The Grundig G3 sported a Dual Conversion PLL Digital tuner with smooth tuning and no discernible muting between frequency steps.
Like some others of my age (roughly) who have posted here, I vastly prefer radios that do NOT mute between tuning steps . . . that provide smooth, continuous tuning.
So, does anyone know of any true, new, currently in production, radios with an analog receiver? Could be AM, FM, and/or shortwave?
And, if there are any, obviously I am interested in the ones that you think work well.
Cheers, Jock
It’s not a portable and only has AM and FM but I just got the Sangean WR-12BT and can confirm that it is an analog tuner, not only in looks. This past couple of days I’ve been transported back to the days of my childhood, tuning around at night in my grandpa’s battery powered ‘transistor radio’ or in my dad’s Phillips receiver with it’s lighted dial.
Hi Jock,
If you’re looking for the very best in portable – actually in this case pocketable – radio without muting, then go for the unbeatable Belka, designed and made by a Ham. Takes a few weeks from order to receiving it. But the tiny Belka is an extraordinary radio receiver, here’s an excellent review:
https://swling.com/blog/2022/10/13dka-reviews-the-new-2022-belka-generation-3-general-coverage-receiver/
And here’s a link to the Belka website:
https://belrig.by/belka-DX
The Belka is not expensive and it is an extraordinary radio with coverage from 100Hz to 31MHz, ie Long Wave / Medium Wave (AM) and Short Wave – but no FM (yet).
I whole heartedly recommend highly enough the tiny but powerful Belka
But if you’re looking for an old fashioned, cheap but very good value analogue receiver similar to the original Sony ICF 7600, Sony ICF 7600DA or Sony ICF 7601, well then Frank beat me to it to recommend the analogue Tecsun R-9700DX Dual Conversion multi band radio, available from Anno-Co – I do NOT own shares or receive any benefit for this – at US$44.99, here’s Annon’s write up about the Tecsun R-9700DX:
https://www.anon-co.com/product/tecsun-radio-r9700dx
The already mentioned by others in this thread Tecsun PL660, PL880X, PL990X, PL8800X are all excellent radios that all do NOT have the horrid muting as one tunes.
Another compact contender could be the Tecsun PL330X which has many of the features of the PL990X but in a much more compact size and at a much lower price just US$64.99 – I was blown away by this cool small radio with SSB capability and 10hz tuning steps in SSB – this is a marvellous little radio, in some ways it has more bells and whistles than the Belka and if you’re looking for FM, well the Tecsun PL330X has FM whereas the Belka does not, BUT don’t get me wrong, for the frequency range 100Hz to 31Mhz, the Belka is in a class of its own.
Another possible contender might be the portable Tecsun S2000 also sold under the Grundig brand as the S750, it’s still available on the Anon-co European web site for Euros 269:
https://www.anon-co-eu.com/product/tecsun-s2000-ham-radio
Opinions vary widely over the Tecsun S2000 / Grundig Satelit 750 / Eton 750 (all the same radio), so I suggest you google it if you’re considering it and read the reviews.
Pros: It looks cool It has loads of antenna connections for external antennas. It has a rotable external ferrite loop-stick on the top which can be used to get the best reception on MW / AM, it has good sound
Cons: Birdies, ghost stations…
In my opinion not up there with the Tecsun PL880X or PL990X
Dan’s mention earlier in this thread of the forthcoming Tecsun S2200 piqued my curiosity so I googled it and found an entrepreneurial Dutch website that advertises it for sale at a hefty Euros 449, not far off double its predecessor’s price at Euros 269.
I found a review here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtjLCQraEpc
Caveat:
People seem to be using a photo of the S2000 for the reviews and sales.
I do think its very cool that Tecsun is still coming out with new Short Wave and General Coverage radios.
Of course if you’re in the market for a good quality vintage portable there is a huge variety of these available on eBay and other on line sources.
Jock, hope this helps!
Happy hunting and let us know what you choose!
73
Julian
Julian,
Thank you soooo much for your detailed and informative comments.
Cheers, Jock
Automute can be disabled for Si473x DSPs, and especially when also disabling AGC while tuning. The issue is most Si473x portables do not allow access to such low-level DSP settings.
While the ATS family of radios have various quirks and issues, aftermarket firmware for even the affordable basic ATS-20+ does allow access to those DSP settings and more.
Anyway, as to the inquiry, the PL-660 and 680 models still can be sourced new on the retail market. They were and still are decent portables IMO.
All the above said, an $169 Airspy HF+ Discovery will “run circles around” most any portable and even a good number of rather expensive desktop communications receivers. It can even be run from an Android smartphone or tablet desired. Just a thought. 😉
The below video is going to sound absoutely horrid due to MW on an outdooromnidirectional antenna, but it shows there are ways around automute on Si473x DSP chips provided there is access to certain low-level settings.
https://youtu.be/bmzIgOmntQQ
I purchased the 680 about a year ago & very satisfied with it’s performance. Regular AM (MW) could be a bit better to match the AM characteristics of the CC Crane Radios (such as the CC Skywave & the discontinued large CC Radio SW) but not a deal breaker as I’ve had great luck with the LW (LW all the way from from Europe no less), SW including excellent SSB reception & air bands with this radio. The cost was also substantially less than the CC Radio Skywave SSB. Very happy with it !!!
Stan,
Thanks!
Cheers, Jock
Robert,
Your “just a thought” is much appreciated.
Cheers, Jock
If you don’t mind an analog dial, the Tecsun R9700DX is purely analog. As far as I know, it’s still in production. I bought mine roughly 2 years ago. It is AM, FM, and SW.
Frank,
I will check it out.
Cheers, Jock
BAIJIALI Model kk9. I purchased it from Temu, I believe. It reminds me of my old Sony vrom 40 years ago.
Mark,
I have never heard of that. Thanks!
Cheers, Jock
Some 2200x info:
https://www.tecsunradios.com.au/store/product/tecsun-s2200x-shortwave-receiver/
-Bob
Bob,
I think I might “need” one of those.
Cheers, Jock
That looks to be a winner as long as the quality control is good and it isn’t an unmitigated disaster like the Eton satellite remake!
just a clone of the eton/grundig satillit 750
Jock,
Not analog, but my picks would be a Tecsun PL-880 or PL-990. No muting or chugging as you slew-tune up and down the band. Further the TUNING and FINE TUNING knobs do not have annoying mechanical detents every kHz. The PL-660 and PL-680 operate the same, but note that Anon-co keeps replacement tuning encoders in stock for these models. My venerable 660 could use one.
I purchased the Tescun 680 about a year ago & very satisfied with it’s performance. Regular AM (MW) could be a bit better to match the AM characteristics of the CC Crane Radios (such as the CC Skywave & the discontinued large CC Radio SW) but not a deal breaker as I’ve had great luck with the LW (LW all the way from from Europe no less), SW including excellent SSB reception & air bands with this radio. The cost was also substantially less than the CC Radio Skywave SSB. Very happy with it !!!
Bob,
I own and like the PL-880.
In my ignorance, I actually thought that a “pure” analog radio would be simpler and cheaper to manufacture.
All the replies have been fascinating . . . a threatening to my wallet!
Cheers, Jock
The Tecsun PL-880 has no muting, is compact, and has SSB. It’s only $149 direct from Anon-co.com, the supplier in Hong Kong. It’s also triple conversion.
Jock I recently acquired a Tecsun PL-880 for a nice price from Main Trading Company with a special and a discount code applied.
It is not analog, yet it does not mute and I LOVE the tuning and band scanning features with the dual knobs. For me it only misses an AGC adjustment.
Radio rating SNR being what it is, I have read and watched for many years the reasons why people do not like this radio, but I am very happy to welcome it into my stable of receivers as a solid choice. It’s my nightly band tuner before the lights go out.
The Belka doesn’t mute, especially not when using “AM1” (envelope detection).
News of the new Tecsun
S-2200X is just beginning
to break but it’s unknown
whether it will have muting.
The S-8800 remains an excellent
receiver with no muting.
Dan,
Thanks.
Do you have plans to review one?
Cheers, Jock
Tecsun PL-680 is an analog receiver.
I don’t believe it is. I own one.
Tecsun H501x, Best ever.
MalahiTeam/Malachite receivers, included chinese clones. Great receivers.