Modern Radios with manual tuning knobs (at an affordable price).

[Omega-TI]

Being an old fart, I sure miss tuning knobs on radios! I'm only aware of one portable that has a decent tuning knob, and that radio has been out for a while. Sure, my Eton has a small tuning knob on the side, but it's not exactly conducive to long sessions going up and down the bands. I should have spent the extra money on the one below.

​

 

[Drake-r8]

I whole heartedly agree. My current go to radios are the Tecsun PL-330 and the XhData D-109 which is a surprisingly solid performer for the price but the sheer enjoyment of turning the knob on my Sony 2010, DX-398 or GE 7-2990a is what SWL is all about.

 

[TAC4]

More importantly the Sangean does not have mute tuning which
is a god send. I believe all the other modern portables have mute
tuning because of the DSP chip but I could be wrong.

The Sangean ATS-909X2 is the best out there in my opinion.
I love mine and it gets used day and night, everyday. It has a
nice Sony ICF look and build to it. It is also a major DX machine.

The tuning dial on X2 is a joy to use and is lightening fast,
great for DX, going up and down the SW band.

 

[n2dpskys]

My Tecsun PL-660 tunes well by hand. It's not weighted but has bumps on the outside of the knob and I can just spin it with the tip of my index finger. You can do this continuously as long as you need. The tuner can get set for fast or slow down to 1 kHz.

 

[Omega-TI]

My Tecsun PL-660 tunes well by hand. It's not weighted but has bumps on the outside of the knob and I can just spin it with the tip of my index finger. You can do this continuously as long as you need. The tuner can get set for fast or slow down to 1 kHz.

I'm curious, as to how often you and others take their portable radios with them when they go places like on vacation. I imagine taking them to the woods or the beach, on a lake in a boat and or other places away from all the RFI of modern technology does wonders for their reception. I'm going to take my portable (not a PL-660 as shown below) to the beach at the end of this month as an experiment to see how much better my portable does away from all the RFI electronics in my home.

 

[Omega-TI]

More importantly the Sangean does not have mute tuning which
is a god send. I believe all the other modern portables have mute
tuning because of the DSP chip but I could be wrong.

The Sangean ATS-909X2 is the best out there in my opinion.
I love mine and it gets used day and night, everyday. It has a
nice Sony ICF look and build to it. It is also a major DX machine.

The tuning dial on X2 is a joy to use and is lightening fast,
great for DX, going up and down the SW band.

I wish I knew then what I know now, because I really regret not getting the ATS-909X2. I didn't know that it does not mute while tuning, and for a portable I really like that tuning knob.

 

[TAC4]

Famous words and we have been there. Most us sold
our iconic Sony 2010 receivers when they first came out
in the 80 s that mistake hurt 🤕 I bought a Eton Elite Field
before I bought the Sangean ATS-909X2. The Eton is a beautiful
radio and has great audio and build quality. A very sensitive
radio, unfortunately it has mute tuning and that is a deal breaker
for me when it comes to DXing.

I use the Eton Elite Field as a program radio now if there is an
hour long program like Radio Romania etc. Also I have found
that DSP radios don't play well with Preselector/Active Antennas.
It seems the chip gets confused with added gain and antenna trimming changes.

The Sangean works fantastic with the same Preselector/Active
Antenna. Not much of a traveler but my radio is used outside
a lot in the back yard in the summer time. You will be amazed
how quiet and noise free the band is outside.

 

[Rt169Radio]

Have you checked out this one yet?

Eton Corporation NELITEFIELD Eton Elite Field BT AM/FM/SW Bluetooth Portable Radios | DX Engineering

Free Shipping - Eton Elite Field BT AM/FM/SW Bluetooth Portable Radios with qualifying orders of $99. Shop Shortwave Radios at DX Engineering.

www.dxengineering.com

 

[Omega-TI]

Have you checked out this one yet?

Eton Corporation NELITEFIELD Eton Elite Field BT AM/FM/SW Bluetooth Portable Radios | DX Engineering

Free Shipping - Eton Elite Field BT AM/FM/SW Bluetooth Portable Radios with qualifying orders of $99. Shop Shortwave Radios at DX Engineering.

www.dxengineering.com

No, the one I have (pictured below) is what I'm using now when I'm not using the SDR. I think I'll wait another year or two before I upgrade again. So far though unless a better one comes out, it'll probably be the ATS-909X2. Since I bought and downsized into my retirement condo I don't have a lot of room for a huge desktop radio.

 

[Boombox]

I haven't travelled in ages. Last time I did, it was to the Eastern part of my state, and I took a GE SRIII and a Sanyo Boombox. Did some MW DX. If I were to go to the ocean or eastern part of my state today, it would be my SRIII or my PR-D4W, or both. Longer travel (like via plane) probably my Tecsun PL-398 and a loop. When I'm away from home I'm more interested in MW than SW.

 

[Omega-TI]

I haven't travelled in ages. Last time I did, it was to the Eastern part of my state, and I took a GE SRIII and a Sanyo Boombox. Did some MW DX. If I were to go to the ocean or eastern part of my state today, it would be my SRIII or my PR-D4W, or both. Longer travel (like via plane) probably my Tecsun PL-398 and a loop. When I'm away from home I'm more interested in MW than SW.

I'll be at Ocean Shores for a few days at the end of the month, so I'll be doing some MW DXing. Even though my Sangean CL-100 beats the pants off my Eton for MW I cannot take everything, so I'll get by with the Eton as I also plan to do some SWLing. The Tecsun AN-100 should help level the playing field though. The hardest part will be combing through the closet looking for the log sheets before I go. I *MIGHT* have a PDF somewhere on one the hard drives if I cannot find them.

I might even make a video... only to be posted if I get something worthy. Anyway it'll be kind of fun to go ye olde school again tuning up and down the bands. I've gotten lazy recording the entire band at the top of the hour and combing through everything afterwards.

 

[Omega-TI]

I haven't travelled in ages. Last time I did, it was to the Eastern part of my state, and I took a GE SRIII and a Sanyo Boombox. Did some MW DX. If I were to go to the ocean or eastern part of my state today, it would be my SRIII or my PR-D4W, or both. Longer travel (like via plane) probably my Tecsun PL-398 and a loop. When I'm away from home I'm more interested in MW than SW.

Oh, the eastern part of Washington state is the bomb for MW DXing. I filled multiple log pages in the past with things from Canada all the way down to Mexico.

 

[Boombox]

Oh, the eastern part of Washington state is the bomb for MW DXing. I filled multiple log pages in the past with things from Canada all the way down to Mexico.

Agreed. In the mid-to-late 1980's I was getting some Chicago stations (not common here, even in good years), and possibly a station from NYC, from Cheney, WA, when I took my GE SR1 there on a weekender. Anything east of the Mississippi was a rarity back then unless you had really, really good equipment. I had done a lot of MW DXing as a kid but by the time the 80s hit I was discovering loops and nulling techniques... At Cheney all I had was the SR1, though.

The time I mentioned upthread where I DXed east of the mountains was Sept. 2012, to Chelan. I didn't get fantastic catches but some good ones, mainly stronger regionals that are blocked out west of the Cascade range. 700 kHz had KXLX and the ESPN station in Salt Lake City. Here west of the Cascades, KXLX is a tough catch because of 710 splatter, and I think I've only gotten the SLC station once or twice total.

I don't get down to the ocean very often. Next time I go my PR-D4W is definitely going with me, though. Along with my kites.

PS -- SWL should be great for Asia in the mornings. Even the ham bands, if you're into that.

 

[Omega-TI]

That PR-D4W is a cute little radio. Yes, mornings will be SW and evenings will be MW. She goes to bed earlier than I do and gets up later so I'll have plenty of time to play. During the one day she goes to Federal Way to attend a wedding I'll be doing mostly AIR and local VHF stuff.

 

[KB2GOM]

You might want to have a look at this: Dan Robinson Reviews the New Tecsun S-2200X Portable Receiver

 

[ditto1958]

And then there’s the XHData D-219 for less than $10. It’s a modern radio that looks sorta retro.

 

[TAC4]

And then there’s the XHData D-219 for less than $10. It’s a modern radio that looks sorta retro.

That radio is a steel at that price. It has a very good DSP IC chip
in it. Great choice for someone just starting out. When we first
started out we had nothing like that, it was a Science Fair Globe
Patrol shortwave radio. It would pick up Moscow, Russia in
English back in the day no problem.

 

[Drake-r8]

That radio is a steel at that price. It has a very good DSP IC chip
in it. Great choice for someone just starting out. When we first
started out we had nothing like that, it was a Science Fair Globe
Patrol shortwave radio. It would pick up Moscow, Russia in
English back in the day no problem.

Very good for the price. The D-109 is even better with a good speaker that really shines with the D-109's basic mp3 player.

 

[TAC4]

You might want to have a look at this: Dan Robinson Reviews the New Tecsun S-2200X Portable Receiver

View attachment 166729

That review shows it being a very good radio. The syc works
and no mute tuning is a bonus. But not for me, it has a plastic
toy grade look to it. Also with the Canadian dollar it is extortion what Tecsun is asking for this radio. But it will still sell like hot
cakes for sure.

 

[KD9KSO]

Very satisfied with my 909X2. I also had the model before this one that had been modified by a third party company, and another before that one.