[IRCA] New C.Crane "Skywave" Vs. Tecsun PL-380-- Daytime DX Shootout

[d1028gary@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Hello All, 
 
With clear weather and lots of open space in our back yard, it was time for a full Shootout between the Si4734-chip-powered Tecsun PL-380 and the new Si4736-chip-powered C.Crane Skywave portable. Both stock models were checked out for normal operation before the contest,Âwith new batteries and an equal chance to receive six fringe MW stations just after local noon. 
 
The new Skywave is significantly smaller than the Tecsun PL-380 (seeÂphoto at http://www.mediafire.com/view/8o5mdtt1bc1rfik/CCraneSkywaveDisassembly-04_(Large).jpg ), andÂat $89.95 (before shipping) costs about twice as much. The Tecsun PL-380 stock model was chosen for this Shootout because it has become the favorite of Ultralight radio Transoceanic DXers, with a generous range of functions combined with "toned down" soft mute.ÂIts stock loopstick places it near the top of the ULR class in sensitivity, and with DSP filtering down to the 1 kHz levelÂit providesÂfairly representative performance of all the Tecsun Si4734 DSP chip Ultralights. 
 
Rather than tell youÂimmediately how the Shootout went, I will let you form your own opinion by posting six MP3's of the relative receptionÂby the PL-380 Vs. the Skywave in receiving theÂdaytime DX fringe stations. In each MP3 both the PL-380 and the SkywaveÂwere set on the 1 KHz DSP setting, and both were pointed in the same direction. In each MP3 the PL-380 receives the fringe station for the first 20 seconds, and the Skywave receives the same fringe station for the final 20 seconds. 
 
550Â KARIÂÂ Blaine, WAÂÂ (5 kW at 127 miles) 
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/dd8dok6ujeh50cz/550-KARI-PL380vsSkywave.MP3 
 
690Â CBUÂÂ Vancouver, BCÂÂ (50 kW at 148 miles) 
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/hj3khn0zjep3pxc/690-CBU-PL380vsSkywave.MP3 
 
750Â KXTGÂÂ Portland, ORÂÂ (50 kW at 117 miles) 
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/06uc2a15yas4y57/750-KXTG-PL380vsSkywave.MP3 
 
1070Â CFAXÂÂ Victoria, BCÂÂ (10 kW at 100 miles) 
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/44vpx852aa7pwn4/1070-CFAX-PL380vsSkywave.MP3 Â 
 
1420Â KITI/ KUJÂÂ Centralia andÂWalla Walla, WA (5 kW at 46 miles and 202 miles)Â 
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/b2apvjdi5uwhksw/1420-KITI-KUJ-PL380vsSkywave.MP3 
 
1470Â KELAÂÂ Centralia, WAÂ (5 kW at 46 miles) 
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/glppgdt26jzcnlc/1470-KELA-PL380vsSkywave.MP3 
 
Comments:Â The Si4734 DSP chip in allÂof the Tecsun Ultralights tends to clip off the higher audio frequencies in the 1ÂkHz DSP setting, leaving the audio with somewhat of aÂ"muddy" sound. Obviously, the Si4736 chip in the Skywave not only solves this issue, but solves the heterodyne issue (audible in the 1420 kHz MP3) as well. As for why the Skywave seems to have a slight sensitivity edge over the PL-380 (except on 550, where it smokes the PL-380), it could either beÂthe result of a superior loopstick, or superiorÂsensitivity of the Si4736 chip. Further testing should reveal the cause. 
 
Verdict:Â The Si4736 DSP chip in the Skywave is a major improvement over the Si4734 chip in the Tecsun DSP Ultralights. Although there may be some jokes about the Skywave's cost being "sky high,"Âthe radio seems to be everything claimed by C.Crane, at least inÂits MW performance. This model should see a lot of action among Transoceanic MW DXers, where its superior audio and heterodyne-free reception should make a significant difference in split-frequency results. 
 
73 and Good DX, 
Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA 

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