Yes, that's me, all of the above. So much spectrum, so little time....I need to change my signature.
Uniden & Radio Shack, What's The Deal?
- Thread starter SpectrumAnalyzer
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ka3jjz
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OK back on topic, folks - the Uniden and RS receivers, if you please.
Comments about what is there left to hear is perfectly valid - start a new thread.
Mike
Comments about what is there left to hear is perfectly valid - start a new thread.
Mike
Martin: I use the same receivers, same antenna, same listening hours as five years ago -- the numbers of broadcast stations has decreased since then.
And I think that decrease of international broadcasters effects the overall HF general coverage receiver marketplace (which was the point I was originally trying to make -- not complain about HF in general -- I realise there is still much to listen to, you just have to look for it more than in the past).
Add to that the high performance people get from their Chinese made Tecsuns, I doubt that even if RS were solvent they would venture into the tabletop marketplace again. Maybe the SDR has replaced the tabletops like the R75. And streaming probably has affected the HF receiver market as well.
RE: the DX394: It's been denigrated here, but I think it was intended to be a beginner grade tabletop, much like its fellow GRE-made predecessor (if you could call it that) the DX-160. The 394 tends to overload in places, and I've experienced some crosstalk on mine (on the 20 meter band) from time to time, but being that I'm in a low signal area, it's not debilitating. It's easy to use, and sounds decent through headphones..
Those who had these radios in high signal areas probably didn't have good results with them. That is understandable. I think the original WRTH review on the DX-394 mentioned this issue.
The real USB and LSB help. Mine reads out 1khz too low on USB, but that's no problem. I can do simple math.
I heard Adventist World Radio (in Arabic) from Madagascar earlier today, using a 25 ft indoor wire (and I'm in the NW US), so the 394 will pull in signals.
I don't think it was meant to compete with an R8 or R75, or that Palstar tabletop that gets good reviews. It also didn't cost as much as those receivers, either.
I've gotten decent use out of mine, especially after I figured out how to get tuner cleaner into the tuner -- although I generally reach for the portables because of convenience. I always found it easy to use to quickly scan through the bands, as the radio tunes quickly and there was a minimum amount of chuffing.
Someone who is into utility listening or other more intensive HF monitoring probably wouldn't be happy with the 394, which is understandable, as it definitely has its limitations.
And I think that decrease of international broadcasters effects the overall HF general coverage receiver marketplace (which was the point I was originally trying to make -- not complain about HF in general -- I realise there is still much to listen to, you just have to look for it more than in the past).
Add to that the high performance people get from their Chinese made Tecsuns, I doubt that even if RS were solvent they would venture into the tabletop marketplace again. Maybe the SDR has replaced the tabletops like the R75. And streaming probably has affected the HF receiver market as well.
RE: the DX394: It's been denigrated here, but I think it was intended to be a beginner grade tabletop, much like its fellow GRE-made predecessor (if you could call it that) the DX-160. The 394 tends to overload in places, and I've experienced some crosstalk on mine (on the 20 meter band) from time to time, but being that I'm in a low signal area, it's not debilitating. It's easy to use, and sounds decent through headphones..
Those who had these radios in high signal areas probably didn't have good results with them. That is understandable. I think the original WRTH review on the DX-394 mentioned this issue.
The real USB and LSB help. Mine reads out 1khz too low on USB, but that's no problem. I can do simple math.
I heard Adventist World Radio (in Arabic) from Madagascar earlier today, using a 25 ft indoor wire (and I'm in the NW US), so the 394 will pull in signals.
I don't think it was meant to compete with an R8 or R75, or that Palstar tabletop that gets good reviews. It also didn't cost as much as those receivers, either.
I've gotten decent use out of mine, especially after I figured out how to get tuner cleaner into the tuner -- although I generally reach for the portables because of convenience. I always found it easy to use to quickly scan through the bands, as the radio tunes quickly and there was a minimum amount of chuffing.
Someone who is into utility listening or other more intensive HF monitoring probably wouldn't be happy with the 394, which is understandable, as it definitely has its limitations.
Given that there is still a big gap between HF portables and tabletop receivers it would be nice if Uniden or even Whistler considered a HF receiver of some sort to compete with the less than reliable offerings from China. Tecsun radios are too hit and miss in the quality and implementation department for me to consider them anymore unless they really lift their act.
Mine's a 3041A. Love it! I'll never part with it.
After this thread came up, I started using my DX-394 more.
And found that it is more impervious to impulse noise then my DX-398 (and also a couple other Sangean SSB portables) even with the noise blanker switched off. The original reason I bought the 394 was for the noise blanker. As it turned out, it's not as good as that on a CB radio (and probably nowhere near as good as those on higher rated tabletop models.
But it does reduce pops a lot more than my Sangean portables.
The narrow USB/LSB 'filters' on the radio are audio only. Sometimes they help. A lot of times they don't.
Been listening to the CW sections of 20, 15, and 40 meters with the radio. Works about as good as my DX-398 for that.
And found that it is more impervious to impulse noise then my DX-398 (and also a couple other Sangean SSB portables) even with the noise blanker switched off. The original reason I bought the 394 was for the noise blanker. As it turned out, it's not as good as that on a CB radio (and probably nowhere near as good as those on higher rated tabletop models.
But it does reduce pops a lot more than my Sangean portables.
The narrow USB/LSB 'filters' on the radio are audio only. Sometimes they help. A lot of times they don't.
Been listening to the CW sections of 20, 15, and 40 meters with the radio. Works about as good as my DX-398 for that.
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