Matt compares the Tecsun PL-990 and Sangean ATS-909X sharing an external antenna

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Matt Blaze, who shares the following comparison of the new Tecsun PL-990x and the original Sangean ATS-909X communications receivers.

Like Matt’s recent comparison of the Tecsun PL-990x to the Icom IC-R9500, this review is in audio form and brilliantly narrated by Matt. I highly recommend listening with headphones or, at least, an audio device with separate left/right channels as his comparison takes advantage of this.

Enjoy:

Yet another superb presentation, Matt! Thank you so much for taking the time to make these audio comparison tests.

Tecsun H-501: Internal shots and a note of caution about Newegg pricing

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who shares two note-worthy links regarding the new Tecsun H-501.

The first link is to a set of internal shots of the H-501 found on Radioafiction.com. Click here to view.

Image Source: Radioaficion.com

The second link, Dan shares as a warning.

Evidently there’s an inventory of the H-501s on NewEgg.com where they’re being sold for $584.49 US each:As Dan points out, that’s insane pricing--! Not only that, but I’m willing to bet this isn’t the final export version that will be the most up-to-date and will certainly be less expensive. I’ll be waiting for Anon-Co to offer these.

I’ve purchased computer parts from Newegg before–they’re a good retailer, but I suspect this inventory is actually being offered by a third party. As a precaution, I’m not even linking to Newegg as I don’t want to inadvertently suggest purchasing one at this price.

Thanks for the tips, Dan!

The new Belka-DX DSP now available via Mobimax

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, JMMHam, who comments:

The new DX version of BELKA -DSP is now available in the Mobimax Store. The new Belka-DX receiver is about 5 euros more expensive but great. I bought it here: https://www.mobimax.bg/en/BELKA-DX-shortwave-receiver

Very fast delivery !!!

Thank you for the tip! I’ve only had my Belka-DSP for a few weeks, and absolutely love it. 13dka’s review of it was spot-on.

It appears the main additions are:

We’ll have to see how it stacks up against the original Belka DSP which I consider to be one of the best portable HF receivers out there at the moment.

I purchased my Belka-DSP from Mobimax.

Click here to check out the Belka-DX DSP at Mobimax. 

WNJC DX test starting 04:00 UTC on October 18, 2020

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bill Hemphill (WD9EQD), who shares the following announcement from Les Rayburn (N1LF):

DX Test This Saturday Night/Sunday Morning– WNJC 1360, Washington Township,
NJ

WNJC 1360 DX TEST– SATURDAY OCTOBER 17 INTO SUNDAY MORNING OCTOBER 18

“04:00 UTC-Midnight Eastern- WNJC will conduct the DX audio test using Morse
Code and sweep tones continuing on our nighttime pattern.

At 0500 UTC- 1 AM Eastern I will be switching to our daytime pattern at 5kw
using 4 towers directional to SSE with the DX audio test concluding at 0600
UTC. From 0600 – 1000 UTC I will be leaving the transmitter in daytime mode
but be playing a mix of 80s – 2010 pop, rock, dance, country and whatever
else I grew up listening to and feel like playing.

Listen for the sweepers between songs of movie & tv show clips along with
our voice-over guy.”

WNJC has tested previously and been heard as far away as the West Coast of
the United States and Canada. Their test signals have also been received in
the UK, Norway, and Spain. Listen for their signal if you get the chance.

Thank you for the tip, Bill!

RAE Special German Language Program on Sunday, October 18, 2020 via Shortwave Service

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Adrian Korol, who shares the following announcement from RAE’s German language service:

I’m sending you the info about the special German program that airs this Sunday. Includes 3 micros related to the 100 years of radio in Argentina (yours on “The radios that live in danger”, Arnaldo’s “Radio and the Malvinas War” and mine, on the 100 years of the radio) and music (tango)

[…]The program will air this Sunday, 10/18/2020, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. UTC on 7500 kHz

Many thanks for the tip, Adrian!

Matt compares the Tecsun PL-990 to the Icom IC-R9500 on an external antenna and the results are surprising

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Matt Blaze, who shares the following comparison of the new Tecsun PL-990x and the benchmark Icom IC-R9500 communications receiver.

Matt’s excellent comparison  is in audio form. I highly recommend listening with headphones or, at least, an audio device with separate left/right channels as his comparison takes advantage of this.

I love not only how he set up this comparison with both radios sharing an identical antenna, but his evaluation also explores how well the PL-990 handles a proper external antenna via its external antenna jack.

Click below to listen to Matt’s piece, or right click here to download the audio:

Thanks for sharing this, Matt. You’ve inspired me to do similar narrated audio comparisons!

Using the Icom IC-705 to record a local AM broadcast station

In my previous post, I mentioned how much I enjoy the built-in digital audio recorder in the new Icom IC-705. While I wouldn’t buy a QRP transceiver specifically for built-in audio recording–there are less expensive options out there–it is an incredibly useful feature in my world.

After publishing that post, I was reminded that Monday morning (October 12, 2020) I connected the IC-705 to my homebrew Noise-Cancelling Passive Loop antenna mounted indoors at my parents’ house.

My NCPL antenna

Their house is like so many others in that it is inundated with RFI (radio frequency interference). I find that the NCPL antenna does a fine job mitigating most of that noise on the mediumwave band when I position it so that the bulk of the interference is nulled.

Monday morning, I tuned the IC-705 to my favorite local AM station: WAIZ on 630 kHz.

Weekday mornings, Dave and his “Wacky Wake-Up Crew” always put me in the right mood. They’re incredibly goofy/corny and 100% original.

It’s extraordinarily rare these days to find a local radio station, with local talent, creating a local daily radio show. Almost all of their ads are local, too.

I made the following off-air recording for myself, but decided to upload it for others to enjoy. I’m not sure what the receiver audio EQ or bandwidth filter was set to when I recorded this. It’s not a demo of receiver performance, just a little radio fun.

Enjoy: