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[IRCA] Getting the Best DX Performance from your Chinese Analog Portable
Hello All,
Recently there has been a serious ordering boom for Chinese analog
Ultralight radios, notably the Tecsun R9012, R911, and Kaito WRX-911 models. The
Tecsun-labled units typically sell for around $10 on eBay, from such sellers
as "dpmega." The low prices (and reports of decent AM performance) have
led to greatly increased buyer demand from North America, causing a slew of
new Chinese sellers to list them on eBay-- usually at inflated prices.
To get the best performance from any of these portables, a simple alignment
is recommended. The procedure posted on dxer.ca and the odxa and
ultralightdx Yahoo sites will help you peak both high and low band sensitivity, and
extend frequency coverage up to 1700 kHz (the Chinese domestic market
portables, which are the cheapest models, typically will not cover the entire
X-Band without adjustment).
Even after alignment, for maximum AM sensitivity it is important to raise
the whip antenna to a vertical position (without extending it), away from
the loopstick. This simple step will dramatically improve sensitivity on the
low AM band, on all these portables. Some users have reported that high
band sensitivity is not affected by this practice, but it certainly makes a
major difference on receiving weak low-band stations on the aligned R9012,
R911 and WRX-911 radios here.
Finally, the Ultralight radio enthusiast group has confirmed that Tecsun
R9012 models manufactured in 2005 are substandard, regardless of color.
Before ordering this model from an eBay seller, try to confirm that it is a
recently-manufactured (2008 or 2009) model, or at least get the serial number
from the seller. The four numbers after "089" in the serial number are the
year of manufacture, i.e. 0892008xxxxxxx or 0892005xxxxxxx. Avoid radios
with 0892005xxxxxxx serial numbers. The eBay seller "tquchina" is aware of
this issue, and has stopped selling the 2005 models. The seller "dpmega," who
also offers R9012's at the lowest price, has sold only the "good" 2008
black-colored models up until now.
All of these radios are wonderful DX bargains when properly aligned, and
include FM and multiband SW coverage as well. The R9012 even has an actual
round tuning knob, practically unheard of in a low-cost analog Ultralight
radio. Have fun!
73, Gary DeBock
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