Hello All,
The Super Bowl of pocket
radio weak signal reception was held this
afternoon here in Puyallup, Washington. The
contestants were:
1) Tecsun PL-310ET ($49.99
with free shipping from Amazon)
The Ultralight radio class leader in MW
sensitivity from 2009 until recently, this
AM-LW-FM-SW model (along with the Tecsun
PL-606) has the longest loopstick among the
Tecsun DSP Ultralights. Although it has
the odd heterodynes and "soft mute" drawback
typical of the Tecsun DSP models, it also
has multiple DSP selectivity choices from
its Si4734 chip, including 1 kHz filtering.
With a direct frequency entry keypad and a
round, external tuning knob, this model has
been one of the most popular Ultralight
radios for quite a few years.
2) C.Crane "Skywave" ($89.95
plus shipping from C.Crane) The first
pocket radio found to use the new Si4736 DSP
chip, this AM-FM-WX-AIR model has complete
freedom from the Si4734 chip heterodynes
troubling the Tecsun DSP Ultralights (as
well as complete freedom from "soft mute"
distractions). With the full range of DSP
filtering options (6,4,3,2 and 1 kHz)
and switchable audio tone, this new model
has already attracted some significant
interest among transoceanic DXers (despite
its relatively high price).
3) Eton Traveler III
($59.14 with free shipping from Amazon)
The newest contestant among these radios,
this AM-LW-FM-SW portable has a
unique appearance, and functions which set
it apart from the crowd. With only one
selectivity option it is mainly designed for
maximum sensitivity on MW, with excellent
audio quality as a primary feature. Unlike
the other contestants the model has no
direct frequency entry keypad, and can only
tune frequencies according to the 9 or 10
kHz band plans. A unique feature is a rotary
control selecting world time zones, hidden
behind an access door on the front panel.
Shootout Preparations: All
three models were tested in the reception of
weak daytime DX signals in Puyallup, WA (30
miles south of Seattle) just after local
noon on Sunday, January 11. The Tecsun
PL-310ET and the C.Crane Skywave were set in
their 1 kHz DSP selection, and the Skywave
was set in its default "Music" tone option.
In each weak-signal MP3 the Tecsun PL-310ET
receives the fringe station for the first 15
seconds, the C.Crane Skywave then receives
the same fringe station for 15-25 seconds,
then finally the Eton Traveler III receives
the same station for the last 15 seconds:
550 KARI Blaine, WA (5
kW at 127 miles)
620 KPOJ Portland, OR
(25 kW at 117 miles)
690 CBU Vancouver, BC
(50 kW at 148 miles)
750 KXTG Portland, OR
(50 kW at 117 miles)
1070 CFAX Victoria, BC
(10 kW at 100 miles)
1470 KELA Centralia, WA
(5 kW at 46 miles)
1650 Vashon TIS, WA (15
watts at 15 miles)
COMMENTS: 690-CBU was the
weakest of all these fringe stations, and
the PL-310ET was totally missing in
action during the test-- maybe a victim of
its "full-blown soft mute?" Its
"reception" of 750-KXTG was nothing to
shout about, either-- maybe Tecsun is
cutting some corners on these new model
PL-310ET's? The new Eton Traveler III's MW
selectivity is roughly comparable to that
of the 2 kHz DSP filtering in the PL-310
and Skywave models-- although if those two
models are switched to their 2 KHz DSP
setting, they both have an additional MW
sensitivity reduction in reference to the
Traveler III.
73 and Good DX,
Gary DeBock (in Puyallup,
WA, USA)
.
