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A first receiver
Is there a receiver (sub 150$us) that is, far and a way, the best one
out there? I would really like to start playing around with shortwave radio, but I can't seem to find a radio that doesn't have several negative reviews... |
JShorr wrote: Is there a receiver (sub 150$us) that is, far and a way, the best one out there? I would really like to start playing around with shortwave radio, but I can't seem to find a radio that doesn't have several negative reviews... Check out the Sony ICF-7600GR. I think it's probably just what you're looking for. Steve |
JShorr wrote: Are there any drawbacks to this model? I don't know what I'm talking about here, but I've read about a problem on some receivers with drift and also some receivers not being able to pick up certain broadcasts. Does this have either of these problems? Also, amazon carries the Sony ICF-SW7600GR -- is this the same model? Yes, it's the same model. I just forgot to writ the 'SW'. I wouldn't be overly concerned about drift unless I were buying a more more expensive receiver. The 7600 will be fine. It's the best in its class (at least in my and many other peoples' opinions). As for not being able to hear certain kinds of broadcasts, there's no receiver that can hear all broadcasts. It will come with a reel type antenna that will improve reception, and you might consider buying the Sony active loop model AN-LP1. It works very well with the 7600GR. What kinds of things do you want to hear? The 7600GR will be fine for the major broadcasters and, if you want to listen to hams from time to time, it does surprisingly well on SSB for a radio of its size and price. Steve |
Are there any drawbacks to this model? I don't know what I'm talking
about here, but I've read about a problem on some receivers with drift and also some receivers not being able to pick up certain broadcasts. Does this have either of these problems? |
"=2E..but I can't seem to find a radio that doesn't have se=ADveral
negative reviews..." As far as reading negtive comments on receivers, I would be aware of them, but at the same time try to read the positive points about a receiver as well. I don't know about you, but I tend to focus on negatives when reading a review and sometimes have to force myself to read and possibly infer the good stuff too. The Sony ICF7600, Degen (Kaito) DE1103, and Grundig YB all will catch a lot of radio signals. If I didn't already own a DE1103 I would probably consider the Sony 7600. JShorr wrote: Is there a receiver (sub 150$us) that is, far and a way, the best one out there? I would really like to start playing around with shortwave radio, but I can't seem to find a radio that doesn't have several negative reviews... |
I know that its quite a bit more, but any feelings on the Sony
ICF-SW07? I've been in the market for a nice travel alarm clock,/radio and could perhaps justify this radio if it has the same quality SW reception as the 7600. What would be the benefit of the DE1103 over the 7600? If none, I'll probably order the 7600. |
Definitely ICF-SW07 has the better reception performance than 7600GR,
As for DE1103, at least the DE1103 has a rotate tuning knob, 7600GR hasn't it |
maybe the DE1108 will be the best choice, it will enter the market
after couple months pls check the following hyperlink http://groups-beta.google.com/group/...8a20eaabaa0a88 |
I'm not familiar with the SW07. As Leowood indicated the tuning knob
is a definite plus on the DE1103. I find that tuning a knob is much easier than punching up/down buttons for casual bandscanning. It just seems easier to move through a band and reverse directions with one thumb on a wheel. I used and completely wore out a Sony ICF-2002 (7600D) which was the original version of the current 7600. My only complaint was all the button pushing to tune through a band. I also used and partly wore out a Sony ICF-7700 which used a digital/analog display similar to the DE1103. While the 7700 had some performance limitations, it did use a tuning wheel and that made tuning the bands a breeze. It was fine for listening to major broadcasters and MW and FM stations. |
JShorr wrote:
I know that its quite a bit more, but any feelings on the Sony ICF-SW07? I've been in the market for a nice travel alarm clock,/radio and could perhaps justify this radio if it has the same quality SW reception as the 7600. What would be the benefit of the DE1103 over the 7600? If none, I'll probably order the 7600. I had an Sw-07. It was a pretty good radio - especially when you consider it's size. They come with a very good active loop antenna. But the buttons were quite small, and I looked at it more as a neat gadget than a radio I'd want to use on a regular basis. It had a lot of features for a portable - but not as many as I'm used to with my table top radios. |
How much of a problem is it that the 7600 doesn't have an analog-style
tuning knob? |
Dear JShorr,
There is NO short wave radio made which is perfect. ALL have some deficiency(s) which may be more or less important depending on the requirements of the user. That said, the Sony ICF-SW7600GR (preferably used with its associated SW antenna the AN-LP1) will give a novice all the performance and construction quality for which he could wish. This radio has "staying power" as well. Even if you become a "seasoned veteran" like me, you will not "outgrow" it. It is an excellent radio for listening at home on SW as well as MW and FM (it is particularly good on MW); it has a dedicated line output so the sound can be run through your stereo system if you desire; it also travels VERY well. The radio can also be used as a travel alarm (with TWO wakeup times). With its whip it has good sensitivity. You won't miss much! It is VERY stable. Its SSB reception is arguably the best of any currently-available portable radio. Its synchronous-selectable sideband circuitry is offered by NO OTHER small portable with the exception of the SW-07; note that the '7600/AN-LP1 combination is far less costly than the SW-07 and performance is comparable. Having experienced listening via synchonous selectable sideband circuitry, I shall NEVER buy ANY SW radio without it!. If you purchase the AN-LP1 antenna (which can be purchased separately sometime in the future), you will find this radio/antenna combination to afford excellent performance. It is even VERY EASY on batteries; it you use NiMH rechargeables, your power costs will be extremely low. (You don't need to buy an AC adapter for this radio. It works better on the batteries, anyway.) The Sony ICF-SW7600G radio can be purchased new from Amazon (the least costly dealer I have found), J&R Music World (they have low prices too, sometimes less than Amazon, but check shipping costs: Amazon's is generally "zero"), Universal, AES, and some other dealers. Check the prices, but make sure you buy from a reputable dealer. AES and some others sell the AN-LP1 antenna (AES's price is $89.95, less than the dealers on eBay!). I wish you the best of luck. I personally own three of the 7600GR models and two of the predecessor 'G model (the 'GR is better). (I also now own five AN-LP1 antennas.) I have bought many other receivers which did not give me the satisfaction that this one does. I know that if you buy this Sony receiver you will never regret it. Best, Joe |
JShorr schrieb:
How much of a problem is it that the 7600 doesn't have an analog-style tuning knob? That depends. Some people actually prefer the 7600G/GR tuning key layout to a Sangean-style tuning knob. That said, you're never as fast scanning bands as with an analog set. But overall I don't think it's overly dramatic. Reception wise the 7600GR is certainly still very good in its class, with SSB being hard to beat due to Sony's "secret weapon" CXA1376. I would certainly like to get my hands on a datasheet of that IC, being a very curious nature in things like this. (I guess it would be in Japanese, though.) Stephan -- Meine Andere Seite: http://stephan.win31.de/ PC#6: i440BX, 2xP3-500E, 704 MiB, 18+80 GB, R9k AGP 64 MiB, 110W This is a SCSI-inside, Legacy-plus, TCPA-free computer :) |
JShorr wrote:
I know that its quite a bit more, but any feelings on the Sony ICF-SW07? Hasn't it been discontinued? -- Brian Denley http://home.comcast.net/~b.denley/index.html |
J: Definately return the Sony if the whip antenna will not rotate
smoothly, apparently its a very common problem. After extending the base section of the whip straight up till you can see the bottom, it will then be necessary to tug it up an inch or so more thus pulling out the top of the mount it is connected to. It shold now rotate smoothly. My old ICF SW7600 had a good antenna whip but I bent it up, it being the only fragile thing on the radio which was bounced around off road in a jeep for years, and still plays perfectly. |
"JShorr" wrote in message oups.com... I just ordered the Sony, but had one last comparison question (I could do a return). I just read an advertisement for the eton E10 and E100. Anyone have thoughts on these two models as compared to the ICF-SW7600GR? Hiya, I have both the Sony 7600gr and the PL-550 which is the exact same radio as the E10. The PL-550 is a nice radio, but the Sony 7600gr is the better performer in just about every category. The only performance advantage that the PL-550 has over the Sony is audio quality. The PL-550 has more defined and better sounding audio. The Sony is way better for resolving signals. The PL-550 in my experience is also prone to overload and images. The Sony is way more selective. The ssb selectable AM sync on the Sony is also a great feature. The PL-550 doesn't even have ssb capabilities. The 7600gr is also a great radio for medium wave dx'ing. Also... When I purchased my PL-550 brand new, I paid half of what the E10 is being sold for. The PL-550 at $60.00 brand new is a TREMENDOUS value. The E10 at $130.00 is not such a great deal considering it is in the same price range with a superior radio like the 7600gr. I really love my PL-550, but I cant see how you'd want to pay for a new E10 over a new Sony 7600gr. IMO, the 7600gr is the best of all the portables out there. I even prefer it over the more expensive Sangean 909 for program listening. -- Respectfully, Michael Location: New Jersey Primary Receiver: R-75 with full Kiwa mods Antennas: G5RV, 200ft "Frankenstein" roof wire Additional Radios: 7600GR,KA-1101,KA-1102 PL-550, KA-989, Info-Mate 837, GE-SR III Westinghouse H-104 (seven tube) Web Site: http://md_dxing.tripod.com |
Dear JShorr,
There is no real comparison. The dual-conversion Sony will greatly outperform the single-conversion E10 and/or E100. Best, Joe |
Dear JShorr,
There is no real comparison. The dual-conversion Sony will greatly outperform the single-conversion E10 and/or E100. Best, Joe |
Dear JShorr,
There is no real comparison. The dual-conversion Sony will greatly outperform the single-conversion E10 and/or E100. Best, Joe |
If cheap is the main consideration and you can do without the Digital
Readout ...here are two Oldies but goodies that at times can be found on Ebay at under $100. First is the Realistic DX-160 . Its solid state and doesn't take a lot of shelf space and is more sensitive than most portables out there. It also has a BFO which can be used for SSB and CW reception. While not the most selective, it beats the cheap portables. Another radio is of the Boat Anchor variety. Its bigger and bulky and uses TUBES. Its a National NC-183D. It is both selective and very sensitive below 20 MHz or so. Its a real radio for AM Broadcast Band reception too. Wish I still had mine. "JShorr" wrote in message ups.com... Is there a receiver (sub 150$us) that is, far and a way, the best one out there? I would really like to start playing around with shortwave radio, but I can't seem to find a radio that doesn't have several negative reviews... |
"W Page Pyne" wrote in message news:WfMLd.4641$B64.3912@trnddc07... Another radio is of the Boat Anchor variety. Its bigger and bulky and uses TUBES. Its a National NC-183D. It is both selective and very sensitive below 20 MHz or so. Its a real radio for AM Broadcast Band reception too. Wish I still had mine Join the crowd, in a weak moment I sold mine along with a SP600 in the late 70's. :( RM~ |
JShorr wrote: Is there a receiver (sub 150$us) that is, far and a way, the best one out there? I would really like to start playing around with shortwave radio, but I can't seem to find a radio that doesn't have several negative reviews... If you want an older portable that has good reviews. And don't want to spent alot. Try a Sangean ATS-803A/RS DX-440. Usually can pick one up even on ebay for less than $75. And they are not the battery hogs some newer set are. BW |
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B.R. Smith wrote in
: On 31 Jan 2005 08:58:35 -0800, wrote: Definitely ICF-SW07 has the better reception performance than 7600GR, As for DE1103, at least the DE1103 has a rotate tuning knob, 7600GR hasn't it I hesitated on buying the 7600GR because it lacked a tuning knob. Now that I have it, not only do I not miss the tuning knob, I wouldn't want a radio with one. I like how I can just scan across the channels with the touch of the button. You also can scan the channels with a touch of the button on any radio that has PLL ("digital") tuning and a tuning knob. I like the tuning knob because you can hear weak stations that the auto-search won't pick up. |
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