Scott!!!

Let me add my name to the Welcoming Committee. You and the other folks at SiLabs have turned a serious segment of radio on its head! Bravo. I swear that the 47xx family of chips will go far to revolutionize analog AM and FM as we know it. In truth SW and LW are dying/dead bands from anything but an enthusiasts point of view, but AM and FM still have a long run ahead of them. Doing what you guys did, at the price point you managed, ought to continue to send out ripples for a long time to come. I too, look forward to one or more of the major manufacturers bringing out a full-sized portable that will use more of the potential of the chip and that will give the enthusiast operator more control of the parameters... especially the soft mute function on AM.

The Sony 2010 ruled the world as the top portable radio for a full 20 years (until about 4 years ago) and sold a bunch of radios for Sony over the years. They finally dropped that unit from the line, after trying for a decade to successful replace it. They never really did. The 2010 was supplanted at the top of the portable heap by the current champ.... the Eton E1. It is really ruling the roost right now, but it does not offer that much more than the now 25 year-old 2010. A big portable based on the 4734 chip would be a wonderful thing, at some point. In the meantime, I'm coming to love the PL-380.

We realize that you all don't have control of what the radio manufacturers build, but SiLabs does influence such, I wager.

For yourself, we certainly hope that you will give ultralight DXing a try. You might really enjoy it. The way to get started is to listen and keep a list of stations heard... the time, date, call, location and a few program details (optional.) You ought to click on the Files reference at the end of this message. It usually says something like Five(5) new files, or some such. Just click into the files and you will find a number of folders, organized by subject area. That contains the 100 or so formal articles that have been written by Ultralighters in the past two years. The best place to start is in the folder called "Start Here" with the article "An Introduction to Ultralight DXing." That article discusses what you expect, but it also keys in to more detailed articles elsewhere in the Files.

Anyway... thanks to you and the rest of the folks at SiLabs for doing such a great job!!!

John Bryant
Moderator