shortwave
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ka3jjz
Wiki Admin Emeritus
I'd probably strip the 390 for parts. Most of the RS DX-39x series were not very good receivers. The DX-398 and 399 were Sangean knock-offs, and were pretty decent, but anything earlier than that isn't all that great.
I'm not entirely familiar with the 390. Is it portable or a desktop (I think it was a portable...) I couldn't find a pic of it on RigPix or on the Universal website. Look at the back of the radio - sometimes there are 2 plugs there - one red (antenna) one black (ground). Sometimes there's a little mini jack. At times, you can even use a clip lead to connect to the whip - however, that can be a problem in that there's sometimes a small amp connected to the whip. Connecting a wire directly can introduce too much signal. A little more information is needed here.
Hamfest season is fast approaching - you can easily get all you need for an antenna there. Don't waste money on overpriced 'kits'.
73s Mike
I'm not entirely familiar with the 390. Is it portable or a desktop (I think it was a portable...) I couldn't find a pic of it on RigPix or on the Universal website. Look at the back of the radio - sometimes there are 2 plugs there - one red (antenna) one black (ground). Sometimes there's a little mini jack. At times, you can even use a clip lead to connect to the whip - however, that can be a problem in that there's sometimes a small amp connected to the whip. Connecting a wire directly can introduce too much signal. A little more information is needed here.
Hamfest season is fast approaching - you can easily get all you need for an antenna there. Don't waste money on overpriced 'kits'.
73s Mike
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Bucko
Member
The DX390 has a mini jack on the side of the cabinet for a external antenna however it will over load very easy so use of the RF gain will come in handy (you can also attach it to the whip). The 390 was same as the Sangean 818 by the way, 390 was the same as the 398 minus the tape recorder.
ka3jjz
Wiki Admin Emeritus
Thanx Bucko. Now that I have that, I was able to look up the radio on the eHam reviews section;
http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/878
Watch out for static discharge issues - like the venerable Sony 2010, it's sensitive to blowing the front end amp. This is well laid out in the comments found above.
I wouldn't put more than 20-30 foot of wire on it - as the comments above mention, it's got a real tendency toward overloading with a long antenna.
73s Mike
http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/878
Watch out for static discharge issues - like the venerable Sony 2010, it's sensitive to blowing the front end amp. This is well laid out in the comments found above.
I wouldn't put more than 20-30 foot of wire on it - as the comments above mention, it's got a real tendency toward overloading with a long antenna.
73s Mike
longwire and alligator clips? keep cutting it until the overload stops.
N1BHH
Member
Connect your wire through back to back diodes to the antenna input. I think it's an 1/8" plug on the side.
Back to back diodes are best placed after the receivers band pass filters and before any active component like a preamp or mixer. Placing them right at the long wire antenna input will almost guarantee they will create lots of intermod throughout the HF band.
prcguy
prcguy
N1BHH said:
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