Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mark (M7MHY), who shares the following review:

---

Impressive Pocket Performance!

‘Shirt pocket’ radios are one of my favourite aspects of the hobby. For me, nothing quite beats the enjoyment of cruising the MW band (and a little SWLing on radios that allow), with a tiny, generally inexpensive unit and pushing the boundaries of what is possible with these receivers and their mini-sized internal ferrite bars. I think there should be another subsection of the ultralight category to accommodate such radios – “super ultralight”!

A couple of days ago, the mail arrived and with it, brought another ‘shirt pocket’ radio for my ever-growing collection – a Roberts Sports 995, which I believe to be a rebadged Sangean DT-120 for the UK market.

Two AAA batteries brought it to life, and a quick glance at the manual told me how to set the clock. I plugged in my headphones and confirmed all was working before waiting patiently for the dark hours to arrive.

I live in a rural location just outside of Edinburgh, Scotland and my band scan was done indoors ‘barefoot’ – with no passive MW loops or suchlike, anywhere in sight.

I settled in with the new radio around 12:30 am and began to scan the medium wave frequencies.

I have omitted the strong daytime stations from this list. Here are my results;

648 kHz – Radio Caroline, Orford Ness, Suffolk, 4kW

327 miles

882kHz – BBC Radio Wales, Washford, Somerset, 10kW

324 miles

972kHz – Sunrise Radio, Southall, London, 1.6kW

323 miles

999kHz – Cadena COPE, Madrid, Spain, 50kW

1067 miles

1035kHz – Lyca Gold, Southall, London, 2.5kW

323 miles

1116kHz – BBC Radio Derby, Burnaston Lane, Derby, 1kW

217 miles

1170kHz – unable to ID foreign station

1260kHz – unable to ID foreign station

1296kHz – Radio XL, Birmingham, 10kW

239 miles

1305kHz – Premier Christian Radio, Chingford, London, 0.5kW

322 miles

1368kHz – Manx Radio, Foxdale, Isle of Man, 20kW

129 miles

1386kHz – Radio Baltic Waves International, Viesintos, Lithuania, 75kW

1093 miles

1458kHz – BBC Asian Network, Birmingham, 5kW

239 miles

1467 kHz – TWR Europe, Roumoules, France, 1000 kW

930 miles

1557kHz – Radio Letna, Kaunas, Lithuania, 50kW

1064 miles

1602kHz – unable to ID foreign station

I am fortunate enough to own a number of this style of radio, and this is without doubt the best performance I’ve experienced with one of these. The Roberts Sports 995 truly is, in my opinion, a tiny DX machine, which will only improve further with an MW loop. I know of no better performing “super ultralight” in this price category (RRP £39.99). It is well worth considering if you happen to enjoy this area of the radio hobby as much as I do.

Best 73’s

Mark

M7MHY