New to The SWL World
 

I am looking to buy a DX-398 and was wondering if this unit has better
reception than an ATS-505? I listen most to MW, but I wanted to get into
some SWL. I am new to swl.

thanks

"Philip Campbell" wrote in message ...
I am looking to buy a DX-398 and was wondering if this unit has better
reception than an ATS-505? I listen most to MW, but I wanted to get into
some SWL. I am new to swl.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hello Philip:
As official spokesman for the shortwave newsgroup I would like to
welcome you to our family and the shortwave hobby. My advice would be
go the used route when first starting out. Pick up a used DX-398 and a
Grundig Yacht Boy 400 on Ebay which you should be able to get for the
price of one new one. Compare, experiment and have a ball seeing which
one you like best and then sell the one you like less for the same
money you likely paid for it. Good luck and once again welcome to the
family.
Melvin
P.S. If you have any problems with the trouble makers that abound in
this group please don't hesitate to contact me. In my official role it
is one of the crosses I must bear but dealing with problems comes with
the territory.

Hey there Philip, welcome. Don't mind Melvin too much, he's a nice guy
and all, but tends to have a Napoleon Complex when someone new climbs
aboard, (''I'm the Leader!" ''I'm the Leader!") Actually, there are a
few here who really know their stuff, and have great insights into this
fascinating little hobby. The radios you mentioned are still among the
most popular ones out there. You can't go wrong with either of them.
Good Luck!

I am looking to buy a DX-398 and was wondering if this unit has better
reception than an ATS-505? I listen most to MW, but I wanted to get into
some SWL. I am new to swl.

The DX398 and the Grundig YB400 will both out-perform your ATS505 admirably.
The '505 is not a bad radio (used by many people, and does what it does
satisfactorily) but it doesn't have the same 'oomph' as the above-mentioned
radios. As for having 'better reception', in almost every case you'll find the
features on the 398 to be more friendly and helpful in pulling out weaker
signals than the 505, and while a good strong signal in your location may not
seem any better on either radio, the difference is in weaker signal ability,
and on that account the 505 cannot pretend to perform as well as the 398.
You should be able to find a perfectly satisfying unit of either radio (and
there are others as well) online at auction sites, used or discounted at
radio/electronics suppliers, and so on.
I have a feeling that if you've been using the 505, and then step up to the
398, the YB400, the Sony 7600G, or other portable, it's going to feel like
you're hearing SW for the first time. And in the case of weaker signals and
signals being pulled from noise or interference, you will literally be hearing
them for the first time.
Best of luck, enjoy the hobby!
Linus

Please tell me (kindly) if I am out of line here, but...

Pick up a used DX-398 and a
Grundig Yacht Boy 400 on Ebay

I do have a like-brand-new YB400PE for sale, in the box, all accessories, for
sale.

He can email me if he's interested.

Linda King

GrtPmpkin32 wrote:
I have a feeling that if you've been using the 505, and then step up
to the 398, the YB400, the Sony 7600G, or other portable, it's going
to feel like you're hearing SW for the first time.

All good candidate starter radios.
--
Brian Denley
http://home.comcast.net/~b.denley/index.html

I am looking to buy a DX-398 and was wondering if this unit has better
reception than an ATS-505? I listen most to MW, but I wanted to get into
some SWL. I am new to swl.



Phillip,
Get the DE1102, it is a DX machine, and even though I own a 398.......I'm
sure ahem that it is junk compared to the DE1102.

If you want to do some 'serious' DX go with the 1102, price is right (don't
believe-you get what you pay for) and throw you out about ten-15 ft. of wire
and you'll hear Nigerians keying a watt off the metal plate in their head. ;-)

~*~*Monitoring The AirWaves~*~
*****GO BEARCATS*****
Hammarlund HQ129X /Heathkit Q Multiplier
Hammarlund HQ140X
Multiple GE P-780's(GREAT BCB Radios)
RCA Victor *Strato- World*
RCA Victor RJC77W-K(Walnut Grain)
1942 Zenith Wane Magnet 6G 601M
Cathedral/ Ross#2311/RhapsodyMultiBand
DX100/394/398/399/402
OMGS Transistor Eight/Realistic 12-1451
Henry Kloss Model One/Bell+Howell
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

On Sat, 20 Mar 2004 22:34:28 -0500, Philip Campbell wrote:

I am looking to buy a DX-398 and was wondering if this unit has better
reception than an ATS-505? I listen most to MW, but I wanted to get into
some SWL. I am new to swl.

thanks

Hello. Welcome to the hobby. (I don't think I've posted here, since, oh,
1999!). Personally, I think the radio for you would be a Sony ICF2010.
Great reception, perfect size for base use but still "portable", decent
audio. Reputed to be one of the best DXing portables out there. It also
comes with a short random wire (I think that's what it's called) antenna,
a smart inclusion that boosts signals (all you do is plug one side to the
radio and clip the other to a tree, etc.). Also receives AM, FM,
longwave, and the VHF aircraft band (you can here your local planes on
it). I live in what is known to be the not-so-best reception area
(northern midwest), yet I've found it good for pulling some interesting
signals out of the air.

Enjoy the hobby!

Interesting, do they still SELL the '2010 nowadays? And where's the best
place to get one now? I used to own one years ago and was very satisfied
with it. And from what I hear, amazingly, after ALL these years, as that
it can pretty much still outperform ALL portables, and even hold it's
own with some tabletop models!

I may take you up on that afterI test the ATS-505 I picked up on ebay. $72
includes shipping, real-up antenna, earbuds, case. We shall see. I went
into the local Radio shack to check out a YB-400, but inside of the metal
building did not help recpetion or testing. Busy store with nervous,
hovering sales people. Can I help you? Can I help you ? Cam I help you ?
Thanks !


"Love2camp5" wrote in message
...
Please tell me (kindly) if I am out of line here, but...

Pick up a used DX-398 and a
Grundig Yacht Boy 400 on Ebay

I do have a like-brand-new YB400PE for sale, in the box, all accessories,
for
sale.

He can email me if he's interested.

Linda King

On Mon, 22 Mar 2004 23:19:30 -0600, Vic Martinez wrote:

Interesting, do they still SELL the '2010 nowadays? And where's the best
place to get one now? I used to own one years ago and was very satisfied
with it. And from what I hear, amazingly, after ALL these years, as that
it can pretty much still outperform ALL portables, and even hold it's
own with some tabletop models!

It's a great radio.

Sony discontinued production of it in 2003, but it's still available
through E-Bay and the like.

Thanks you guys and gals for all your help. I picked up a used ATS505 on
ebay for $65. Its a good starter unit. With the reel-up antenna included,
I have picked up Radio Habana, Stations from Germany and Russia, and of
course the BBC. Also, some station much closer in the continental US.

From what I read, the Sony 2010 is a great unit, some used ones on ebay
going for just under $200. Maybe after a while I will check it out.

Thanks !


"Jacob Norlund" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 20 Mar 2004 22:34:28 -0500, Philip Campbell wrote:

I am looking to buy a DX-398 and was wondering if this unit has better
reception than an ATS-505? I listen most to MW, but I wanted to get
into
some SWL. I am new to swl.

thanks

Hello. Welcome to the hobby. (I don't think I've posted here, since, oh,
1999!). Personally, I think the radio for you would be a Sony ICF2010.
Great reception, perfect size for base use but still "portable", decent
audio. Reputed to be one of the best DXing portables out there. It also
comes with a short random wire (I think that's what it's called) antenna,
a smart inclusion that boosts signals (all you do is plug one side to the
radio and clip the other to a tree, etc.). Also receives AM, FM,
longwave, and the VHF aircraft band (you can here your local planes on
it). I live in what is known to be the not-so-best reception area
(northern midwest), yet I've found it good for pulling some interesting
signals out of the air.

Enjoy the hobby!

In article , t1000
@webtv.net says...
Interesting, do they still SELL the '2010 nowadays? And where's the best
place to get one now? I used to own one years ago and was very satisfied
with it. And from what I hear, amazingly, after ALL these years, as that
it can pretty much still outperform ALL portables, and even hold it's
own with some tabletop models!

Sony quit making the 2010, I believe, last year. Ebay is the best place
I know of to get one these days. They show up fairly regularly. You
might also try the used equipment listing at Universal Radio.

-- Jay