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Re: [IRCA] Ultralight Radio Class-- MW Sensitivity King Shootout
Les,
Â
Thanks very much for your positive comments on the pocket radio "Shootout!"
Â
<<<ÂÂÂÂI recently purchased the CCrane Skywave, and
have to say I'm very impressed with it so far. It's best my PL-310 with
ease, and compares well to larger portables for MW DXing. My primary
targets at domestic stations, I have little interest in DXing TA's.ÂÂ >>>
Â
Well, the CC Skywave does have a lot going for it, if the $89.95 price isn't a deal-breaker. The new Si4736 DSP chip solves the heterodyne issue affecting the TecsunÂmodels like the PL-310 and PL-380, while theÂselectable audio tone is another plus. In MW reception the model falls pretty much in between the PL-310Âand the Traveler III in bothÂaudio clarity andÂsensitivity-- which is why the MP3's were recorded with the Skywave in the middle.
Â
<<<ÂÂI may have to order the Eton now too--thanks to your review. You
certainly are helping Amazon's business of late. Hope they send you a
gift certificate or something! :-)ÂÂ >>>
Â
The Traveler III would be another excellent choice for a domestic DXer looking for great MW sensitivity and audio quality-- especially one who doesn't need a direct frequency entry keypad. As for Amazon sending me a gift certificate-- I'm not holding my breath!
Â
73, Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA)ÂÂ
Â
----- Original Message -----
From: "Les Rayburn" <les@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Sunday, January 11, 2015 9:21:11 PM
Subject: Re: [IRCA] Ultralight Radio Class-- MW Sensitivity King Shootout
Gary,
Let me add my thanks for taking the time to assemble these tests as
well. Very informative. I recently purchased the CCrane Skywave, and
have to say I'm very impressed with it so far. It's best my PL-310 with
ease, and compares well to larger portables for MW DXing. My primary
targets at domestic stations, I have little interest in DXing TA's. My
emphasis is on stations that begin with "K", that is stations in the
Western part of the U.S. In that regard, the radio works great for my
needs---mainly when I'm camping with my wife, taking the dog for walks,
or otherwise away from my primary receiver.
I may have to order the Eton now too--thanks to your review. You
certainly are helping Amazon's business of late. Hope they send you a
gift certificate or something! :-)
--
73,
Les Rayburn, N1LF
Maylene, AL
EM63
Member NRC, IRCA, & Medium Wave DX Circle
Former CPC Chairman for NRC/IRCA
Elad SDR, SDR-IQ,Funcube Pro, Wellbrooke ALA-1530+ loop, LF Engineering
Active Whips,
Quantum Phaser, Kiwa Loop, Palstar MW Pre-Selector
On 1/11/2015 10:38 PM, d1028gary@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> Hello All,
> Â Â
> The Super Bowl of pocket radio weak signal reception was held this afternoon here in Puyallup, Washington. The contestants (pictured together in a photo posted at  http://www.mediafire.com/view/22enaz1a7ci88p2/EtonTrav3-011.jpg Â) were:
> Â Â
> 1) Tecsun PL-310ET ($49.99 with free shipping from Amazon) Â The Ultralight radio class leader in MW sensitivity from 2009 until recently, this AM-LW-FM-SW model (along with the Tecsun PL-606) has the longest loopstick among the Tecsun DSP Ultralights. Although it has the odd heterodynes and "soft mute" drawback typical of the Tecsun DSP models, it also has multiple DSP selectivity choices from its Si4734 chip, including 1 kHz filtering. With a direct frequency entry keypad and a round, external tuning knob, this model has been one of the most popular Ultralight radios for quite a few years.
> Â Â
> 2) ÂC.Crane "Skywave" ($89.95 plus shipping from C.Crane) Â The first pocket radio found to use the new Si4736 DSP chip, this AM-FM-WX-AIR model has complete freedom from the Si4734 chip heterodynes troubling the Tecsun DSP Ultralights (as well as complete freedom from "soft mute" distractions). With the full range of DSP filtering options (6,4,3,2 and 1 kHz) and switchable audio tone, this new model has already attracted some significant interest among transoceanic DXers (despite its relatively high price).
> Â Â
> 3) ÂEton Traveler III Â($59.14 with free shipping from Amazon) Â The newest contestant among these radios, this AM-LW-FM-SW portable has a unique appearance, and functions which set it apart from the crowd. With only one selectivity option it is mainly designed for maximum sensitivity on MW, with excellent audio quality as a primary feature. Unlike the other contestants the model has no direct frequency entry keypad, and can only tune frequencies according to the 9 or 10 kHz band plans. A unique feature is a rotary control selecting world time zones, hidden behind an access door on the front panel.
> Â Â
> Shootout Preparations: ÂAll three models were tested in the reception of weak daytime DX signals in Puyallup, WA (30 miles south of Seattle) just after local noon on Sunday, January 11. The Tecsun PL-310ET and the C.Crane Skywave were set in their 1 kHz DSP selection, and the Skywave was set in its default "Music" tone option. In each weak-signal MP3 the Tecsun PL-310ET receives the fringe station for the first 15 seconds, the C.Crane Skywave then receives the same fringe station for 15-25 seconds, then finally the Eton Traveler III receives the same station for the last 15 seconds:
> Â Â
> 550 ÂKARI Â Blaine, WA Â (5 kW at 127 miles)
> http://www.mediafire.com/listen/mhq82kijqplmn07/550-KARI-PL310-Skywave-TravIII.MP3
> Â Â
> 620 ÂKPOJ Â Portland, OR Â (25 kW at 117 miles)
> http://www.mediafire.com/listen/31400wkrbn28nkp/620-KPOJ-PL310-Skywave-TravIII.MP3
> Â Â Â
> 690 ÂCBU Â Vancouver, BC Â (50 kW at 148 miles)
> http://www.mediafire.com/listen/9xpcndd3axt748m/690-CBU-PL310-Skywave-TravIII.MP3
> Â Â
> 750 ÂKXTG Â Portland, OR Â (50 kW at 117 miles)
> http://www.mediafire.com/listen/ybcy6yny6bdwfb6/750-KXTG-PL310-Skywave-TravIII.MP3
> Â Â Â
> 1070 ÂCFAX Â Victoria, BC Â (10 kW at 100 miles)
> http://www.mediafire.com/listen/d7ncp0vhnh9p6v6/1070-CFAX-PL310-Skywave-TravIII.MP3
> Â Â
> 1470 ÂKELA Â Centralia, WA Â(5 kW at 46 miles)
> http://www.mediafire.com/listen/s57y1b3294xezs8/1470-KELA-PL310-Skywave-TravIII.MP3
> Â Â
> 1650 ÂVashon TIS, WA Â(15 watts at 15 miles)
> http://www.mediafire.com/listen/7dew5552opybxwf/1650-VashonTIS-PL310-Skywave-TravIII.MP3
> Â Â
> COMMENTS: Â690-CBU was the weakest of all these fringe stations, and the PL-310ET was totally missing in action during the test-- maybe a victim of its "full-blown soft mute?" Its "reception" of 750-KXTG was nothing to shout about, either-- maybe Tecsun is cutting some corners on these new model PL-310ET's? The new Eton Traveler III's MW selectivity is roughly comparable to that of the 2 kHz DSP filtering in the PL-310 and Skywave models-- although if those two models are switched to their 2 KHz DSP setting, they both have an additional MW sensitivity reduction in reference to the Traveler III.
> Â Â
> 73 and Good DX,
> Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA)
> _______________________________________________
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>
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