Re: Anyone Comments on Sangean DT400W use?
Hey Gary:
Thanks for the info! I look forward to the Shott-out results.
For the e100 units from "oceansno1", I presume those are known to be the
right models/serial numbers such that you get a single-conversion set that
is amenable to loopstick transplantation?
Kevin
> Rob, Kevin and Steve,
>
> I'll share a little information from recent Ultralight hot-rodding
> experiments by two ex-Navy sonar technicians, that usually prefer to work
> in
> secret (Steve R. and me).
>
> The C.Crane SWP unit tunes in 1 kHz increments, and has recently
> been
> modified with both a Slider loopstick (by me) and a Murata CFJ455K5 IF
> filter
> (by Steve), creating a compact DXing monster fully equal with the Slider
> E100's. The first prototype is being fully evaluated here against the
> Slider
> E100's, with very promising results. For those DXers hoping to
> eventually
> modify an Ultralight into a 9 kHz transoceanic terror, the C.Crane SWP
> would be a
> good choice (as long as you can live with push-button volume controls).
> Otherwise, pick up an E100 off eBay from "oceansno1" (a.k.a.
> "anything4home"),
> who sells decent units at a going rate of about $25.
>
> The DT-400W is also being modified by us, and both the Slider
> loopstick
> and filter mods have been created. The DT-400W is a great Ultralight
> with
> typically exceptional wide-band stock sensitivity, and Steve's filter mod
> will
> certainly boost its overall performance. The Slider loopstick also gives
> its usual nuclear-powered boost for weak-signal capability (as explained
> in the
> recent DT-200VX/ DT-400W Slider Loopstick article posted on DXer.Ca.),
> but
> since the radio can't tune in 1 kHz increments, it will never be as
> effective
> as the SWP and E100 Sliders for transoceanic DX.
>
> My new PL-450 for the 2009 Shootout should arrive any day now, and
> there is great anticipation in the Ultralight community, which is hoping
> for an
> upgraded E100. We shall see!
>
> 73, Gary
>
>
>
>
> In a message dated 1/26/2009 1:19:30 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,
> satya@sounddsl.com writes:
>
>
>
>
> Of the recommended list, only the e100 has 1 khz tuning.
>
> The CCrane SWP has 1 khz tuning: it was initially a Turkey, but Gary
> DeBock recently reported that later production models seem to be much
> better.
>
> Also, the Tecsun PL-450, a new model, has not yet been tested/evaluated,
> although since Tecsun made the e100, and the PL-450 seems to be the
> replacement for that model, I bet it's about the same.
>
> For the CCrane SWP and Tecsun PL-450 verdicts, I think Gary is about to
> issue the 2009 Shoot-out results in the coming days/weeks, so you may
> want
> to wait until then. I am guessing that the PL-450 is going to do really
> well...
>
> Kevin
>
>> Kevin
>>
>>
>> Great explanation. Any other than E100 recommended recievers ULR,
>> starting with lowest price first and then up that have 1khz
>> increments ?
>>
>>
>> TX
>>
>> rob
>> --- In _ultralightdx@ultralightdxult_
>> (mailto:ultralightdx@yahoogroups. com)
> , satya@... wrote:
>>>
>>> Hey Rob:
>>>
>>> The M37V and DT400W tune in fixed 9 or 10 khz increments (you select
>>> either one depending on where you're at in the world). As you push
>> the
>>> tune button, the receiver tuning jumps up and down in those
>> increments
>>> (1120, 1130, 1140, etc.). Analog receivers like the SRF-59,
>> however, tune
>>> continuously, so you could dial up whatever frequency you like,
>> limited
>>> only by your fine motor skills. The Eton e100 and others tune in 1
>> khz
>>> steps, so while it isn't continuous like the analog SRF-59, the
>> control is
>>> much finer.
>>>
>>> Why would this be important? If you are trying to listen to, say,
>> 1530
>>> khz, and a strong local on 1520 (say, WWKB's 50,000 watts...) is
>> stomping
>>> all over 1530, it would be nice to nudge over to 1531 or 1532 to get
>>> further away from the problem on 1520. The station on 1530 will
>>> generally be much more readable, and perhaps be free of "slop" from
>> 1520
>>> altogether. Depending on the filtering involved, you may be able
>> to get
>>> over to 1533 or 1534 before you start losing the desired station on
>> 1530.
>>> The e100 could do this, but the M37V and DT400W could not.
>>>
>>> This ability to tune away from problems is especially important on
>> TA
>>> signals, since they will generally be quite close to a domestic
>> station.
>>> For example, 1134-Croatia competes with domestic channels on 1130
>> and
>>> 1140, so it would be nice to be able to tune to 1133 or 1135, away
>> from
>>> whatever domestic channel is giving you the most problems.
>>>
>>> So, the M37V and DT400W would not be able to be detuned either way -
>>> you're stuck with a fixed on-channel frequency. For domestic DXing
>>> without a strong local to contend with, this may not be a big
>> problem. If
>>> you're out in Newfoundland, it's REALLY not a problem. However, in
>> your
>>> situation, you would probably have serious problems on a few
>> channels like
>>> 1510 and 1530, and strong regional stations from Montreal, New
>> York, etc.
>>> will make adjacent channels more difficult to hear.
>>>
>>> Kevin
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> > Kevin:
>>> >
>>> > As I posted before I just missed out on Durham radio E100 sale a
>> few
>>> > weeks ago by minutes or hours.
>>> > But to show my newness what does ".....unable to tune in 1
>>> > khz increments ..." mean? What does the Sony M-37 or Sangean 400W
>>> > tune in increments?
>>> >
>>> > rob
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > --- In _ultralightdx@ultralightdxult_
> (mailto:ultralightdx@yahoogroups. com) , satya@ wrote:
>>> >>
>>> >> Hey Rob:
>>> >>
>>> >> The DT400W is the sensitivity champ, although it is unable to
>> tune
>>> > in 1
>>> >> khz increments and the stock selectivity is rather broad,
>>> > especially for
>>> >> TA work. There is a filter mod posted at DXer.ca, but it sounds
>>> > like you
>>> >> may not be in a position to do that (I know I wouldn't even think
>>> > about
>>> >> it...). As for the ability to tune away from the standard 9/10
>> khz
>>> >> channels, I personally would want that capability for serious
>>> > DXing, even
>>> >> domestic, although the judicious use of a passive loop antenna
>> can
>>> > really
>>> >> help.
>>> >>
>>> >> If you're ready to step up, given that you have wielded a
>> soldering
>>> > iron,
>>> >> a suggestion is to get an Eton e100 (within the correct serial
>>> > number
>>> >> range) and put the slider antenna on it. I have VERY modest
>>> > soldering
>>> >> skills, and I managed to do the mod fairly quickly. The stock
>>> > filter in
>>> >> the e100 is already top-of-the-class for Ultralights, and so you
>>> > could see
>>> >> how it goes before deciding whether or not to put a narrower
>> filter
>>> > in. I
>>> >> see e100's on eBay quite a bit, and making sure what the serial
>>> > number is
>>> >> before buying would make sure you're getting what you need.
>>> >>
>>> >> The stock-filtered e100 is an absolute terror on the domestic MW
>>> > band, and
>>> >> in Buffalo you should be able to hear a fair number of TA's.
>>> >>
>>> >> $.02 from Kevin S. Bainbridge Island, WA
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >> > Only having the SRF-59 for 1 month as my first ULR, looking
>> for a
>>> >> > digital readout ULR. Apperars from summer shootout that the
>>> > Sangean
>>> >> > DT400W is best bet. However, can anyone comment on actually
>> using
>>> > that
>>> >> > set long term. OR, any other suggestions for my second set?
>>> >> >
>>> >> > rob
>>> >> >
>>> >> >
>>> >>
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
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