[IRCA] Getting the Best DX Performance from your Chinese Analog Portable

[D1028Gary@xxxxxxx]

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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