SW Receivers

[ka3jjz]

Thanks, Mike. Good advice.

In regards to the DX/Normal?Local gain switch. I assume you mean that the receiver will get overloaded and therefore, less sensitive when connected to a long wire or my G5RV instead of the whip?

73,

-Larry

While that is true (you're more likely to get a lot more noise and stations where they don't belong; desensing is more generally a term found in FM than AM), there is a little switch on the side of the radio; this pic I assume comes from the owner's manual - it isn't great but here it is...

Tecsun PL-660 Controls

Mike

 

[ka3jjz]

Having connected your G5RV to the 660 and not noticed much improvement strongly suggests, short of a defective radio, that the gain switch is in the local position.

Sometimes those gain switches either put in too much attenuation or too little; in that case, this little project is a winner. Put a choke in the line as the thread suggests would help drain off static charges that might build up. You could even wire up a set of binding posts and a SO239 in parallel to give you some flexibility in what you connect....

Static drain for outside long wire antenna

Up until now I've used the old tube radios I collect and restore for DXing. I use a 50' outside wire for my antenna. Static (other than lightning) isn't a problem for tube radios. But I decided I wanted to try one of the new portable radios and ordered a Tecsun PL-880, which should arrive in a...

forums.radioreference.com

Mike

 

[Engine104]

Thanks again. The switch is in the right (DX) position. I have used it in the local setting for MW monitoring. The radio rocks for that.
I don't think it is defective. WWV and the religious stations boom in. Radio Havana has been pretty strong the last few nights too. I think it is a combination of bad band conditions due to where we are in the solar cycle and comparing it to my TS-140 ham rig's receiver

That's a good idea about the static discharge choke for the G5RV. I will work on that.

73,
-Larry