Okay, it’s arrived. 

At first I thought the battery was dead, but when I looked at it an hour later, it having been on charge (USB C) I discovered (no instructions) that you have to hold down the selector/tuning switch for a second or two. I have only been playing with it a short time but I think it’s going to be a fascinating, if tedious, little set. Tedious because to change any setting you do of course have to first click down the switch, and then turn either way to select your choice. What impresses me most is the whip antenna, it’s just quality. There’s a of static through the speaker, but when I plugged in my headphones it was much better. However, there’s a fairly high pitched whine caused by the display, which I found out when it automatically switched off. I did try it on a weak and fading signal I found initially on my E5 and then compared (Giovanni Baroni, IK5YZZ on 142.15) and it was equally as good. More to come. 

Drifter

Hi Issac
I think I’d hang off on getting one of these until I’ve completed my assessment, I’m already thinking I should have gone for the Tecsun PL-368 as my next plaything. 

Drifter

Okay, a further mini update. I went out this morning with my Etón E5, ATS100 and a short wire antenna. Reception was pretty dire but a couple of things were learnt. Being relevant to both, I’ll start here because it’s simple. I opened the car window a bit and dropped the still partly coiled antenna out the window. I found the E5 worked a lot better with its built in whip, and the ATS100 a lot better with the wire.  

As I get to know the ATS100 better it gets a little quicker. I found that it does retain it’s numerical frequency on switching off, but doesn’t retain it’s sideband setting or bandwidth, which defaults to 0.5. So on initially turning on you have to through the procedure of setting these. If you enter BFO mode you have to exit it before re-tuning (remember everything is on one switch). This brings me to the next thing, which is whatever you adjusted last remains ‘under’ the switch. So if you’ve selected a frequency on sideband and then go to BFO to adjust it, when you next push the switch, BFO will be there to switch off. And what I also found was that rat rather than doing two clicks to get back to frequency tuning, if you hold the switch down it will take you straight there. This makes it a bit quicker switching between BFO and frequency adjustment. More will come later, when I might detail the menus. 

Drifter

BEWARE! Sorry to say my ATS100 has failed! I am returning it for refund and will not be replacing it. 

Drifter

Does That mean you’ve bought one these Earl?
Drifter

I’m really hoping I have more luck with the PL-368 I’m waiting for 😊.
Drifter

Hi Issac
Well I don’t actually know. I was using it in the evening and it just switched off, so assuming it was a flat battery I put it on charge. Having left it overnight I attempted a few times to switch it on with no luck. The seller has accepted the return, but until he has received it and my money has been refunded I won’t be entirely happy. If anyone else buys or has bought one of these I’d be interested to know how it was/is received. Mine came in an apparently used bubble wrap bag with a USB lead. No box, no instructions or anything else. 

Drifter

I think you will be much happier with the PL-368. I've been putting mine through its paces for a month now and it is doing a stellar job on MW DX and SW DX. I have been using the whip and ferrite antenna's as my long wires were destroyed in a recent wind storm/tornado. Got to love Florida weather. Hi.

Al I can say is I wish you better luck than I had Dave! Could you please let us know exactly what yours includes? In case like me you don’t get instructions, hold the knob down for about five seconds and it should kick into life. 

Ron, that’s very encouraging news! I’m still waiting for mine. That’s rotten luck about your long wires, it sounds as though you had it rough!
Drifter

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