Sony ICF-SW77 vs ICF-SW55 vs Tecsun PL-310ET: Rádio Clube do Pará 4885 kHz, Brazil

Hi there, another station that can often be quite difficult to hear well in Europe, particularly indoors, but one which the Sonys manage to copy ok. Although clearly struggling again with this weak signal, the Tecsun PL-310ET actually produces some audio, so job well done. Recorded in Oxford UK on 29/12/16 at 22:05 hrs UTC using a Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop antenna. Thanks for watching.

 

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.

MW DX with 200 metre Beverage: CKAC 730 kHz Montreal, Quebec, heard in Oxford, UK

Only the second time I'd copied CKAC, the first being an hour earlier on the same morning. Again, tricky to hear well because of adjacent QRM, but the Elad mostly deals with it very well in USB. Recorded on 10/10/16 at 02:57 hrs UTC using an ELAD FDM DUO. Thanks for watching.

Urban DX antenna test #5: Comparing 30 metre longwire to Boni whip on LW

Hi there, here is the fifth and final video in this series comparing the Bonito Boni whip to a 30 metre longwire in an urban environment. This time the target signal is Polski Radio on 225 kHz longwave and finally the Boni whip produces clearer audio than the longwire. Despite a significant increase in noise floor, the SNR appears to improve a little. The Wellbrook reception at the end of the video is a final calibration as to what is possible with an H field antenna in a noisy urban environment. Thanks for watching.

Urban DX antenna test #4: Comparing 30 metre longwire to Boni whip on MW

Hi there, here is a comparison of the longwire and Boni whip on medium wave. Watch how the signal from CFRB Newstalk 1010 Toronto 1010 kHz is buried under noise with both, until it miraculously appears at the end of the video when the Wellbrook is connected. What can you say? In a QRM-laden environment, neither a longwire or Boni whip is going to deliver serious DX. The H field Wellbrook, however, does the business. One more video in this series to come, with an example on LW, where the situation is a little different, then on to a comparison in the field between the whip and barbed wire fence...also interesting results! Thanks for watching.

Sony ICF-SW77 vs ICF-SW55 vs Tecsun PL-310ET: R. Tupi/Super R. Deus e Amor, 11765 kHz,Brazil

According to online sources, this station broadcasts with a TX power of 10 kW, however, according to the WRTH 2017, the TX power is 20 kW, which I might be more inclined to believe. Either way, a nice catch on these portables. The performances of the Sonys are similar again, not sure which I prefer. The Tecsun struggles until the two narrowest filters are selected and then produces audio that fades in and out. Not bad at all for a sub £40 radio! Recorded in Oxford UK on 29/12/16 at 20:53 hrs UTC using an Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop antenna. Thanks for watching.

 

Urban DX antenna test #3: Comparing 30 metre longwire to Boni whip

Hi there, the third reception video in this series of tests, comparing the Bonito Boni whip with a 30 metre longwire in an urban environment and then, as usual, a check on how the signal is heard with the Wellbrook ALA1530. In this example of the signal from Myanmar Radio 5985 kHz, there is no audio with either the longwire or Boni whip, only the ALA1530 manages to resolve some audio from their weak modulation. A LW and MW example to come, where, in one instance, the Boni whip prevails against the longwire. Conclusion: on SW, there is no advantage to the whip over a longwire, but no disadvantage either. Thanks for watching.

 

Urban DX antenna test #2: Comparing 30 metre longwire to Boni whip

Hi there, the second comparison video in this series, this time using the large signal from CRI on 6020 kHz. Again, there's little difference in SNR performance between the 30 metre longwire and Boni whip. More to come. Thanks for watching.

 

Urban DX antenna test #1: Comparing 30 metre longwire to Boni whip

Hi there, following my one-on-one tests of the Bonito Boni whip and Wellbrook ALA1530, it became very apparent quite quickly and perhaps not unexpectedly that the Bonito E field antenna couldn't get near the performance of the Wellbrook. That led me to plan another set of tests out at the 'DX' woods and check the performance delta in a very quiet environment. In the meantime, a number of friends and fellows expressed an interest in compariing the Boni whip to a cheap piece of wire, so here is the first of a series of reception videos doing just that, with a final check of the signal at the end using the Wellbrook. The signal is Radio Nacional Brazilia 6180 kHz and I think you'll agree there's no difference to the audio obtained with the longwire or whip, only the Wellbrook produces something half reasonable on what was a night of very poor reception conditions. Hope you enjoy it.

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.

Sony ICF-SW77 vs ICF-SW55 vs Tecsun PL-310ET: Zambia NBC Radio 1 5915 kHz, excellent reception

Hi there, here is another comparison of these three great portables and I have to say, all three perform very well. For me, the best audio is very close between the ICF-SW55 and ICF-SW77....I can't make my mind up lol.The Tecsun also does really well - you wouldn't necessarily expect a sub £40 radio to have the necessary selectivity in this part of the crowded 49 metre broadcast band, but it manages to detect the signal and deliver pretty good audio. A+ again from Tecsun! Recorded in Oxford UK on 19/12/16 at 18:03 hrs UTC using a Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop antenna. Thanks for watching.

Sony ICF-SW77 vs ICF-SW55 vs Tecsun PL-310ET: Radio Bandeirantes 11925 kHz, Sao Paolo

Hi there, so it gets even better with the Tecsun PL-310ET. I would never have imagined I could copy Radio Bandeirantes in Sao Paolo with such a modestly priced receiver, but there you go! Here the most relevant issue is which of the Sonys performs better and once again, they're quite evenly matched. It's been a lot of fun testing these three very nice portables, with several more reception videos to come. Recorded in the 'DX' woods in Oxford UK on 29/12/16 at 20:15 hrs UTC using a Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop antenna. 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.