Les, Thanks very much for your positive comments on the pocket radio "Shootout!" <<< I recently purchased the CCrane Skywave, and have to say I'm very impressed with it so far. It's best my PL-310 with ease, and compares well to larger portables for MW DXing. My primary targets at domestic stations, I have little interest in DXing TA's. >>> Well, the CC Skywave does have a lot going for it, if the $89.95 price isn't a deal-breaker. The new Si4736 DSP chip solves the heterodyne issue affecting the Tecsun models like the PL-310 and PL-380, while the selectable audio tone is another plus. In MW reception the model falls pretty much in between the PL-310 and the Traveler III in both audio clarity and sensitivity-- which is why the MP3's were recorded with the Skywave in the middle. <<< I may have to order the Eton now too--thanks to your review. You certainly are helping Amazon's business of late. Hope they send you a gift certificate or something! :-) >>> The Traveler III would be another excellent choice for a domestic DXer looking for great MW sensitivity and audio quality-- especially one who doesn't need a direct frequency entry keypad. As for Amazon sending me a gift certificate-- I'm not holding my breath! 73, Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA)
----- Original Message ----- From: "Les Rayburn" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Sunday, January 11, 2015 9:21:11 PM Subject: Re: [IRCA] Ultralight Radio Class-- MW Sensitivity King Shootout Gary, Let me add my thanks for taking the time to assemble these tests as well. Very informative. I recently purchased the CCrane Skywave, and have to say I'm very impressed with it so far. It's best my PL-310 with ease, and compares well to larger portables for MW DXing. My primary targets at domestic stations, I have little interest in DXing TA's. My emphasis is on stations that begin with "K", that is stations in the Western part of the U.S. In that regard, the radio works great for my needs---mainly when I'm camping with my wife, taking the dog for walks, or otherwise away from my primary receiver. I may have to order the Eton now too--thanks to your review. You certainly are helping Amazon's business of late. Hope they send you a gift certificate or something! :-) -- 73, Les Rayburn, N1LF Maylene, AL EM63 Member NRC, IRCA, & Medium Wave DX Circle Former CPC Chairman for NRC/IRCA Elad SDR, SDR-IQ,Funcube Pro, Wellbrooke ALA-1530+ loop, LF Engineering Active Whips, Quantum Phaser, Kiwa Loop, Palstar MW Pre-Selector On 1/11/2015 10:38 PM, [email protected] wrote: > Hello All, > > The Super Bowl of pocket radio weak signal reception was held this afternoon > here in Puyallup, Washington. The contestants (pictured together in a photo > posted at http://www.mediafire.com/view/22enaz1a7ci88p2/EtonTrav3-011.jpg > ) 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) > http://www.mediafire.com/listen/mhq82kijqplmn07/550-KARI-PL310-Skywave-TravIII.MP3 > > > 620 KPOJ Portland, OR (25 kW at 117 miles) > http://www.mediafire.com/listen/31400wkrbn28nkp/620-KPOJ-PL310-Skywave-TravIII.MP3 > > > 690 CBU Vancouver, BC (50 kW at 148 miles) > http://www.mediafire.com/listen/9xpcndd3axt748m/690-CBU-PL310-Skywave-TravIII.MP3 > > > 750 KXTG Portland, OR (50 kW at 117 miles) > http://www.mediafire.com/listen/ybcy6yny6bdwfb6/750-KXTG-PL310-Skywave-TravIII.MP3 > > > 1070 CFAX Victoria, BC (10 kW at 100 miles) > http://www.mediafire.com/listen/d7ncp0vhnh9p6v6/1070-CFAX-PL310-Skywave-TravIII.MP3 > > > 1470 KELA Centralia, WA (5 kW at 46 miles) > http://www.mediafire.com/listen/s57y1b3294xezs8/1470-KELA-PL310-Skywave-TravIII.MP3 > > > 1650 Vashon TIS, WA (15 watts at 15 miles) > http://www.mediafire.com/listen/7dew5552opybxwf/1650-VashonTIS-PL310-Skywave-TravIII.MP3 > > > 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) > _______________________________________________ > IRCA mailing list > [email protected] > http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca > > _______________________________________________ IRCA mailing list [email protected] http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: [email protected]
