature). IMHO, if I were
you, I
would cancel the order for the 909 and go for the SW07. You will
get so
much more for your money. I do have to say that the 909 is
excellent at FM
Dxing. I don't own another rig that is as good on FM as it is.
Right now,
the 909 is my bathroom radio. It only gets use while I'm taking a
shower in
the morning or brushing my teeth at night.

Plese note that my opinion has been tanted by years of heavy beer
drinking
and clouded judgement. Others will have more informed and better
justified
opinions on the 909 then I do. Your mileage may vary.

JIAW

Nah. I've always found that heavy beer drinking enhances one's
credibility. However, I think the assessment of the 909 (DX-398) is a
bit gloomy, especially given a pretty nice selection of features
(e.g., lots of memories, the signal strength indicator). I'll grant
that it's not the most sensitive radio out there, but I've had no
problem with the major broadcasters and many of the second level ones.
It clearly could use a synch detector, but I've had no problem with
the way it handles SSB (and the Liberty Net!). I do not own the
SW-07 (yet) but, based on word of mouth, it seems like the importance
of good sound needs to be factored in here--I'm pretty sure that the
909 will be the better sounding radio given the size of the Sony's
speaker. That said, the price of the SW-07 makes it the better deal
if a -small- portable is not an issue. The 909 is a considerably more
"substantial" unit.

Yes, I probably am pretty down on the 909 and it is a much better radio than
I give it credit for. I think part of my "gloom" comes from the fact that
it was the first SW I ever bought, and a pretty expensive one (at least
compaired to a teacher's salary) and I expected much more from it. The
propigation conditions in my area are pretty brutal, so even the "big guns"
suffer from serious signal fading. This was what disappointed me the most
about the 909; it was difficult to enjoy major broadcasters because of the
fades, so a synch detector would have helped greatly. I still maintain my
displeasure at its' sensitivity because I can set a much less expensive
radio, like my Grundig S350 right next to the 909, tune in the same
frequency on each receivers, and the S350 gets a much stronger signal.
Again, that's just my experience. I also suffer from a pretty bad case of
the "crappy luck" syndrome. It could be that I had a substandard unit to
begin with. You do make a good point about the audio, it is very good.
It's certainly better than my much more expensive SW77 that's for sure and
it will probably be better than the audio from the external speaker on the
SW07.

"T. Early" wrote in message
...
Nah. I've always found that heavy beer drinking enhances one's
credibility. However, I think the assessment of the 909 (DX-398) is a
bit gloomy, especially given a pretty nice selection of features
(e.g., lots of memories, the signal strength indicator). I'll grant
that it's not the most sensitive radio out there, but I've had no
problem with the major broadcasters and many of the second level ones.
It clearly could use a synch detector, but I've had no problem with
the way it handles SSB (and the Liberty Net!). I do not own the
SW-07 (yet) but, based on word of mouth, it seems like the importance
of good sound needs to be factored in here--I'm pretty sure that the
909 will be the better sounding radio given the size of the Sony's
speaker. That said, the price of the SW-07 makes it the better deal
if a -small- portable is not an issue. The 909 is a considerably more
"substantial" unit.

Why is this price so low...are they discontinuing the SWO7...has Universal
and everyone else also lowered prices???
RR



"Nobody You Know" wrote in message
...
wrote:



Amazon has the Sony ICF-SW07 on sale for 149.88 USD.



Holy $hit, that's a real bargain! Thanks for the heads-up. Not that I
really
NEED another portable, but for that price, what the heck ....





------------------------------------------------------------
Nations are like leaves; they change color before they fall.
------------------------------------------------------------

I seriously thought it was a typo or some glitch, but it's still in stock
for $149.88. I did some looking around on the net today and the lowest
price I could find for it was around $350. I did discover that the SW07
isn't lised on Sony's webiste in the shortwave radio section so maybe it is
heading off into the production sunset.

JIAW

"Rob R." wrote in message
hlink.net...
Why is this price so low...are they discontinuing the SWO7...has Universal
and everyone else also lowered prices???
RR



"Nobody You Know" wrote in message
...
wrote:



Amazon has the Sony ICF-SW07 on sale for 149.88 USD.



Holy $hit, that's a real bargain! Thanks for the heads-up. Not that I
really
NEED another portable, but for that price, what the heck ....





------------------------------------------------------------
Nations are like leaves; they change color before they fall.
------------------------------------------------------------

"Rob R." wrote in message
hlink.net...
Why is this price so low...are they discontinuing the SWO7...has
Universal
and everyone else also lowered prices???
RR


As JIAW pointed out, it's not on the Sony website, although a few
other "world band" radios like the SW-100 and 77 are still there. My
guess is that it is discontinued and Amazon is getting rid of stock
they've had for awhile. Sony discontinued the revered 2010 and the
highly praised AN-LP1 antenna (a version of which comes with the SW07
for use only with that radio), and the word at that time was that they
were leaving the SW business. This is probably a continuation of
that.

Tim schrieb:

How do these compare to the ATS-909?

Together with the AN-LP2 antenna, the ICF-SW07 can compete with
top-grade portables (while it should still be better than middle class
even w/o it), or at least that's what I read. Should be a class (or at
least noticeeably) above the Sangean then. But do keep in mind that both
are rather different concepts.

BTW, that little for an ICF-SW07 *is* a steal. /me is jealous, such
great deals on the rx were last seen more than a year ago here. Probably
a blow-out sale of old stock (the ICF-SW07 apparently hasn't been made
for 2 years or so). The rig is definitely on my "nice to have" list...

Stephan
--
Home: http://stephan.win31.de/ | Webm.: http://www.i24.com/
PC#6: i440BX, 2xCel300A, 512 MiB, 18 GB, ATI AGP 32 MiB, 110W
This is a SCSI-inside, Legacy-plus, TCPA-free computer
Reply to newsgroup only. | See home page for working e-mail address.

BTW, are they still supporting the ROM chip for this? I'm wondering
what year will come with the radio, not that it's even close to a deal
breaker at $150.

Sorry, but I just have to reply to this one...

snip

Again, at its' price it is shocking to find that it lacks SSB reception modes, as well as a synch detector.

snip

The 909 not only has SSB reception modes but has actual upper and lower
sideband selection. It is one of the finest SSB radios that I have ever
used with extremely easy to tune and clear SSB reception. As far a synch
detection is concerned, I admit that I have never tried one, but from
what I have read it is less than useful unless in a much more expensive
radio than most portables. I have found this radio to be perfect on a
long wire ant. with absolutely no overloading. As a portable using the
whip, I agree that it is less sensitive but still very usable.

But it does have SSB reception.

Andy

Well...don't I feel like a big-ass idiot, not like this is the first time
that's happened or anything. I've had the damn thing for 3 years and just
discovered that it does indeed do SSB. I'll have to mess around with it to
see how well it works.

I stand corrected.

*chugs beer*

JIAW

"FreeSpirit" wrote in message
...
Sorry, but I just have to reply to this one...

snip

Again, at its' price it is shocking to find that it lacks SSB reception
modes, as well as a synch detector.

snip

The 909 not only has SSB reception modes but has actual upper and lower
sideband selection. It is one of the finest SSB radios that I have ever
used with extremely easy to tune and clear SSB reception. As far a synch
detection is concerned, I admit that I have never tried one, but from
what I have read it is less than useful unless in a much more expensive
radio than most portables. I have found this radio to be perfect on a
long wire ant. with absolutely no overloading. As a portable using the
whip, I agree that it is less sensitive but still very usable.

But it does have SSB reception.

Andy

Well, after reading these posts and the appearent bargain on the SW07 I went
ahead and ordered that one too. Us single guys can do that sort of thing
If anything else I'll use one of them at work or just have that many more
toys to play with here at home. I noticed that on Amazon they have the "Hot
Buy" label on it so it sounds like they'll be out of stock soon.


"Tim" wrote in message ...
How do these compare to the ATS-909? I just ordered my 909 yesterday and
guess I'm having buyers remorse even before I get it. heh.

"Jenni_is_a_Whore" wrote in message
news:_niIb.2411$zf.426@okepread05...
Amazon has the Sony ICF-SW07 on sale for 149.88 USD. Isn't the list
price
for this receiver ususally much higher (around 350-400 USD)?






----== Posted via Newsfeed.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet
News==----
http://www.newsfeed.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 100,000
Newsgroups
---= 19 East/West-Coast Specialized Servers - Total Privacy via Encryption
=---




----== Posted via Newsfeed.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.newsfeed.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 100,000 Newsgroups
---= 19 East/West-Coast Specialized Servers - Total Privacy via Encryption =---