{"id":47229,"date":"2021-01-10T08:34:52","date_gmt":"2021-01-10T12:34:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=47229"},"modified":"2021-01-10T08:34:52","modified_gmt":"2021-01-10T12:34:52","slug":"is-am-synchronous-detection-a-crucial-portable-radio-feature","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/01\/is-am-synchronous-detection-a-crucial-portable-radio-feature\/","title":{"rendered":"Is AM synchronous detection a crucial portable radio feature?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Many thanks to SWLing Post<\/em> contributor, Mike, who writes with the following question:<\/p>\n

How important is AM Sync for a portable radio? Is it essential or a deal breaker?<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

That’s a great question, Mike, and one I don’t think I’ve directly addressed it here on the SWLing Post<\/em>\u00a0oddly enough.<\/p>\n

Synchronous detection is actually a fairly deep topic to explore–and everyone has their own opinion–but I get the impression that you’d like a simple answer, so I’ll try to keep this as brief as possible. You might follow the comments section of this post as I’m sure some SWLing Post<\/em> readers will share their thoughts on synchronous detection and how important it is for them.<\/p>\n

So what is Synchronous Detection?<\/h1>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I like this concise Wikipedia answer<\/a>:<\/p>\n

In electronics, a synchronous detector is a device that recovers information from a modulated signal by mixing the signal with a replica of the un-modulated carrier. This can be locally generated at the receiver using a phase-locked loop or other techniques. Synchronous detection preserves any phase information originally present in the modulating signal. Synchronous detection is a necessary component of any analog color television receiver, where it allows recovery of the phase information that conveys hue. Synchronous detectors are also found in some shortwave radio receivers used for audio signals, where they provide better performance on signals that may be affected by fading. To recover baseband signal the synchronous detection technique is used.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

How does synchronous detection help shortwave, mediumwave, and longwave listeners?<\/h1>\n

As the Wikipedia article notes above, sync detection can help “provide better performance on signals that may be affected by fading.”<\/p>\n

In short: a solid synchronous detector can help stabilize an AM signal which then can help with overall signal intelligibility.<\/p>\n

In some modern portable radios, at least, this could come at the expense of audio fidelity (see caveat below).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I use sync detection when the bands are rough, noisy, and QSB (fading) is affecting signals.<\/p>\n

A good sync detector will help clean-up and stabilize the signal so that you can hear voice information with less listener fatigue. Sync detectors are also great tools for grabbing station IDs when propagation is less stable. If you have a receiver with selectable sideband<\/em> synchronous detection, it can also be used as a tool for eliminating adjacent signal interference<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Caveat? Sync detectors vary in terms of quality.<\/h1>\n
\"\"<\/a>

The PL-880 has a synchronous detection “hidden” function. I’m sure it’s hidden because it’s so ineffective. The PL-880 is a fantastic portable, but don’t bother using the sync detector.<\/p><\/div>\n

Many modern DSP portables sport synchronous detection, but they’re not terribly stable and the audio fidelity can take a big hit as well. Poor sync detectors can make audio sound “tinny” and narrow.<\/p>\n

If a sync detector isn’t effective a providing a stable<\/em> lock on a signal, then it’s pretty much useless. Why? If it can’t maintain a stable lock, it’ll produce very unstable<\/em> shifting audio, often with the occasional heterodyne sound popping in as well. In those cases, it’s better to turn off synchronous detection.<\/p>\n

Benchmark legacy tabletop receivers and modern Software Defined Radios (SDRs) typically have solid, effective sync detectors. Indeed, I rarely have the AM synchronous detector disengaged on my WinRadio Excalibur–that particular SDR and application enhance audio fidelity through sync detection.<\/p>\n

I find that I use sync detection less with my Airspy HF+ Discovery and SDRplay RSPdx, for example, because the OEM applications natively does a brilliant job managing unstable signals.<\/p>\n

In terms of portables, I’ve always considered the sync detector of the Sony ICF-2010, Sony ICF-SW7600GR, and PL-660\/PL-680 to be pretty solid. I’m sure readers can suggest even more models.<\/p>\n

Is sync detection an essential feature on a portable radio?<\/h1>\n

\"\"<\/a>Not for me. But I do admit that I value the radios I own that sport a good<\/em> sync detector.<\/p>\n

For some SWLs and DXers, however? It might very well be a deal-breaker if a radio doesn’t have a sync detector, or if its sync detector doesn’t function well.<\/p>\n

What do you think?<\/h1>\n

Is the lack of sync detection a deal-breaker for you? When do you employ sync? Please comment!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mike, who writes with the following question: How important is AM Sync for a portable radio? Is it essential or a deal breaker? That’s a great question, Mike, and one I don’t think I’ve directly addressed it here on the SWLing Post\u00a0oddly enough. Synchronous detection is actually a fairly […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[373,627,433,3,3196,26,43,158],"tags":[2251,2254,3605,2252,2253],"class_list":["post-47229","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-am","category-how-to","category-mediumwave","category-news","category-portable-radio","category-radios","category-shortwave-radio","category-software-defined-radio","tag-am-sync","tag-am-synchronous-detector","tag-how-to-use-synchronous-detection","tag-synchronous-detector","tag-using-a-synchronous-detector"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-chL","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":49045,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/05\/videos-nick-explores-synchronous-detection-and-the-racal-6217\/","url_meta":{"origin":47229,"position":0},"title":"Videos: Nick explores synchronous detection and the Racal 6217","author":"Thomas","date":"May 27, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Nick Boras, who shares the following: I was motivated by one of Tom Styles videos (hamrad88) about Sync detection to make one of my own. It is no secret that Tecsun offers Sync on several of their radios but only the 660 and 680\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "How To"","block_context":{"text":"How To","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/how-to\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Racal.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Racal.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Racal.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Racal.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Racal.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12232,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/02\/pulling-radio-santa-cruz-out-of-the-interference\/","url_meta":{"origin":47229,"position":1},"title":"Pulling Radio Santa Cruz out of the interference","author":"Thomas","date":"February 7, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"I recorded Radio Santa Cruz early this morning around 05:00\u00a0UTC on 6,135\u00a0kHz using\u00a0the TitanSDR I currently have under review. Radio Santa Cruz\u2018s 10 kW signal from Santa Cruz, Bolivia, was very much audible here in North America, though RSC was\u00a0competing\u00a0with another station on-frequency at the time. Actually, Radio Santa Cruz\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "How To"","block_context":{"text":"How To","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/how-to\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Bolivia","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Bolivia-1024x549.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Bolivia-1024x549.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Bolivia-1024x549.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10072,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/06\/sdr-now-has-am-synchronous-detection\/","url_meta":{"origin":47229,"position":2},"title":"SDR# now has AM synchronous detection","author":"Thomas","date":"June 27, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"SWLing Post reader,\u00a0London Shortwave writes with a remarkable story about the free SDR application, SDR#(or, \"SDR sharp\"). He writes: \"Two days ago, I emailed Youssef (SDR# developer lead) to ask if he would consider adding synchronous AM detection to his software at some point. To my great surprise he e-mailed\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"LondonShortwave-Park","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/LondonShortwave-Park.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/LondonShortwave-Park.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/LondonShortwave-Park.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/LondonShortwave-Park.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12313,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/02\/reader-survey-comparing-the-tecsun-pl-680-and-pl-660-synchronous-detection\/","url_meta":{"origin":47229,"position":3},"title":"Reader Survey: Comparing the Tecsun PL-680 and PL-660 synchronous detection","author":"Thomas","date":"February 16, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"[Update: Please note that this survey has been closed, but the audio samples--labeled Radio A and Radio B--will remain to allow others the opportunity to make an evaluation prior to reading the PL-680 review.] [Update 2: The PL-680 review and readers' survey results have now been posted! Check it out\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "New Products"","block_context":{"text":"New Products","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/new-products\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"PL-680-Sync-Detector","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/PL-680-Sync-Detector.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/PL-680-Sync-Detector.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/PL-680-Sync-Detector.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14543,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/09\/using-synchronous-detection-and-notch-filter-to-eliminate-het-noise\/","url_meta":{"origin":47229,"position":4},"title":"Using synchronous detection and notch filter to eliminate het noise","author":"Thomas","date":"September 1, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"A few days ago, I tuned to 9,420 kHz and found a relatively strong signal from the Avlis transmitter site of the Voice of Greece. The broadcast was quite clear until a heterodyne (het) tone popped up out of nowhere. I checked the spectrum display of my Excalibur to find\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"WinRadioExcalibur-VOG-Notch","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/WinRadioExcalibur-VOG-Notch-1024x443.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/WinRadioExcalibur-VOG-Notch-1024x443.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/WinRadioExcalibur-VOG-Notch-1024x443.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":56,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2008\/12\/the-grundig-g3-voyager-a-new-portable-with-synchronous-detection\/","url_meta":{"origin":47229,"position":5},"title":"The Grundig G3 Voyager–a new portable with synchronous detection","author":"Thomas","date":"December 22, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Universal Radio has just posted a product page for a new Grundig portable--the Grundig G3 Voyager. Feature wise, it looks like a marriage of the G6 and G5 in that it has full LW\/MW\/AM\/FM coverage, plus the G6's aircraft band. Physically, the G3 resembles the G5. What could make the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Grundig G3 Voyager","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/01\/g3_selector.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47229","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47229"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47229\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47229"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47229"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47229"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}