Re: [IRCA] good portable receiver
I'd like to thank everyone for their help, I'm now trying to decide between the IC-2010 and the R-70 (although you never know), Bob Young Millbury, Ma KB1OKL Date: Tue, 20 Aug 2013 17:37:09 -0400 From: bobg...@optonline.net To: a...@nrcdxas.org Subject: Re: [NRC-AM] good portable receiver Bob, I had an Icom R-70 in the 80's and it worked very well on MW, even better if you're away from locals. Not because of overload, but you have only the passband filter to attack slop from a local. (That's in a stock R-70.) I suppose you could use ecss on MW, too. There's a very easy mod (clipping one wire) which activates the preamp on MW. Sensitivity was very good to excellent on MW with that mod. Plus, since it's a higher end communications rig, it easily handles external antennas. Hope this helps. Bob Galerstein WB2VGD Monroe, NY On 8/20/2013 4:16 PM, Bob Young wrote: I'm actually thinking more of a SS communications receiver now, I was only worried about what would fit in a suitcase and never even thought of regular receivers, anyone here familiar with an ICOM IC-70 general coverage receiver? I think I can probably pick one up for about 200-300 bucks and they get very good reviews on ham.net. even for MW reception. Are Kiwi filters still available for something like this? If not this receiver can anyone here recommend a good older receiver like this which also won't break the bank? Bob Young Millbury, Ms KB1OKL ___ The NRC AM mailing list Questions? ow...@nrcdxas.org Antenna Pattern Book Now Shipping Pre-orders for the 34th AM Radio Log now accepted FM Atlas 21st Edition Close Out Prices! Details at http://www.nrcdxas.org ___ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com
Re: [IRCA] good portable receiver for DXing
I have a Tecsun PL-660 as mentioned by somebody on one of the lists... my particular sample isn't quite as sensitive on MW or (especially) LW as I would like, but I'm able to boost signal levels pretty easily with a Quantum Stick+. Note that you unless you dig into the radio and modify it, you can ONLY inductively-couple... the ext-antenna input doesn't work below 1700 kHz. Correct me if I'm wrong, but if I remember right the same thing is true of the Sony ICF-7600GR (which I also own). Both of these models have synchronous-detection capability, and the Sony is definitely sensitive enough on LW & MW to allow reception of Euro splits here in Missouri (when conditions are really "up," of course). I don't think anybody's mentioned the 7600GR yet--it's not the high-performance DX machine the ICF-2010 was, but IMO it comes close, and at least it's still available new (and warrantied). Both it and the Tecsun are well under $200--the Sony's a bit more expensive. Both are highl! y sensitive on SW, good selectivity, fairly stable for sideband reception, but both are mediocre at best on FM. But as Bob says that's not a priority for him, so all is well. Randy Stewart Arts Producer KSMU 901 S. National Springfield MO 65897 ___ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com
Re: [IRCA] good portable receiver
One possibility would be you could get a Sony ICF-SW7600GR brand new from Amazon for $133 shipped. It can tune in 1 kHz steps & has selectable LSB/USB with fine tuning. Also, you could get a Q-stick + from dxtools.com for about $52 + actual shipping & 10% discount for dues paying members of many radio clubs. In my case, I got a Sony ICF-SW7600G used on eBay for about $77 shipped. Using the Q-stick + with it, I managed to get about 400 beacons in 1 year. Uses AA batteries. fairly small & lightweight. 73, George S., MN From: Bob Young To: NRC list Cc: IRCA Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2013 3:16 PM Subject: [IRCA] good portable receiver I'm actually thinking more of a SS communications receiver now, I was only worried about what would fit in a suitcase and never even thought of regular receivers, anyone here familiar with an ICOM IC-70 general coverage receiver? I think I can probably pick one up for about 200-300 bucks and they get very good reviews on ham.net. even for MW reception. Are Kiwi filters still available for something like this? If not this receiver can anyone here recommend a good older receiver like this which also won't break the bank? Bob Young Millbury, Ms KB1OKL ___ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com ___ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com
[IRCA] good portable receiver
I'm actually thinking more of a SS communications receiver now, I was only worried about what would fit in a suitcase and never even thought of regular receivers, anyone here familiar with an ICOM IC-70 general coverage receiver? I think I can probably pick one up for about 200-300 bucks and they get very good reviews on ham.net. even for MW reception. Are Kiwi filters still available for something like this? If not this receiver can anyone here recommend a good older receiver like this which also won't break the bank? Bob Young Millbury, Ms KB1OKL ___ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com
Re: [IRCA] good portable receiver for DXing
Bob, here's a post I left on the ABDX listserver about a week or so ago in which I gave my thoughts on two receivers I've owned (the Sony ICF-2010 from June 1997 to Oct. 2011, the Sangean ATS-909X from Oct. 2011 to the present). I acquired my 2010 from DXer Marc Marino in the Chicago area, and was very impressed with it right away. As Russ mentioned in his post, the 2010 is a great portable, although the ones that are in really good shape are hard to find and quite expensive. I start off here by talking about FM DXing with the Sangean, but I then go into comparing the two. BE CAREFUL when using the direct keypad entry on FM if you're hopscotching frequencies! On my 909X, at least, if I neglect to hit "F" (to change the frequency) before punching any of the numerical keys, the number "27.67" suddenly appears on the LCD, and ALL functions on the radio suddenly cease to work. This requires having to open the back panel, remove the AA batteries, wait about 2-3 minutes (until the "27.67" fades), then put the batteries back in, and turn on the radio. A bit of a pain. IMHO, the audio on the 909X's AM side doesn't seem quite as clear as that on the 2010. That's not to say, though, that the AM band on the 909X isn't DX-able, because it certainly still is. One thing you will notice on the 909X when the batteries start to get low is that the audio on AM wavers a bit. And when they get quite low, a high-pitched squeal makes itself known, as well. One advantage that that 909X has over the 2010 is that the former (which operates on AAs) isn't so much of a battery hog as the latter (on Ds). Another is that selectivity on the 909X's FM band is outstanding. I'm just a mere 4 miles from a local classic rock station on 105.9, yet 106.1 and 105.7 have been open on regular occasions to the point where Ravenwood, Missouri and Waterloo, Iowa (respectively) have been heard with no splatter whatsoever. And I get no images or spurs of locals on the FM band -- that was a huge problem with the 2010. As far as FM rigs here at home go, it's the best I've used to this point in time. One advantage that the 2010 has over the 909X is that the 2010 has a carrying strap. This has proved to be critical already on a couple of occasions when, walking out the door of my house to DX at a local park, the 909X has slipped out of my grasp and been dropped on a concrete sidewalk just outside my door. Something inside broke off, so that the base of the AA battery does not make conctact with the terminal. I could send the radio back to Universal to have them fix it, but I've simply decided to remedy the problem by taking a piece of aluminum foil (or tin foil, whichever's available here in the house), folding it up several times, and jamming it into the open space between the battery and terminal so that a contact is made and the radio can operate again. Hope that helps provide more insight. 73, Rick Dau South Omaha, Nebraska ___ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com
Re: [IRCA] good portable receiver for DXing
I have 3 of them. They're what I've been using for AM and LW both at home and on DXpeditions. Given that they're our of production for over a decade, it's not always easy to find one in really good condition. At some point, component age sneaks in. Happily, they can still be repaired. For one in very good condition, it might run up to $300. Mostly anything under $200 will need work. SW is good, AM & LW are bvery good, FM is adequate. Has SSB, CW modes. Push button keypad entry or manual tuning, multiple memories, wide and narrow synch detection. Russ Edmunds 15 mi NNW of Philadelphia Grid FN20id From: Bob Young To: IRCA Sent: Monday, August 19, 2013 7:16 PM Subject: [IRCA] good portable receiver for DXing I like the suggestions and will check them out. However I should have put a price range in, I would be willing to spend up to around 200.00 for a receiver. I like the sound of the Sony ICF-2010 anyone familiar with this one? Bob Young > -- > > Message: 4 > Date: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 13:31:10 -0400 > From: Bob Young > To: NRC list > Cc: IRCA > Subject: [IRCA] good portable receiver for DXing > Message-ID: > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Hi all, > > I'm looking for a good portable receiver which won't break the bank. > > Bob Young > Millbury, Ma (and Lima, Peru) > KB1OKL > > > -- > > > > -- > > Message: 8 > Date: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 17:50:37 -0400 > From: Vincent Ferme > To: irca@hard-core-dx.com > Subject: [IRCA] good portable receiver for DXing > Message-ID: <5212932d.2080...@yahoo.ca> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > Bob, > > Since you are not looking for an Ultralight, and good FM performance is > not a must, I think you are going to be very happy with a Tecsun PL-660. > It does include SSB, Sync detection and airband. > > I have Sangeans, Grundig/Eton, and other Tecsun ultralights. This is the > best portable I have right now. > > SW is great, AM is good, Sync detection and SSB work very well. FM is > the weak point with my unit. The PL-310 or PL-606 would be better > options for FM, in my opinion. > > Regards, > > Vince > Ottawa, ON > > ___ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com ___ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com
[IRCA] good portable receiver for DXing
I like the suggestions and will check them out. However I should have put a price range in, I would be willing to spend up to around 200.00 for a receiver. I like the sound of the Sony ICF-2010 anyone familiar with this one? Bob Young > -- > > Message: 4 > Date: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 13:31:10 -0400 > From: Bob Young > To: NRC list > Cc: IRCA > Subject: [IRCA] good portable receiver for DXing > Message-ID: > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Hi all, > > I'm looking for a good portable receiver which won't break the bank. > > Bob Young > Millbury, Ma (and Lima, Peru) > KB1OKL > > > -- > > > > -- > > Message: 8 > Date: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 17:50:37 -0400 > From: Vincent Ferme > To: irca@hard-core-dx.com > Subject: [IRCA] good portable receiver for DXing > Message-ID: <5212932d.2080...@yahoo.ca> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > Bob, > > Since you are not looking for an Ultralight, and good FM performance is > not a must, I think you are going to be very happy with a Tecsun PL-660. > It does include SSB, Sync detection and airband. > > I have Sangeans, Grundig/Eton, and other Tecsun ultralights. This is the > best portable I have right now. > > SW is great, AM is good, Sync detection and SSB work very well. FM is > the weak point with my unit. The PL-310 or PL-606 would be better > options for FM, in my opinion. > > Regards, > > Vince > Ottawa, ON > > ___ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com
[IRCA] good portable receiver for DXing
Bob, Since you are not looking for an Ultralight, and good FM performance is not a must, I think you are going to be very happy with a Tecsun PL-660. It does include SSB, Sync detection and airband. I have Sangeans, Grundig/Eton, and other Tecsun ultralights. This is the best portable I have right now. SW is great, AM is good, Sync detection and SSB work very well. FM is the weak point with my unit. The PL-310 or PL-606 would be better options for FM, in my opinion. Regards, Vince Ottawa, ON ___ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com
[IRCA] good portable receiver for DXing
Hi all, I'm looking for a good portable receiver which won't break the bank. it doesn't have to be an ultralight, performance is my main criterion. I would like something with continuous tuning also if possible that covers LW on up to 30 kHz or higher. I have been looking at the various Sony's such as the ICF-2002, the Sony ICF-2010 looks good but expensive. I need this as I will be doing a lot of traveling to S America. I have a Rat Shack DX-394 which I could use but I was never real impressed with it's performace, it overloaded very easily with my LW's and dipoles. I don't think this would be a problem though as I doubt I'll be able to string up any dipoles for a while in Lima, Peru. I am not opposed to buying something second hand such as on ebay but would like some opinions for these small radios as I know next to nothing about the different models being a boatanchor man for most of my life. Performace is uppermost in my mind, and I really don't care too much about FM performanc! e, mainly MW and LW, Is there anyone here that owns a RS DX-394 that can compare it to the current crop of good portables, or in other words should I just stick with this one? Bob Young Millbury, Ma (and Lima, Peru) KB1OKL ___ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com
