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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 $$$ more they can get some real outstanding receivers from other manufacturers. a used satellit 800 is $320 from universal when they have them in stock and it is a much better receiver with a warranty ! he includes some wire and a clip for an antenna and also a junk box speaker but still ???????? what do people see ? are they that taken in by his BS writeup of how his mods walk on water...he makes a big deal out some BB's in the tuning knob !!!!!! clue me in people,,,,,do I want one of these ????? is it better than an R-8B ????? |
wrote in news:1103242870.681800.16610
@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com: I am not sure why Lowbander DX-394's sell like hotcakes for $250 plus shipping when for a few $$$ 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 ????? 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 |
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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 |
I never mentioned the R8B, I said an R8, which I have seen sold for
$350 and is a far superior receiver. I am also sure that he does not get his filters from kiwa but has another source and gets them for $2-$3 each, it is just a low cost murata filter. and I have seen MANY 394's for $110 on ebay so I think he is ripping people off at $260. |
TOM,
.. Another factor may be that for many casual Shortwave Listeners they 'know' the RadioShack "DX" Receiver Band Name. .. They may have heard of Drake, Yaesu, Icom, Kenwood JRC, Ten Tec and others. But they 'know' the RadioShack "DX" Receiver Band Name and trust it. It may not be logical: But it is a 'feeling', and for some "Feelings Are Facts" [.] .. jm2cw ~ RHF .. .. |
I think you are being choosy in your stats, citing only the lowest
prices recorded to support your argument. I tracked eBay selling prices for DX-394's over a 7-month period from Oct/03 to Apr/04 - graphed at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RADIOS...394/files/FAQ/ .The monthly average for unmodified ones ranged from $135-$175; for modified ones, (not solely lowbander's and with varying degrees of mods) from $195-$265. Of course, there were individual ones that sold for less and more than these. That was nearly a year ago and prices may have moved somewhat. My recent eBay watch list shows only one sold in the US for or $110 or less at $108.50. The majority of unmodified ones at around $150. lowbander sold 5 between $235 and $250. Rather than comparing it against more expensive receivers that rarely show up on ebay and sell at the bottom price you mention (that's too easy!), can you identify a readily available one that is comparable in price with equal or superior features and performance? 73, Tom |
I never mentioned the R8B, I said an R8, ...
You said: clue me in people,,,,,do I want one of these ????? is it better than an R-8B ????? So, yes, you can buy a new R8B for 10 times the price of a used DX-394 and it is a better receiver. 73, Tom |
READ MY TYPING !!!! THIS IS WHAT I POSTED ON 12/22 AT 8AM
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. |
No need to shout. You are entitled to your opinion but be careful when
you state it that you are not slandering lowbander or anyone else. His ebay feedback is 100% positive on over 700 transactions, the majority of which are sales of his modified DX-394's. While he may be guilty of hyperbole (isn't that typical of our advertising oriented society?), can you find a mistruth in his ads? His hundreds of customers are satisfied so his price cannot be too high. I think he is to be congratulated on creating an after-market in souping up DX-394's. Is there such a market for any other receiver? If your only point was that you can buy a superior radio by spending more money, then I would not argue with you. But, for some, that extra cash is not an option. And to get any of the radios you cited at such a low price is a rarity while there is almost always at least one DX-394 FA on ebay. This thread, however, (and not necessarily you, Cap'n) demeaned lowbander, his modified DX-394's, and the basic DX-394. I thought that was unfair and needed some balance. After all, I'm a DX-394 enthusiast and hot-rodder. I don't know what you are using, Cap'n, but if you can handle a soldering iron, pick up one of those DX-394's at $110 and have some fun. Your other rig, like my Drake R-4B, may end up gathering dust for a while ;-) . 73 and seasons greetings! Tom |
No, it isn't and wasn't. The un-modded DX394 was an overpriced, low performing, almost entry-level radio. I wouldn't even call it a receiver! There was filter bleed-thru and serious memory problems.
Even with mods, it's only a little bit better - still an entry-level radio - but after all, you can't get a silk purse from a sows' ear. I bought one at the close-out price of $149, did many of the more useful mods to it, and then sold it as fast as I could. Bought a used Icom with the money I got and never looked back. Why 20 memories per band? And who the heck decided what the "bands" were supposed to be? They bear no relationship to reality! There are exactly 20 memories that can be used anywhere you want to use them. Why? Why not all 200 memories assignable - like everyone else does it? I laughed when I saw the logo at the yahoo DX394 group - "the best receiver"! Compared to what - a Barlow-Wadley XCR30? No radio at all? Gimme a break! Anyone who says the DX394 is "great" has never used a real receiver. It will NEVER outperform higher priced radios no matter what you do to it. Quote:
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