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

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

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
..
..

That review was written by a bunch of " I am better than you" HAM who put down everything that is NOT strictly got a HAM name on it. I have a DX 394 with "mods" And yes it is a great receiver. It outperforms higher priced SLW radios! Does it need mods to make it better "YES" but it is a great radio without them!

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.