Best portable shortwave receiver? (better than Kaito 1103)
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lanbergld
Member
Performance wise, for SSB utility Dx'ing, my vote goes to the Realistic DX-440/Sangean ATS-803A. Pretty much hands down. Going price on Ebay is usually $40 - $80. Of course, if you want to gauge by other criteria besides for serious SSB reception (looks, construction material, feel of the knobs, amount of external jacks, etc.) then sure there are other $100- $300 portables to consider.
Larry Lanberg
Richmond VA
Realistic DX-440 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Larry Lanberg
Richmond VA
Realistic DX-440 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
tecsun pl-600
i have had good luck with a tecsun pl-600. it has ssb. i got new off of ebay. you can read some reviews at eham.net. in additon, the 2009 passport to world band radio has a review section that is pretty good.
i have had good luck with a tecsun pl-600. it has ssb. i got new off of ebay. you can read some reviews at eham.net. in additon, the 2009 passport to world band radio has a review section that is pretty good.
scannerrail
Member
Im looking at the tecsun pl-600 myself
Just my .02 ..
Grundig G6 - convenient, but audio amplifier noise is tiring. So much so that using the airbands without a squelch drove me nuts. Low pass filter didn't help much - that noise floor is still there.
Grundig G3 - BIG improvement, although a bit bassy. At least the audio amplifier noise floor is way down compared to G6. Overall ok, but would it be a major improvement over your Tecsun? Probably not.
Given your requirements, I'd actually suggest taking a look at the Grundig Satellite 750 if you have to buy new in that price range. The good thing is that I haven't seen any major faults with the QC, only the limitations of a sub $300 receiver.
750-BFO gripes - don't swing that thing too much! For USB, just set it to 12 oclock. Then use the main vfo knob lightly. Make *fine* adjustments to the bfo, that is no more than about 1/2 of a clock-tick for best sound. For LSB, set it to 1 oclock and go back to the main vfo. The BFO isn't really meant to be a wide fine-tune. If one uses it that way, they are bound to be disappointed with a lot of fiddling. If you go forward or reverse more than about one clock-tick on the bfo dial, go back to either 12 or 1 oclock position (depending on which sideband you are using) and use the main vfo to get on frequency.
Front end overload is controlled via the rf-gain, but given that you may not be using very large antennas, this may not be a major issue. Nice sensitivity and selectivity for what it is.
Grundig G6 - convenient, but audio amplifier noise is tiring. So much so that using the airbands without a squelch drove me nuts. Low pass filter didn't help much - that noise floor is still there.
Grundig G3 - BIG improvement, although a bit bassy. At least the audio amplifier noise floor is way down compared to G6. Overall ok, but would it be a major improvement over your Tecsun? Probably not.
Given your requirements, I'd actually suggest taking a look at the Grundig Satellite 750 if you have to buy new in that price range. The good thing is that I haven't seen any major faults with the QC, only the limitations of a sub $300 receiver.
750-BFO gripes - don't swing that thing too much! For USB, just set it to 12 oclock. Then use the main vfo knob lightly. Make *fine* adjustments to the bfo, that is no more than about 1/2 of a clock-tick for best sound. For LSB, set it to 1 oclock and go back to the main vfo. The BFO isn't really meant to be a wide fine-tune. If one uses it that way, they are bound to be disappointed with a lot of fiddling. If you go forward or reverse more than about one clock-tick on the bfo dial, go back to either 12 or 1 oclock position (depending on which sideband you are using) and use the main vfo to get on frequency.
Front end overload is controlled via the rf-gain, but given that you may not be using very large antennas, this may not be a major issue. Nice sensitivity and selectivity for what it is.
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ka3jjz
Wiki Admin Emeritus
The radio is probably better classified as a 'portatop' - something that crosses the boundary between a true portable and a tabletop. If you get this radio, search out hertzian's simple mods and tips on how to wake this radio up. They're worth reading 73 Mike
Exactly!
The easiest way to say it is that it easily offers twice the performance of a typical good quality portable, yet is about half as good as say an Icom R75.
Perhaps another briefcase-portable would just be a duplication of what you have now.
I use mine indoors all the time, and run from DC to avoid coupling to a noisy wall wart / household ac line, and use a radial wire(s) tacked on the baseboards for the rf-ground connected to the black connector of the high-impedance antenna jack - even with nothing but the built-in whip.
What is frustrating is that I want it to be a $450 receiver with a better front-end / agc / s-meter / metal cabinet. Yet if that were so, I'd probably save up enough to jump to a $600 receiver - and so it goes.
The easiest way to say it is that it easily offers twice the performance of a typical good quality portable, yet is about half as good as say an Icom R75.
Perhaps another briefcase-portable would just be a duplication of what you have now.I use mine indoors all the time, and run from DC to avoid coupling to a noisy wall wart / household ac line, and use a radial wire(s) tacked on the baseboards for the rf-ground connected to the black connector of the high-impedance antenna jack - even with nothing but the built-in whip.
What is frustrating is that I want it to be a $450 receiver with a better front-end / agc / s-meter / metal cabinet. Yet if that were so, I'd probably save up enough to jump to a $600 receiver - and so it goes.
Get a Grundig Yacht Boy 400. They can be found under $60 on ebay and are comparable to a Sony 7600
Though no sync detection.
I would personally go for a new Sony 7600 from amazon or somewhere. Great sensitivity, seletivity, sync detection, usb/lsb. Can't go wrong for around $200.
Though no sync detection.
I would personally go for a new Sony 7600 from amazon or somewhere. Great sensitivity, seletivity, sync detection, usb/lsb. Can't go wrong for around $200.
Johnhinkle
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I got tecsun pl-600, too. it can be risky ordering from China as you might get a dud. Then you have to decide whether or not it's worth sending back. Too bad Tecsun doesen't have service center in the US. Long-term quality can be a concern but as of yet I haven't had any problem. Check it on ebay for 99 usd.TECSUN PL-660 PLL AIR/FM/MW/LW/SW SSB SYNC PL660 RADIO | eBay
Personally, I'd be looking at upgrading to a Sony 2010 or an Eton E1 in good condition. Universal Radio gets them in for a good price fairly regularly, and they have a reputation of standing behind their products.
Spend the extra bucks, and buy your 660 from Kaito USA Tecsun PL660 AM FM SW Air SSB Synchronous Radio - Black | eBay... They have the have the parts and resources to honor the USA warranty here in the US. I am very satisfied with mine.
safetyobc
Member
Still looking for a better radio than the Kaito KA1103 (Degen DE1103). Any updated suggestions?
Thanks
Thanks
majoco
Stirrer
No. IMHO for the money, performance and size, I'd stick with the 1103.
Mind you, this is portable, it's got a handle....
Sony CRF 230
Mind you, this is portable, it's got a handle....
Sony CRF 230
gpsblake
Member
Tecsun PL-660. It's one heck of a receiver, has both USB and LSB separate, two very good filters, three gain settings, very good keyboard and knob set up. It handles a longwire antenna very well. I use it as my #1 radio and often use it to copy digital signals like JT-65 and PSK31.
The only downside is the antenna won't stick straight up in the air when it's on the stand, it will be at an angle.
The Tecsun PL-660 works pretty well, IF you get a good one. Mine wasn't, so I took it apart and found a bad solder joint, or joints, I'm not sure, but I saw a lot of bad looking joints that I hit with the iron and it worked ok then. A friend was looking at one on Ebay and I ended up selling him mine for exactly what I paid for it so he didn't have to waste time "breaking it in". The only portable I have now is a DX-398 that I replaced the speaker in. It sounds really good and does a decent job with a hunk of wire hooked up to the antenna jack. FM is spectacular.
I recommend to people wanting to start out in the hobby that they buy a used desktop receiver, they can try it out and if they decide it's not for them, they basically can get all their money back. Cheap portables are a hassle, and usually don't do SSB well or at all, and the expensive ones are often fragile. I've sold 3 Icom R71As to friends over the years to start them out in SWL. I have the best sounding one I've ever heard now, it sounded pretty good when I got it and after a simple 2 resistor change, AM sounds very nice now, and SSB seems to be slightly better too. With headphones it's actually pleasant to listen to for SWBC listening. Never could say that about an R71A before.
I recommend to people wanting to start out in the hobby that they buy a used desktop receiver, they can try it out and if they decide it's not for them, they basically can get all their money back. Cheap portables are a hassle, and usually don't do SSB well or at all, and the expensive ones are often fragile. I've sold 3 Icom R71As to friends over the years to start them out in SWL. I have the best sounding one I've ever heard now, it sounded pretty good when I got it and after a simple 2 resistor change, AM sounds very nice now, and SSB seems to be slightly better too. With headphones it's actually pleasant to listen to for SWBC listening. Never could say that about an R71A before.
A lot of Reviews are surprisingly incomplete regarding picking up SSB /HAM type signals...
As a beginner but technical type I got a Grundig G3 that works well and it easily switches to LSB/USB so you can tune in HAMs etc. with the BFO...
This also works for distant AM to a degree because you can use one sideband or the other etc. and fine tune with the BFO.
G3s can be risky because a lot of seconds around but work pretty well.
I want more sensitivity and more Signals on SSB etc.. so was looking at upgrades.
Problem with many 'upgrades' like the Sat 800 / a lot of lower end Drakes /is no BFO so you can't fine tune the SSB .
I just got a SONY ICF 2010 but it was defective so going back and also a Grundig Satellit 700.
People talk about sensitivity of the SONY so want to try one but it will only go within 100 hertz and then no BFO to fine tune so not sure how it will be for SSB- I know they are super sensitive if working well from dozens of Reviews and asking people.
The Sat 700 looks great and sounds great but has a mute while tuning - so a bit annoying and hard to quick scan .
Also goes to 100 hertz THEN you still have the BFO which is NOT as good as BFO on the little G3 concerning the travel of the knob and the depth of the BFO - the 'bite' into the signal is more subtle I mean.
I wish the Sat 700 was more sensitive but only had it for a few days...also so rare that hard to find someone to mod it.
If I step up further and Sell the Sat 700- I may just get a Drake R8 used.
The other Drakes even the SW8 with later version also lack a BFO so not great for SSB...
My understanding is unless the Receiver is very fine like 10 hertz resolution..you need a BFO..
The Tecsun PL 880 gets to 10 hertz but not quite ' there' yet going from Reviews and Videos.
It's a bit trickier for SSB because they are often lower power- I get them on the G3 but not as many as I want and get more on the Sat 700...but not a huge difference.
I suppose an outside Antenna might help a lot or maybe not?
Sometimes you never really know till you try.
Can you guys tune in SSB well on a Sat 800 with no BFO ?
I wish there was a high end Tecsun for more money that was the ultimate portable but not Tecsun's market .so far...
As a beginner but technical type I got a Grundig G3 that works well and it easily switches to LSB/USB so you can tune in HAMs etc. with the BFO...
This also works for distant AM to a degree because you can use one sideband or the other etc. and fine tune with the BFO.
G3s can be risky because a lot of seconds around but work pretty well.
I want more sensitivity and more Signals on SSB etc.. so was looking at upgrades.
Problem with many 'upgrades' like the Sat 800 / a lot of lower end Drakes /is no BFO so you can't fine tune the SSB .
I just got a SONY ICF 2010 but it was defective so going back and also a Grundig Satellit 700.
People talk about sensitivity of the SONY so want to try one but it will only go within 100 hertz and then no BFO to fine tune so not sure how it will be for SSB- I know they are super sensitive if working well from dozens of Reviews and asking people.
The Sat 700 looks great and sounds great but has a mute while tuning - so a bit annoying and hard to quick scan .
Also goes to 100 hertz THEN you still have the BFO which is NOT as good as BFO on the little G3 concerning the travel of the knob and the depth of the BFO - the 'bite' into the signal is more subtle I mean.
I wish the Sat 700 was more sensitive but only had it for a few days...also so rare that hard to find someone to mod it.
If I step up further and Sell the Sat 700- I may just get a Drake R8 used.
The other Drakes even the SW8 with later version also lack a BFO so not great for SSB...
My understanding is unless the Receiver is very fine like 10 hertz resolution..you need a BFO..
The Tecsun PL 880 gets to 10 hertz but not quite ' there' yet going from Reviews and Videos.
It's a bit trickier for SSB because they are often lower power- I get them on the G3 but not as many as I want and get more on the Sat 700...but not a huge difference.
I suppose an outside Antenna might help a lot or maybe not?
Sometimes you never really know till you try.
Can you guys tune in SSB well on a Sat 800 with no BFO ?
I wish there was a high end Tecsun for more money that was the ultimate portable but not Tecsun's market .so far...
ka3jjz
Wiki Admin Emeritus
It's hard to argue with the Tecsum PL660, as noted previously. But hearing hams is not just how well it tunes on sideband, selectivity is just as important, if not more so. Try tuning in the 20m or 40m band when the band is wide open and you'll learn that real fast. On that note, a PL880 (sans the tuning bug) is still the champ in terms of selectivity, since it has 5 different bandwidths when in sideband mode. (heh- BFOs are so 80s...)
Of course if we're talking about Drake Portatops, you have to include the Eton E1(XM), which was designed in part by RL Drake (and serviced by them, for awhile, anyway). Sounded terrific in sideband..
Yes, the antenna is just as important. I understand that the PL880 does fine with the PAR EF-SWL, and there are many other designs out there, too.
Mike
Of course if we're talking about Drake Portatops, you have to include the Eton E1(XM), which was designed in part by RL Drake (and serviced by them, for awhile, anyway). Sounded terrific in sideband..
Yes, the antenna is just as important. I understand that the PL880 does fine with the PAR EF-SWL, and there are many other designs out there, too.
Mike
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I've used the Eton E1, Sony 2010, Drake R8, and Icom R-75 for many years now, but during hurricane Katrina, I used the Kaito/Degen 1103 exclusively for hours and was impressed every time I turned it on. If you have a low electrical noise area to receive, you can't beat the 1103 for those extraordinary moments when radio gets exiting. I've resurrected it in the last week just to listen to the coverage of the Fidel Castro memorial.
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