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.

 

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

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 #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.

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: 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.

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.

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Sony ICF-SW77: recent DX & comparing performance with the ICF-SW55 & Tecsun PL-310ET

Sony ICF-SW77 vs ICF-SW55 vs Tecsun PL-310ET: Radio Mali 9635 kHz, Bamako

Hi there, here is the next test comparing the Sony ICF-SW77 against the ICF-SW55 and Tecsun PL-310ET. With this relatively weak signal, both Sony's reproduce stronger and more discernible audio than the Tecsun, however, to be able to hear an exotic station such as Mali on a portable that costs less than £40 is still quite amazing. As regards the Sonys, there's not much in it, although the audio on the ICF-SW77 was clearest with the narrow audio bandwidth filter, whilst the wide setting produced the best audio on the ICF-SW55. Recorded in Oxford UK on 18/12/16 at 17:09 hrs UTC using a 75 metre longwire. Thanks for watching.

Sony ICF-SW77 vs ICF-SW55 vs Tecsun PL-310ET: ABC Northern Territories 4835 kHz

Hi there, I mentioned some time ago that I would be testing the Sony ICF-SW77 against the ICF-SW55, having read a review suggesting the original price delta on the SW777 might not be justified, because performance was closely matched with the SW55. I have a lot of experience with the SW55 - it was the mainstay receiver of my Dx'peditions for about a year, until the ICF-2001D took over. The audio bandwidth filters are excellent and of course, it's very sensitve - one of the best ever 'paperback book sized' portables. To mix things up a little and because it's performance has been way beyond my expectations, I threw the PL-310ET into the mix. You would expect it to be nowhere against these two classics, but again, it's relative performance surprised me. Here is a signal from ABC Northern Territories - the first 3-way comparison. Recorded in Oxford UK on 18/12/16 at 17:27 hrs UTC using a 75 metre longwire. Thanks for watching.

Sony ICF-SW77: Zambia NBC Radio 1, 5915 kHz, Lusaka, best ever reception

Hi there, I was in the middle of a multiple radio test involving this receiver, when I copied this really nice signal from Zambia. Easily the best reception I've ever obtained and even nicer to do so with the vintage, but brilliant ICF-SW77. You might remember that it was the runner up in the head-to-head test with it's older 'brother' the ICF-2001D, but nevertheless, still a very capable receiver indeed.....and this reception clearly demonstrates that. Recorded in Oxford UK on 19/12/16 at 18:33 hrs UTC using a 75 metre longwire. Thanks for watching.