{"id":25052,"date":"2017-04-07T10:47:45","date_gmt":"2017-04-07T14:47:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=25052"},"modified":"2017-04-07T10:47:45","modified_gmt":"2017-04-07T14:47:45","slug":"edward-reviews-this-unmarked-thrift-store-radio-find","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/04\/edward-reviews-this-unmarked-thrift-store-radio-find\/","title":{"rendered":"Edward reviews this unmarked thrift store radio find"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Many thanks to SWLing Post<\/em> contributor, Edward Ganshirt,<\/a> who writes:<\/p>\n

I spotted this “keychain” radio [pictured above] at a Savers thrift shop. Savers is a chain of thrift stores in the Northeast that is an outlet for Goodwill and possibly others. What caught my eye is (in addition to price) an 11 band radio: AM, FM and 4.75 to 21.85 Mhz in 9 short-wave bands. It has no brand markings (or FCC id) and of course made in China. I purchased it for less than a latte at Starbucks and brought it home.<\/p>\n

It uses 2 AA penlight batteries and has a 14″ telescoping antenna. Turning it on demonstrates its low performance.<\/p>\n

It has ample sensitivity on FM but difficult to tune clearly. AM band is better. Shortwave is a different story.<\/p>\n

At night I get several shortwave stations, difficult to tune in. Connecting an external antenna demonstrated its weakness. I picked up the entire AM band and every other station below 30 MHz no matter what setting the tuning knob was set to, with varying signal strength , depending what short-wave band setting selected. I live less than 4 miles from a powerhouse radio station on 680 KHz that bleeds through the IF filter. Deconstructing the radio reveals its design shortcomings<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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It contains 2 chips: A CSC2822 stereo audio 8 pin dip and a 16 pin CSC2003P “jungle” chip. Comparing app notes to the receiver reveals short cuts in the design. Just absolute minimalist component count–only one 455KHz IF filter.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, it has a ferrite loopstick antenna. (That explains why it works on AM. There is less IF bleed-through on AM).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Using a signal generator, on shortwave reveals non existent image rejection, beat notes on harmonics of the local oscillator (yes it is a superheterodyne).<\/p>\n

This is a radio to take to the beach. If the tide grabs it and washes it into the ocean or a sea gull snatches it, you would not be disappointed.<\/p>\n

In my opinion it was a bit steeply priced. You don\u2019t win them all but I will still go to Savers in the future for other buys as they present themselves.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Thank you for your report, Edward. I think what is highlighted here are the shortcomings of inexpensive–truly “cheap”–radios. They have only the most basic components, regardless if they resemble a quality radio aesthetically. Edward listed the hallmarks of a cheap analog receivers: overloading, stiff inaccurate tuning controls, mediocre sensitivity\/selectivity, poor audio, and poor shielding.<\/p>\n

Thanks for pulling this one apart and taking a look inside, Edward.<\/p>\n

Taking it to the beach, Ed? Let us know if it floats or–better yet–if a seagull decides to grab it–! Who knows, they may tune through the FM and find one of their favorite 1980s songs:<\/p>\n