Can anyone help me out with recommendations for a good receiver for
mediumwave DX ?

I've narrowed it down a bit, but would like some more advice with regards to
their operation with 240 volt mains and 9 kHz channel spacing.

I presently have a Yaesu FRG-8800, which unfortunately has built in
attenuation when tuning below 1600 kHz making it impractical for dx use on
mediumwave. It is excellent for shortwave operation and also dxing our
"narrowcasters" operating from 1611 - 1701 kHz, but a bit deaf below 1600
kHz. (There is an article online detailing removal of the attenuators, but
it recommends against it if strong transmitters are nearby - I am 10km from
an ABC site transmitting 50 kw on 612, 25 kw on 792 and 10 kw on 936, with
little other than salt water & mangrove swamp in between).


The radios presently under consideration are :

1) GE Superadio 2

I am presently leaning towards a secondhand GE superradio (analog tuning and
they were available locally (from Dick Smith electronics) modified to
operate on 240v.

My concern here is that these radios will be getting on a bit - are there
any long-term problems from the modification to 240 volts, and was the power
supply filtering upgraded to cope adequatly with 100 Hz ripple compared to
the original 120 Hz ripple ?

The other problem is that they are rare as.

2) C Crane Radio Plus

This would be nice, however it appears to be designed to work only with
North American 10 kHz channel spacings, and 110 volt mains.

Is it possible to modify the C Crane Radio Plus to operate with the 9 kHz
channel spacing and 240 volt mains ?

3) GE Superadio 3

Would have to be ordered from overseas (not a problem).
With analog tuning the channel spacing shouldn't be a problem, however will
they run, or can they be modified to run on 240 volts ?

4) Sangean/Digitor "Outback 2"

As a radio of "last resort". Advertised as having "long distance
reception", however it seems as if the audio performance is probably down on
the other choices, I also believe that the MW performance may be somewhat
lacking but I have no way to do a side by side comparison. The big
advantage here is that these are available new in stores right now.


So, is it possible for either of the "imports" to run properly here ?
Are there any other options I should be considering ?
or should I just buy the outback 2 ?

Any other ideas ?

Barry Carlton wrote:
So, is it possible for either of the "imports" to run properly here ?
Are there any other options I should be considering ?
or should I just buy the outback 2 ?

Running any of these radios from batteries would solve the mains voltage
problem. Really I wouldn't think the frequency difference between 50Hz
and 60Hz would be an issue, though to be honest I've never tried an
American radio on 50Hz. Battery life on a Superadio 2 is pretty
amazing, even when I use them in the house I usually don't bother
plugging them into the mains.

Here in the States, you can buy voltage adaptors that allow you to
operate American 120v equipment from overseas 240v mains; aren't they
available in Australia as well?

I have heard mixed reviews of the C. Crane radio. It's being pushed by
talk-radio hosts (whose shows are generally carried on MW stations; MW
interference levels in the USA, with over 5,000 stations, are pretty
severe and regular consumer radios often can't provide comfortable MW
listening at night..); about half of DXers who buy them like them, the
other half doesn't...

The Superadio 3 had some quality-control and dial-calibration issues in
early models. Newer ones are reported better.

I'm not familiar with the Outback 2 - sounds like it might be especially
designed for the Australian market. Of the other three, I'd say the
Superadio 2 is the best of the bunch - if you can find one.

Among American designs, you often have to trade off audio quality for
distant reception. Again, this is because of the high interference
levels here at night.

It may be more than you want to spend, but the Grundig YB-400PE is a
pretty decent performer for MW DX and can definitely be set to 9KHz steps.
--
Doug Smith W9WI
Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66
http://www.w9wi.com

In article ,
Barry Carlton wrote:

Can anyone help me out with recommendations for a good receiver for
mediumwave DX ?

I've narrowed it down a bit, but would like some more advice with regards to
their operation with 240 volt mains and 9 kHz channel spacing.
1) GE Superadio 2

I've been running an SRII which I brought from the U.S. 7 years ago
on a transformer and it's fine on 230v 50Hz.

Geoff.

--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson 972-54-608-069
Icq/AIM Uin: 2661079 MSN IM: (Not for email)
Carp are bottom feeders, koi are too, and not surprisingly are ferrets.

"Barry Carlton" wrote in message . au...
Can anyone help me out with recommendations for a good receiver for
mediumwave DX ?

with 240 volt mains and 9 kHz channel spacing.

I am 10km from
an ABC site transmitting 50 kw on 612, 25 kw on 792 and 10 kw on 936,

In the US, Radio Shack discontinued its DX-399 LW-MW-SW-FM stereo
receiver a year ago for $40US. You, however, are in Australia. No
problem, just buy the Sangean equivalent, the ATS606AP. It comes with
a 110 volt-220 volt universal power adapter, and you can set the MW
frequency spacing to 9 or 10 kHz. Internally, it has room for three AA
cells.

http://www.sangean.com/worldband.html


AM/FM STEREO/SW
CONTINUOUS TUNING ALL BANDS
ULTRA COMPACT, FULL FEATURED
1 kHz FINE TUNING
5 TUNING METHODS
AUTO-TUNE SYSTEM
54 MEMORY PRESETS
AUTO MEMORY SCAN
DUAL TIME DISPLAY
LARGE LCD DIGITAL DISPLAY
ADJUSTABLE SLEEP TIMER
COUNT DOWN TIMER
DUAL WAKE UP ALARMS
INCLUDES: CARRYING CASE, 110/220 UNIVERSAL AC ADAPTER, ANT-60 SW REEL
ANTENNA
SIZE:5.8x3.5x1 inches
WEIGHT:12oz.

Thanks for your helpful replies Doug, Geoffrey & B/L.

I think I'll stick the first option, and find a 240v superadio 2.

BC,

There is/was a 240VAC GE SR-II from the Land of OZ on eBay.Com.

~ RHF
..
..
= = = "Barry Carlton"
= = = wrote in message u...
Thanks for your helpful replies Doug, Geoffrey & B/L.

I think I'll stick the first option, and find a 240v superadio 2.