In case you’re not familiar with each of the contenders, a brief summary of each radio follows with an overview of the features that make it unique. Sangean ATS-909X The PL-380 has a pathetic (just joking) 550 memories, 100 each for AM/FM/LW and 250 for SW. It also can scan and automatically store stations. I’ve tried to do a bit of research, not much really but the little info that I have found appears to show that others have the same problem. Last year, I posted an article about choosing the right loop antenna for situations like yours where one has limited installation options.

Here is a chart with the full survey results based on 194 listener reports. The number of responses are represented on the vertical axis. Obviously, the radio in Sample #4 is significantly less sensitive than the other radios–it truly struggled to hear the RRI signal under these conditions. The second survey focused on synchronous detection, which is a very useful receiver tool that mitigates adjacent signal interference and improves a signal’s stability. Perhaps it was my good fortune that the same day I tested synchronous detection, fading on even strong stations was pronounced at times. Perfect! Since I spend 95% of my listening time on shortwave, I’ll begin with shortwave performance. Again, we’ll compare the PL-680’s performance with that of the PL-660. There is a hidden function of this radio: You can calibrate the FM frequency by yourself, is that cool ? Yes, here it is how to do it :Indeed, if you plan to buy a portable that will be hooked up to an external antenna more often than not, the Sangean ATS-909X may be a good choice for you. Its front end can handle external antennas better than most of the radios above (with the Sony as an exception, in my experience). Two years ago, my father and I both received a Tecsun PL-660 radio as a Christmas gift. We both have had good experiences with our radios and generally enjoyed them until they recently both stopped working. I should mention my radio has been at my house in Arizona for the last 2 years, while my Dad's radio has been in Pennsylvania. So they have been in completely different/isolated environments. Honestly, I need help with an external antenna. Outside is not a good option, plus where I am there are enough thunderstorms from late spring to early autumn to give one pause. I have an attic with a decent amount of room and the usual amount of household wiring (ridge as well as floor), plus two TV antennas (cut the cord years ago). The available attic space is about 40′ long with the ridge being about 7′ high but going out to the eaves with a wire isn’t very practical. I could make a loop, about 25′ to 30′ long on two sides, with the sides separated by 10′ or so, mid-way between floor and ceiling without too much trouble, if that’s an option. Alternatively, Thomas was kind enough to suggest a wire of no more that 25′– 30′ because he was uncertain about the electrostatic discharge protection in the 330. He also suggested a tuner, which I’ll certainly get.

Products to be reviewed typically should be tangible ham radio related items such as radios, antennas, towers, test equipment, feedlines, etc. As SWLing Post readers know, I have a huge radio collection – including premium receivers and portables, now nearly 100 in all. Results: For the vertical antenna orientation, 32 stations were detected between 5959 – 15730 kHz. Nearly all were intelligible, with those at the lower end more steady and those a the higher end much more variable in strength. For the horizontal antenna orientation, 21 stations were detected between 9265 – 1570 kHz. Similar overall signal quality was heard for the received stations in either antenna orientation. More noise was noticeable at the lower frequencies between the stations for the vertical antenna orientation. However, this was significantly below the received signal levels, and not an issue in the overall listening quality.

Weak single-sideband (SSB)

I should mention that just like on the 990x, the re-calibration process doesn’t mean the receiver is then zeroed up and down the shortwave bands. You will likely have to repeat the process from, say 25 meters, to 19 meters, to 49 meters, etc.

No doubt there are a number of magnetic loop antennas that could serve you well in your situation, Marty. Would you like to buy a shortwave radio as a gift, but don’t know a thing about radios? Or want help leaving a hint for Santa or Ms. Claus? Before recording, I set each radio in the same spot on a table, though I might change the orientation for optimal reception (since this can differ from one radio to another). I then extend the antennas fully and set all of the filters, gain controls, tone, volume levels, and frequencies to the same position on each rig. This way, my comparison can be on an “apples-to-apples” basis.Invariably, all radios have strengths and weaknesses; here is a list of my notes from the moment I put the Tecsun PL-680 on the air: Based on recommendations I’ve considered everything from a simple wire, to a powered loop (ala an MLA30), to a loop on the ceiling of my home office/radio room to wearing a tin-foil hat and holding the bare end of the feeder wire. I guess what I’m looking for are some options to try in a tab-A into slot-B, use this part number, connect it this way format – think ‘Shortwave Antennas for Dummies’. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve greatly enjoyed learning about the technical end of things my entire life in many different areas, but if I can get some more concrete, specific recommendations to just get going at bit then I’m very happy to study, learn and progress from there. Life has taught me to be patient and not to get discouraged but to research, find a different way to approach something and ultimately you’ll achieve your goal. Not to be a walking, talking cliche but it’s about the journey as much as the destination. The only requirements of the radio are that it tunes the frequency ranges of interest. A general purpose communications receiver tuning 0-30 MHz is ideal, SSB marine radios may also be used, if they can receive the frequency bands of interest. The radio must be able to tune in USB (upper sideband) mode. Inexpensive portable radios are not as satisfactory, although higher-end units can work well. The radio must be able to tune in small steps (10 Hz), or have some sort of a fine tune adjustment.” You can listen to all four recordings in the original survey (again, note that Radio A is the PL-680, B is the PL-660). The PL-330 does have USB, tunes to 30 mHz and can be tuned in 10 Hz steps in USB. It also has an earphone output.

I provided a total of four sample broadcast recordings for comparison. Below, I have embedded one of them–a recording of 940 AM in Macon, Georgia, for your reference. The Alinco DX-R8T is new to the market in 2011. We reviewed it, in detail, only recently; in short, it impressed us. It’s full-featured, performs well, and comes at a very affordable price. If you’re buying this for a ham radio operator, they’ll understand the reason why the Alinco DX-R8T needs a 12 volt power supply and an external antenna. It’s a receiver version of a ham radio transceiver–as such, it does a fine job on SSB modes. This is a question that has circled around on the fringes of my consciousness for years now, but one that I’ve never quite found time to test. And it is a simple question: When using a random wire antenna with a portable shortwave receiver, is it better to string the wire vertically or horizontally, or does it even matter? Mostly this is a question when out camping, because arranging a 19′ wire vertically is usually a good bit more involved than just stringing it out along some nearby bushes.

WRMI 9,455 kHz

Update : Current PL-660 production samples appear to be more like the PL-680 Sync , see separate review below)