MW Reception and Equipment Questions

[gcgrotz]

Hey ridge, glad to see you still have the SX-88, I was telling a buddy about that model recently.

I finally sent off my 1937 Crosley tabletop for restoration. My parents bought it when they got married, listened to BBC during the war. Not exactly a DX machine but it was my exposure to shortwave. It hasn't worked since the 80's, it should be like new when I get it back and will probably outlast me.

I too have used the PAR, it works very well and I'd rather pay for one than mess arounf with building one. Got enough to do as it is!

seeya

 

[ridgescan]

Hey GCG thanks nice story behind your Crosley I love stuff like that! Please post pics or video of your radio when she's back&running.

 

[Your_account]

Hi
I found the "TECSUN AN-200" Online. I see someone here use it to.
The Price is ~35€. Good for an Beginner Antenna?
Thanks

 

[ka3jjz]

Just a blind search on Google came up - apart from the other items that have the same model number that aren't antennas - with several reviews, many of which were pretty positive. I note that not only Tecsun and eton/Grundig sold this antenna (with the same model number), but Kaito did it too.

https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=an-200

So for the price, and as a starter antenna, I think it's a good buy. Just remember it's only for MW freqs. Mike

 

[Boombox]

Small factory made loops like the Eton, the Select-A-Tenna, Terk, Radio Shack and the like can be better than larger loops for DXing sometimes because you still get plenty of gain, but it's easier to manipulate them and null out a station, or hone in on a bearing to pull out a station on a frequency. They're less bulky, usually have good, tight null characteristics, and are handier to manipulate next to a radio.

I have a large 'crate' loop, and a Radio Shack AM loop antenna (a Select-a-Tenna also), and I find myself using the Radio Shack loop more often because I can more quickly and easier get a null or peak on a bearing, and the difference in gain isn't incredibly different when it comes to IDing stations.

So don't rule out smaller factory made loops for MW DXing. They can be very useful.

A lot of the modern radios used for MWDX, like the Superadio, Sangean PR-D5/PR-D15, Sony ICF38, Sony SRF59 (and other Sony Walkmen with high gain), Sangean PRD6, Kaitos, Tecsuns, and the like have plenty of gain and enough selectivity on their own, and a small loop can increase it by 1-2 db and that often is enough to pull a DX station out of the mud with one of these radios.