RadioBanter - Lowbander DX-394's on ebay

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Lowbander DX-394's on ebay

I am not sure why Lowbander DX-394's sell like hotcakes for $250 plus
shipping when for a few $$$ more they can get some real outstanding
receivers from other manufacturers. a used satellit 800 is $320 from
universal when they have them in stock and it is a much better receiver
with a warranty !

he includes some wire and a clip for an antenna and also a junk box
speaker but still ????????

what do people see ? are they that taken in by his BS writeup of how
his mods walk on water...he makes a big deal out some BB's in the
tuning knob !!!!!!

clue me in people,,,,,do I want one of these ????? is it better than an
R-8B ?????

They do suck and after the mods, you have something almost acceptable.

"Conan Ford" wrote in message
3.159...
You'd think people would realize--if it needs 11 mods, maybe something
sucks about it to start.

I was looking at one of those, until I saw the 1/5 rating on DXing.com

wrote in message
ups.com...
I am not sure why Lowbander DX-394's sell like hotcakes for $250 plus
shipping when for a few $$$ more they can get some real outstanding
receivers from other manufacturers. a used satellit 800 is $320 from
universal when they have them in stock and it is a much better receiver
with a warranty !

he includes some wire and a clip for an antenna and also a junk box
speaker but still ????????

what do people see ? are they that taken in by his BS writeup of how
his mods walk on water...he makes a big deal out some BB's in the
tuning knob !!!!!!

clue me in people,,,,,do I want one of these ????? is it better than an
R-8B ?????

I owned one for a short while, as the price was right- horrible receiver-
but it resold quickly.

Dale W4OP

RivaScoot wrote:

Well, those buying his radios certainly remind me of P.T. Barnum's ol' adage....

He didn't say it.

http://freaks.monstrous.com/barnum_stories.htm#giant

mike

They buy the crippled from birth DX 394 for the same reason people rescue
unwanted puppies from dogpounds. It is something basic to the human spirit, the
need to rescue something that is disadvantaged and turn it into something
better. Its a good thing, but it leads to the purchase of bad rcvrs.

Conan Ford wrote:
[snip]

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...m=5737860 604

You'd think people would realize--if it needs 11 mods, maybe
something
sucks about it to start.

I was looking at one of those, until I saw the 1/5 rating on
DXing.com

I got a DX-394 30 months ago when it was clearing out from Radio Shack
Canada at CDN$130 (then ~US$85, now ~US$105) and have been having a
blast with it since, for these reasons:
a) it has a marvellous set of operating features
b) it has some faults that can be easily fixed; there is a sense of
satisfaction in doing so
c) it can be readily 'hot-rodded' at little expense and low risk and is
therefore a great learning opportunity
d) it is pretty well documented and now has the most extensive
collection of optional mods of any radio (TTBOMK)

I now have three of them in various states of undress and modification.
Sure, my Drake R-4B is reputed to be one of the best DX contest
receivers ever but the DX-394 is better in certain respects, poorer in
others.

That 1/5 rating is exceptional and I cannot find it on www.dxing.com.
For objective reviews, see these:

ARRL Lab, QST, 1997: http://hamradio.online.ru/ftp/pr9710.pdf

Radio Netherlands Receiver Test Laboratory Review of the DX-394
by Jonathan Marks & Tom Sundstrom - 4 out of 5 star "Value Rating"
http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/dx394.html

For other subjective assessments, see:
eHam.net: http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/1188 and
http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/2108
German: http://www.dr-boesch.ch/radio/realistic-dx394-test3.htm

The DX-394 Special Interest Group is one of the largest for any radio
with 766 members. Users or those aspiring to acquire one are welcome to
join: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RADIOSHACKDX394

73, Tom

my original point was that mr lowbander sells his 394's for too high a
price and makes it sound like he walks on water modding it. for a
little more than he charges ($260) one can get a satellit 800 or a
sometimes an R-75 or R-8, far superior radios.
the modified 394 may indeed be a fine receiver but it is not the
receiver lowbander makes it out to be. he sounds like he sells used
cars on the side.

and that stupid piece of wire with a clip on the end is not the worlds
greatest antenna like he makes it sound. he probably sells duct tape as
a miracle cure.

While I would not pay that much for one of his modified DX-394's
because I can do the mods myself, hundreds of others have. His price is
not unreasonable when you consider that the typical selling price for
unmodified ones is around $150. The replacement filter from Kiwa would
cost you $30 delivered (I'm sure he bought up stock in quantity at a
fraction of that price) and the other parts maybe $10 or so delivered.
Then factor in a couple of hours time at, say, $30-$50 an hour and
you're into the 250-300 range total. That's still well below the
original selling price.

Sure, if you can afford it, spend more on a better radio. Last I
looked, a new R8B was well over $1k. The used DX-394 at $150-$250 still
occupies a sweet spot for tabletop general communication receivers, in
significant quantity and with little competition.

73, Tom