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I originally bought my Sangean ATS-909W from a ThieCom in Germany (the
'W' meaning it covers 76-108FM instead of the usual 88-108) and got it upgraded by RadioLabs while visiting the States. I've never used the Sony 7600GR nor the other portables mentioned, so can't comment there but I've found my mod'd 909 to be quite a bit better than it was unmodified. The sound is certainly a LOT better and the sensitivity seems to be quite a bit better too but again, since I don't have any other shortwave receivers to compare it too, I can't say if it's better or worse overall. As pointed out in previous posts, there is a fair cost difference between a Sony 7600GR and the overall cost of a mod'd 909. (If you're wondering then why I ended up going for the 909 + mod, some of the reasons were the addition of RDS and the signal strength indicator. Most European FM stations use RDS, so it's handy for quickly identifying them.) ...Francis |
j.d. wrote in message . ..
Anyone have an opinion on the "Super" 909 located at http://www.radiolabs.com/products/re...s/super909.php ? I am considering taking up shortwave radio. I have a while before I'll have the money, I am just looking for information. Thanks- I can tell you, price notwithstanding, that the Super 909/DX-398 is a significant improvement over stock. I had a DX-398 that I got from RD on closeout for $100, so I felt that it might be worthwhile - and it was! The sound is cleaner and easier on the ears, the sensitivity off the whip is improved, the RF Gain now works very well on AM and FM, and the modified controls feel better. The blue display is quite nice. I'm not sure why folks do not like the SSB tuning - mine works great and sounds fine, either on hams, utes or ECSS - maybe they don't like the increased power drain? I use it with a power supply anyway most of the time, so it is no big deal. Having said all of this - I think I agree with the posters who recommend using the money toward a good used rig. $300 buys a lot of good used radio. Bruce Jensen |
"bpnjensen" wrote in message om... j.d. wrote in message . .. Anyone have an opinion on the "Super" 909 located at http://www.radiolabs.com/products/re...s/super909.php ? I am considering taking up shortwave radio. I have a while before I'll have the money, I am just looking for information. Thanks- I can tell you, price notwithstanding, that the Super 909/DX-398 is a significant improvement over stock. I had a DX-398 that I got from RD on closeout for $100, so I felt that it might be worthwhile - and it was! The sound is cleaner and easier on the ears, the sensitivity off the whip is improved, the RF Gain now works very well on AM and FM, and the modified controls feel better. The blue display is quite nice. I'm not sure why folks do not like the SSB tuning - mine works great and sounds fine, either on hams, utes or ECSS - maybe they don't like the increased power drain? I use it with a power supply anyway most of the time, so it is no big deal. Having said all of this - I think I agree with the posters who recommend using the money toward a good used rig. $300 buys a lot of good used radio. I'm thinking about having this done as well, and my primary consideration would be improving the radio's sensitivity since I already use an external speaker. Is there an -overall- improvement in sensitivity (which I would think would be the case) for those who use an external loop, or is it primarily noticeable when using the whip? My take on the value equation is that it may be worth it if you already have the radio anyway, but that $330 for the moded radio gets you into pretty rich territory where you're not that far from a new Sat 800, new Icom R75, or something decent used. |
True. . .If you are thinking of all things remaining as they are.
However, Should you be forced into a situation where you require a good portable the Super 909, with the solar charger would be far superior to any table top that had to be left at home. :-) Tian Li wrote: My vote goes to the Sony 7600GR. If your thinking of spending over $300 then start looking at used table top receivers and Ham gear which will out perform any portable. |
Hello.
It is my opinion that for a first purchase (and one you will not "outgrow"), you cannot beat the combination of the Sony ICF-SW7600GR AND the Sony AN-LP1 Active Loop Antenna. This appears to be an almost ideal combination and can be purchased in total for less than $260 (sometimes much less). I myself, however, would deal with one of the established shortwave dealers, such as Universal, Grove, or AES. (I know that AES stocks both the radio and the antenna; I'm not too sure about the others.) You pay "top dollar" but you get excellent service with no "surprises" and you have a good company standing behind you. (I feel that, in this hobby, with its sophisticated and complex equipment, that is very important.) Note that the AN-LP1 works only on shortwave frequencies and MUST be disconnected from the radio for proper MW reception. (Should you wish to DX on MW, I should recommend the Select-A-Tenna, less than $60 at various dealers.) Also note that the AN-LP1 antenna is strictly an "indoor" antenna (which works best when placed next to a window). For outdoor use, I have found that a Sangean ANT-60 works fairly well with the '7600GR but often does NOT outperform the whip. If the combination price is too high for you at present, you can buy the radio alone and get very good reception right off the whip. (Outdoors, I generally use the whip only and with very good results.) You could always buy the AN-LP1 antenna later. The only "flaws" in this radio are (surprisingly) image rejection which is less than excellent (cannot be corrected at this time) and sound quality which is only good-to-very good (can be easily "corrected" by connecting the radio through its line-output to a stereo system). Battery life is excellent; I use rechargeable NiMH batteries. An AC-adapter is not really necessary. All in all, the '7600GR is an outstanding first radio and one which you will take on vacations as it is also a "dual alarm clock-radio!" As I stated above, no matter what other radios you may purchase, you will never "outgrow" this one. It does not need to be "modified" in any way, either. All the best, Joe j.d. wrote in message . .. Read a lot of good things about the 7600GR. The thing is, I live in the middle of Kansas, and the number and quality of the radio stations I can receive is limited, so I'd like to get my old stations from Kansas City/Lawrence. Also, I am intrigued by being able to pick up stations from across the country and around the world. Can you hook up an external antenna to the 7600, and if so, what sort would you recommend? Remember that I am totally new to this, so things may have to be explained in a little more detail. Thanks a lot. |
"Al Patrick" wrote in message ... True. . .If you are thinking of all things remaining as they are. However, Should you be forced into a situation where you require a good portable the Super 909, with the solar charger would be far superior to any table top that had to be left at home. :-) I would recommend checking out the new Degen 1103, new for around $65 shipped. DeWayne Tian Li wrote: My vote goes to the Sony 7600GR. If your thinking of spending over $300 then start looking at used table top receivers and Ham gear which will out perform any portable. |
"starman" wrote in message ... "j.d." wrote: Anyone have an opinion on the "Super" 909 located at http://www.radiolabs.com/products/re...s/super909.php ? I am considering taking up shortwave radio. I have a while before I'll have the money, I am just looking for information. Thanks- By most accounts the 'Super 909' performs better than the stock one. However it's rather pricey and therefore a matter of opinion on whether you get your moneys worth. If you're handy with electronics or know someone that is, a stock 909 can be modified for much less than the cost of the Super model. Here is a list of some mods: http://members.verizon.net/~vze20h45...9mods.html#top |
"bpnjensen" wrote in message om... j.d. wrote in message . .. Anyone have an opinion on the "Super" 909 located at http://www.radiolabs.com/products/re...s/super909.php ? I am considering taking up shortwave radio. I have a while before I'll have the money, I am just looking for information. Thanks- I can tell you, price notwithstanding, that the Super 909/DX-398 is a significant improvement over stock. I had a DX-398 that I got from RD on closeout for $100, so I felt that it might be worthwhile - and it was! The sound is cleaner and easier on the ears, the sensitivity off the whip is improved, the RF Gain now works very well on AM and FM, and the modified controls feel better. The blue display is quite nice. I'm not sure why folks do not like the SSB tuning - mine works great and sounds fine, either on hams, utes or ECSS - maybe they don't SSB is too WIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DeWayne like the increased power drain? I use it with a power supply anyway most of the time, so it is no big deal. Having said all of this - I think I agree with the posters who recommend using the money toward a good used rig. $300 buys a lot of good used radio. Bruce Jensen |
"Joe Analssandrini" wrote in message om... Hello. It is my opinion that for a first purchase (and one you will not "outgrow"), you cannot beat the combination of the Sony ICF-SW7600GR AND the Sony AN-LP1 Active Loop Antenna. This appears to be an almost ideal combination and can be purchased in total for less than $260 (sometimes much less). I myself, however, would deal with one of the established shortwave dealers, such as Universal, Grove, or AES. (I Grove no longer sells Sony radios. know that AES stocks both the radio and the antenna; I'm not too sure about the others.) You pay "top dollar" but you get excellent service with no "surprises" and you have a good company standing behind you. (I feel that, in this hobby, with its sophisticated and complex equipment, that is very important.) Note that the AN-LP1 works only on shortwave frequencies and MUST be disconnected from the radio for proper MW reception. (Should you wish to DX on MW, I should recommend the Select-A-Tenna, less than $60 at various dealers.) Also note that the AN-LP1 antenna is strictly an "indoor" antenna (which works best when placed next to a window). For outdoor use, I have found that a Sangean ANT-60 works fairly well with the '7600GR but often does NOT outperform the whip. If the combination price is too high for you at present, you can buy the radio alone and get very good reception right off the whip. (Outdoors, I generally use the whip only and with very good results.) You could always buy the AN-LP1 antenna later. The only "flaws" in this radio are (surprisingly) image rejection which is less than excellent (cannot be corrected at this time) and sound quality which is only good-to-very good (can be easily "corrected" by connecting the radio through its line-output to a stereo system). Battery life is excellent; I use rechargeable NiMH batteries. An AC-adapter is not really necessary. All in all, the '7600GR is an outstanding first radio and one which you will take on vacations as it is also a "dual alarm clock-radio!" As I stated above, no matter what other radios you may purchase, you will never "outgrow" this one. It does not need to be "modified" in any way, either. Again, for a first time radio I recommend checking out the new Degen 1103 for $65 shipped. DeWayne All the best, Joe j.d. wrote in message . .. Read a lot of good things about the 7600GR. The thing is, I live in the middle of Kansas, and the number and quality of the radio stations I can receive is limited, so I'd like to get my old stations from Kansas City/Lawrence. Also, I am intrigued by being able to pick up stations from across the country and around the world. Can you hook up an external antenna to the 7600, and if so, what sort would you recommend? Remember that I am totally new to this, so things may have to be explained in a little more detail. Thanks a lot. |
"T. Early" wrote in message ...
"bpnjensen" wrote in message om... j.d. wrote in message . .. Anyone have an opinion on the "Super" 909 located at http://www.radiolabs.com/products/re...s/super909.php ? I am considering taking up shortwave radio. I have a while before I'll have the money, I am just looking for information. Thanks- I can tell you, price notwithstanding, that the Super 909/DX-398 is a significant improvement over stock. I had a DX-398 that I got from RD on closeout for $100, so I felt that it might be worthwhile - and it was! The sound is cleaner and easier on the ears, the sensitivity off the whip is improved, the RF Gain now works very well on AM and FM, and the modified controls feel better. The blue display is quite nice. I'm not sure why folks do not like the SSB tuning - mine works great and sounds fine, either on hams, utes or ECSS - maybe they don't like the increased power drain? I use it with a power supply anyway most of the time, so it is no big deal. Having said all of this - I think I agree with the posters who recommend using the money toward a good used rig. $300 buys a lot of good used radio. I'm thinking about having this done as well, and my primary consideration would be improving the radio's sensitivity since I already use an external speaker. Is there an -overall- improvement in sensitivity (which I would think would be the case) for those who use an external loop, or is it primarily noticeable when using the whip? My take on the value equation is that it may be worth it if you already have the radio anyway, but that $330 for the moded radio gets you into pretty rich territory where you're not that far from a new Sat 800, new Icom R75, or something decent used. I have heard that the sensitivity overall is improved, but I personally have not yet plugged an antenna into the jack. In fact, on the occasions when I've used an external antenna, I've just coupled it to the whip using an insulated inductor coil of wire - it works great. I agree, it would be nice to use either a passively-coupled or plugged in loop on this radio. I also agree that, for $330, you may be able to get more radio than the Sangean. Bruce Jensen |
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