What was the best HF receiver ever sold by Radio Shack?

[K0WWX]

I was perusing the excellent Radio Shack catalog site (An archive of RadioShack Catalogs (1939-2011)) and started wondering – what was the best HF receiver ever sold by Radio Shack? I'm no expert on that topic, because the only two I’ve owned are the venerable DX-160 and the Astronaut 8 multi-bander. I've had both of those for a really long time.

Just for grins, here’s a top 10 list compiled from comments posted here and on other sites, and from flipping through the old catalogs. The years sold are approximate, as I didn’t check every catalog.

1) AX-190 and SX-190 (1971 to 1973) – the AX-190 was ham bands only, and the SX-190 covered more frequencies, but wasn’t general coverage. They were made by Allied, and seem to be the only HF receivers sold by the Shack that were actually made to use in ham shacks.

2) DX-394 (1995-1998) – reviews are mixed, but it seems to be the best digital desktop receiver the Shack ever sold.

3) DX-440 (1988-1992) – portable, same radio as the Sangean ATS-803, had a nice run.

4) DX-302 (1981-1982) – Wadley loop design, similar to the Yaesu FRG-7.

5) DX-400 (1984) – portable, maybe the same radio as the Uniden CR-2021.

6) DX-390 (1992-1998) – portable, same radio as the Sangean ATS-818.

7) DX-150/DX-160 (1967-1980) – a long running series of nice looking rigs, mediocre performance, but thousands of them are still in use.

8) DX-300 (1978-1980) – another Wadley loop rig that was said to be improved upon by the DX-302.

9) Patrolman 10 (1974) – the TOTL of the Patrolman series, only made for one year.

10) Astronaut 8 (1970-1974) – sentimental favorite, solid old multi-bander inspired by the Zenith Transoceanics but with more bands. The TOTL of the Astronaut series.

I’m sure that I’m missing some worthy contenders, and that there are Shack fans out there who can make a much better list. Your thoughts?

 

[Blackswan73]

The DX-440(Sangean 803a) was the best Hf receiver Radio Shack ever sold. It still can hold its own against most portables sold today. Best desktop was the DX-302, which as you said, was virtually identical to the FRG-7 with the addition of a digital readout display. One of the first digital display consumer hf desktops on the market at the time. Another close contender for the 440, was the DX-392 which was basically the 440 with a built in cassette recorder

B.S.

 

[Engine104]

I loved my DX-302. The Wadley Loop tuning was a bit funky, but a very solid radio.