Is collecting cheap so-called garbage radios part of the hobby for you?
- Thread starter Omega-TI
- Start date
MikeinDestin
Member
I really wonder how the manufacturers can make any profit with those kind of prices. Not complaining though!
Yes, sort of. I bought a Baofeng about 15 years ago to see what was with the hype. Then another maybe six months ago, to see if they have improved (both being UV-5R versions). Newer is better from a build perspective.
However, I prefer to buy old "cheap" radios at yard sales and flea markets.....my last being a small Zenith Royal 16 radio for $4. Put in a new battery (after taking out what might have been the original 9V and cleaning up the contacts), and it works like new. Looking online, they sell in similar condition for ~$60 to $100.
However, I prefer to buy old "cheap" radios at yard sales and flea markets.....my last being a small Zenith Royal 16 radio for $4. Put in a new battery (after taking out what might have been the original 9V and cleaning up the contacts), and it works like new. Looking online, they sell in similar condition for ~$60 to $100.
MikeinDestin
Member
One of the best values I ever got was an old Admiral Y2127 transistor radio advertised as a "parts radio " on Ebay. Think I paid around $20 total, including shipping. When I got it the audio was barely working. Swapped out three electrolytics, and now the radio is so loud I can't turn it down enough. Because of faulty volume pot. But the reception is top notch. It's an eight transistor with rf stage. It also turns out that model is somewhat rare. Though it doesn't look great, it works fantastic. Definitely glad I bought it.
n6hgg
Member
The cheap radio thing is a Chinese push to get the radios out to poor third world areas to spread influence to the populations who don't have internet. The lower frequency shortwave bands are in very active use in Asia, with China having multiple shortwave services broadcasting their programming to the inexpensive radios that they flooded the market with. I listen during the dawn hours on the west coast, primarily in the 31 and 41 metr bands. They are all gone by 10:30 am Pacific time.
Any nation could take advantage of the listening market provided by low cost Chinese radios by broadcasting as aggressively as China does. China did all the hard work of getting the receivers out there. Its something that should be considered, that is, broadcasting to the market opened up by somebody else who wants the population's support to reap the natural resources. Big nations need the natural resources in these geographical regions and the winner will likely be the one who the locals feel comfortable with through familiarity from their receving devices. Time will tell if any other nations other than China will tap this amazing communication channel, the "Cheap radio" info and influence channel, which is free of infrastructure and growing continually with 10 dollar receivers worldwide.
Any nation could take advantage of the listening market provided by low cost Chinese radios by broadcasting as aggressively as China does. China did all the hard work of getting the receivers out there. Its something that should be considered, that is, broadcasting to the market opened up by somebody else who wants the population's support to reap the natural resources. Big nations need the natural resources in these geographical regions and the winner will likely be the one who the locals feel comfortable with through familiarity from their receving devices. Time will tell if any other nations other than China will tap this amazing communication channel, the "Cheap radio" info and influence channel, which is free of infrastructure and growing continually with 10 dollar receivers worldwide.
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The cheap radios is not that new. In 2003, I worked at a local RadioShack. One day a young Chinese man come in and commented about some of the portable receivers. He noted how various models were available in China for 15 to 20 percent of the price.
Easily believable, RadioShack was always overpriced.
Agreed. If you bought one of their house brand home stereos, made by Kenwood, it would be about 25% higher price than the comparable OEM's model. Same for most consumer electronics items.
I was surprised to hear Voice of America last night. I hadn't heard them in a while and might not be able to soon.
I think I found it listed with 4 brands on it, I got one right after it came out. They screwed up and sent me two! I held a "Guess the number I'm thinking" at a meeting of a club I'm in, and the winner got it. He gave it to someone else. Some of my radios have been given to friend's kids and grandkids, but sadly only one of them has gotten the "bug" so far, and he has no money to spare for toys these days.
I have a small collection of XHDATA's. They are all good performers, especially considering the price point. Clip on some wire to the whip and you can get most of what you'll get off a 1990's Sangean on the same antenna.
The D-109WB is moderately priced and it's pretty good also. Good DXer on MW, especially with a loop.
I haven't bought an expensive radio since I got my DX-398 and DX-394 in 1998. Every radio I've purchased since then has been less than $100 US, and most of them under $60. Today you really do get a good value for your money.
The D-109WB is moderately priced and it's pretty good also. Good DXer on MW, especially with a loop.
I haven't bought an expensive radio since I got my DX-398 and DX-394 in 1998. Every radio I've purchased since then has been less than $100 US, and most of them under $60. Today you really do get a good value for your money.
I'm one of the people who bought a Xhdata D-219 and got so enthusiastic about it I bought their D-109WB. The first one had problems with the software and got returned. The antenna on the replacement was wobbly right out of the box and I keep having to reset it when the sound is really distorted. If I ever do buy another SW radio I think it's going to be a different brand.
I recently got a D109WB, and it works fine. It will overload on SW if stations are really strong and I'm using my wire antenna, but the DX/LOCAL switch takes care of that. I've found it to be a good MW DXer, if you use a loop. The bandwidths, two-position tone control, seem to help. And it has great sound through headphones, especially on MW at night. Haven't had to re-set my 109WB yet.
I did experience once time where the number keys locked up, and pressing the left or right tuning key got the radio back to normal. Nothing else awry since then.
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