The Eton Satellit; is it any good? Let's start with ABC Northern Territories on 120 metres...

Hi there, the Eton Satellit has had mixed reviews since it's launch, with particular focus on poor SYNC audio and inferior raw sensitivity - at least when compared to it's older, bigger 'Satellit' siblings. As a result, some hobbyists and commentators have questioned whether it's even worthy of the 'Satellit' branding.

As most of you know, I own some very capable portable receivers and on the basis of what I recorded with the Eton over the weekend, in terms of raw sensitivity, this little radio might be up there with the very best portable radios ever made. Here is wonderful reception of ABC Northern Territories from Katherine on 120 metres, which tops all of my previous receptions. If the Eton can do this, then clearly it isn't suffering from intrinsic poor sensitivity and I would need convincing that a vintage Satellit would be much more capable. 

More videos to come to further demonstrate the sensitivity and various other aspects of the Eton's performance. Recorded at the woods in Oxford UK on 22/01/17 at 18:52 hrs UTC using a 50 metre longwire. Thanks for watching. PS Goodbye to ABC on shortwave, you'll be missed.

Sony ICF-SW77 vs ICF-SW55 vs Tecsun PL-310ET: Radio Aparecida 6135.2 kHz, Brazil

Hi there, another station that's very difficult to hear well in Europe and another demonstration of the exemplary performance of the Sonys and although clearly struggling with this weak signal, an excellent effort by the modestly priced Tecsun PL-310ET which actually produces some audio. Amazing really. Recorded in Oxford UK on 29/12/16 at 20:39 hrs UTC using a Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop antenna.

Miniature shortwave marvel: Sony ICF-SW100, Radio Guinée 9650 kHz, with ID

Hi there, my first copy of Radio Guinée with the diminutive Sony ICF-SW100 - and having demonstrated the barbed wire fence doesn't necessarily provide the 'antenna services' of the Bonito Boni whip, here is an exotic station, heard quite clearly, doing just that. Also nice to have recorded a clear ID during this reception. Recorded in Oxford UK on 31/12/16 at 16:39 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.

Bonito Boni whip versus 240 metre barbed wire fence: Voice of Indonesia 9525 kHz

Hi there, this is the first in a series of tests comparing the effectiveness of the 240 metre barbed wire fence as an antenna, to the very compact Bonito Boni whip. Whilst the fence delivers some very respectable DX with the Tecsun PL-310ET, in this reception video there is only one winner - the Boni whip. Great to finally demonstrate excellent performance of the whip on a DXpedition and for me personally, quite surprising as to how much stronger the signal from Indonesia was on the whip. Recorded in Oxford UK on 14/01/17 at 16:28 hrs UTC using a Sony ICF-SW55 recevier. More videos in this series to come. Thanks for watching.

My latest upload to SWLing Post...

Urban DXing: testing the Bonito Boni whip against a 30 metre longwire & the Wellbrook ALA15030

Sony ICF-SW77 vs ICF-SW55 vs Tecsun PL-310ET: Radio Aparecida 11855 kHz, Brazil

Hi there, my best reception of Radio Aparecida to-date on the ICF-SW77, although I didn't realise at the time! The ICF-SW55 also performs very well, particularly on the narrow audio bandwidth filter, however, the Tecsun (understandably) struggles with this weak signal, but I think brief audio is heard once the narrowest filter has been selected. Recorded in Oxford UK on 29/12/16 at 20:29 hrs UTC using a Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop antenna. Thanks for watching.

Latest QSl card arrived.... from EWTN

My latest article on SWLing Post: Oxford Shortwave Log: Sony ICF-SW77 vs ICF-SW55 vs Tecsun PL-310ET

Click the above image of the Sony ICF-SW77 or this text to access the article on SWLing.com

Setting up to test the Bonito Boni-Whip against the Wellbrook ALA1530

Hi there, some of you will remember that I recently purchased a Bonito Boni-whip to use as a second antenna at home. I've read reviews that support this antenna and of course the views of just as many detractors. One user mentioned that it was performing as well as, or almost as well as his Wellbrook loop. That would be great as it cost less than half of what I paid for my ALA1530 14 months ago. I plan to test them head-to-head using the Elad SDR spectrum and record signals on LW, MW and SW. It should be an interesting test! Reception videos to come in the next couple of days. Thanks for watching.

Radio Hargeysa 7120 kHz, Somaliland, great reception...whilst my Sony continued to drown!

Hi there, possibly the best signal I've ever obtained from Radio Hargeysa. The weather was really rubbish and I was concerned that I might end up short-circuiting the Sony as it got very wet. Recorded in oxford UK on 06/01/16 at 16:51 hrs UTC using a Sony ICF-2001D receiver and 75 metre longwire antenna. Thanks for watching.

PBS Xizang 6130 kHz, Tibet, English service...whilst my Sony ICF-2001D slowly drowns!

Hi there, a nice signal from Lhasa-Baiding, Tibet, in English. I've only ever heard this station once previously, a year last december, so this was a pleasing catch.The weather wasn't great and my Sony got very wet during this short DXpedition into the Oxfordshire countryside. Never mind, it's still working and that's the main thing. Recorded on 06/01/16 at 16:47 hrs UTC using a 75 metre longwire antenna. Thanks for watching.

MW DXing with 200 metre Beverage: CFTR Toronto News Talk 680 KHz

Hi there, this is presumed, but I think it very likely the source is indeed CTFR Toronto. I've heard them a couple of times previously, but not for more than a year, so if I'm right, this is a very pleasing catch. I've never copied anything else from the Americas on this frequency by the way. WRKO and WPTF are other potential candidates for this frequency as they are either on or relatively close to the East Coast and TX at 50 KW. Perhaps someone with better ears than me can hear a clue to the identification....too many years of listening to heavy rock for me lol. All I can hear is Donald and Hillary arguing - it was the night of the second presendential debate. Recorded in Oxford UK on 10/1016 at 02:00 hrs UTC using an Elad FDM DUO. Thanks for watching.

Elad FDM DUO: a quick spin through a MW spectrum with more than 20 trans...

Sony ICF-SW77 vs ICF-SW55 vs Tecsun PL-310ET: Radio Fana 6110 kHz, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Hi there, another signal that the Tecsun managed to deliver discernible audio from. Again, the Sonys performed at a higher level, as might be expected, but again, the Tecsun is much closer in performance than might be reasonably expected! Recorded in Oxford UK on 29/12/16 at 20:03 hrs UTC using a Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop antenna. Thanks for watching.

Radio Hargeysa

I was sent a link to this video about Radio Hargeysa this afternoon - really interesting to see their set-up, inside and out! 73!

Radio User magazine; a quick spin through the January 2017 edition

Sony ICF-SW77 vs ICF-SW55 vs Tecsun PL-310ET: Rádio Nacional de Angola 4949.73 kHz

Hi there, this is a really pleasing recording, because a) the PL-310ET managed to pull in a discernible signal from Angola, which in itself is amazing and b) my best ever reception was obtained very temporarily on the ICF-SW55 before it was arguably surpassed a couple of minutes later by the ICF-SW77! Brilliant performance from all three radios and once again, the Tecsun punching above it's weight! Recorded in Oxford UK on 29/12/16 at 19:13 hrs UTC using a Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop antenna. Thanks for watching.

Transatlantic MW DX: CHIN Radio 1540 kHz, Toronto Islands, Ontario, first reception

Hi there, nice to catch another personal first at home, rather than on a DXpedition - it's been a while lol. Here the signal from Toronto is subjected to significant adjacent channel QRM on 1539 kHz, yet the excellent selectivity of the Elad manages to pull out a clear signal. Recorded in Oxford UK on 06/12/16 at 07:48 hrs UTC using a Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop antenna (indoors). Thanks for watching.

Sony ICF-SW77 vs ICF-SW55 vs Tecsun PL-310ET: Radio Sonder Grense 3320 kHz, Meyerton, SA

Hi there, the next in the series of comparison tests, this time using a stronger signal from Meyerton, but one which was suffering from adjacent channel QRM. You will notice the Sonys cope very well with the noise, but, as might be reasonably expected, even with a narrow filter setting, the Tecsun is far less assured in it's delivery of clear audio. In order to be certain the signal hadn't either faded out or become completely swamped in QRM, the video finally returns to the Sony ICF-SWS77 and once again, Radio Sonder Grense can be heard with reasonable clarity. Recorded at the woods in Oxford UK on 18/12/16 at 19:46 hrs UTC using a 75 metre longwire. Thanks for watching.

Sony ICF-SW77 vs ICF-SW55 vs Tecsun PL-310ET: Radio Hargeysa 7120 kHz, Somaliland 

Hi there, here is the next comparison test of these three rados and this time using the signal from Radio Hargeysa in Somaliland. This signal can, at times, be sufficiently strong to receive via a telescopic antenna, however, this hasn't been the case for many months. In this particular test, both Sonys manage to deliver discernible audio with relative ease, whilst the Tecsun struggles. Recorded in the 'DX' woods, Oxford UK on 18/12/16 at 18:19 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.