{"id":52655,"date":"2022-05-05T06:58:15","date_gmt":"2022-05-05T10:58:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=52655"},"modified":"2022-05-05T06:58:15","modified_gmt":"2022-05-05T10:58:15","slug":"guest-post-review-of-the-electronic-specialty-products-model-dd-103-universal-digital-dial","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/05\/guest-post-review-of-the-electronic-specialty-products-model-dd-103-universal-digital-dial\/","title":{"rendered":"Guest Post: Review of the Electronic Specialty Products – Model DD-103 Universal Digital Dial"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Many thanks to SWLing Post<\/em> contributor, Bob Butterfield, who shares the following guest post:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Review of the Electronic Specialty Products – Model DD-103 Universal Digital Dial<\/h1>\n

by Bob Butterfield<\/strong><\/p>\n

I recently brought out of storage my Yaesu FRG-7 Communications Receiver to use \u201cin the shack\u201d once again.\u00a0 I have always regarded the FRG-7 as a capable receiver but just did not have space as my radios co-exist with part of my daughter\u2019s over-flowing stuffed animal collection–among other things.\u00a0 After a couple of dozen members of the plush collection were relocated, I now had room for another receiver!\u00a0 I checked the FRG-7 out carefully and found everything was functioning well, except for a modification I made decades ago which was the installation of a 100 kHz crystal calibrator kit inside the receiver.<\/p>\n

I am the original owner of this FRG-7 which is an early production unit (the one without the small fine tuning knob).\u00a0 I had always desired an external digital frequency display for this radio and thought now is the time.\u00a0 I did some research, visited various radio forums, and decided on purchasing an Electronic Specialty Products (ESP), Model DD-103 Universal Digital Dial.\u00a0 This unit is not cheap, US$140, plus $15 shipping, but seemed to fit my needs.\u00a0 If technically inclined, one could possibly build an external display for themselves at lower cost.\u00a0 What may be of interest to many concerning the DD-103 unit is that it comes pre-programmed for dozens of transceivers and receivers (to include the FRG-7).\u00a0 Plus, if your radio is not pre-programmed it can be set up manually.<\/p>\n

The DD-103 is an attractive compact external unit measuring 2\u201dH x 6\u201dW x 4\u201dD with a very easy to read backlighted LCD (white on blue).\u00a0 The unit comes with connecting cables, U.S.-type power supply, and instruction manual.\u00a0 In my opinion, despite its size, this is one solid and well-built unit.\u00a0 As per the ESP web site, new units are not stocked but are assembled upon order.\u00a0 After ordering I immediately emailed ESP with my receiver make and model (I would recommend this for all buyers).\u00a0 My unit arrived in a little over two weeks and I received a separate sheet accompanying the unit with specific instructions for my receiver.\u00a0 Hook up was a breeze.\u00a0 All that was needed was to set a few DIP switches, connect one lead to the indicated test point on the identified board, and the other lead to chassis ground (alligator clip leads are provided).\u00a0 The connection to the display is made with the included RCA cable.\u00a0 I made one simple installation modification, installing a RCA female\/RCA female bulkhead connector on the rear panel of the FRG-7 to allow for quick disconnect.<\/p>\n

The DD-103 display is programmed into 1 MHz increments.\u00a0 To operate, you select the MHz range you want (for example 9 MHz) on the DD-103.\u00a0 On the FRG-7, I then tune its pre-selector and the same desired MHz range, and finally tune in the frequency and watch the DD-103 display change accordingly.\u00a0 The operational design of the DD-103 fits nicely with the Barlow-Wadley circuit design of the FRG-7.<\/p>\n

A key feature of the DD-103 display is that it reads the entire frequency (e.g., 9.940.1 MHz) so you always know where you are with just one look.\u00a0 In addition to AM mode the DD-103 can be further programmed for CW, LSB, and USB modes, as well as 10 Hz or 100 Hz resolution.\u00a0 As stated in the unit\u2019s manual, it can also be calibrated on each frequency range so as to correct IF amplifiers that are a little off or errors associated with aging receiver crystals, if applicable.<\/p>\n

It is nice to have my FRG-7 up and running again and utilizing the new external numeric frequency readout.\u00a0 Truthfully, I have been reminded just how good the FRG-7 is.\u00a0 Though it does not have as many features, it holds its own when put up against my other classic receivers (JRC NRD-545, JRC NRD-535D, and ICOM R-75).<\/p>\n

I must say I am quite happy with the Electronic Specialty Products DD-103.\u00a0 The unit has good accuracy and stability as it utilizes a TCXO reference oscillator.\u00a0 If I had to nit-pick about anything, I would likely point out that the on\/off switch is on the back of the unit.\u00a0 If your radio is in a confined space this possibly could cause operational issues for you.\u00a0 Also realize that for the most part this unit is kind of a \u201cone size fits all\u201d package and it would not surprise me if certain receivers or transceivers might require lengthening of the connecting cable.\u00a0 All in all this professional looking unit is a simple to use, simple to install, easy to read, designed well, and I think worth the cost.\u00a0 For anyone else who is thinking about adding a digital frequency readout to a vintage radio, you may want to give this model due consideration.<\/p>\n

Bob Butterfield<\/p>\n

Photo of my FRG-7 with the DD-103 on top:<\/p>\n

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

Web site for Electronic Specialty Products: http:\/\/www.electronicspecialtyproducts.com\/dd103.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I have not been compensated in any manner in regards to this unsolicited review and purchased the DD-103 unit with my own funds.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bob Butterfield, who shares the following guest post: Review of the Electronic Specialty Products – Model DD-103 Universal Digital Dial by Bob Butterfield I recently brought out of storage my Yaesu FRG-7 Communications Receiver to use \u201cin the shack\u201d once again.\u00a0 I have always regarded the FRG-7 as a […]<\/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":[4199,3194,3,43],"tags":[9801,9800,5044,9799,4342,3139,8722],"class_list":["post-52655","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-accessories","category-guest-posts","category-news","category-shortwave-radio","tag-bob-butterfield","tag-dd-103","tag-electronic-specialty-products","tag-electronic-specialty-products-dd-103","tag-guest-posts","tag-yaesu-frg-7","tag-yaesu-frg-7-mods"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-dHh","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":50875,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/11\/radio-mods-unblocking-the-yaesu-frg-8800-frequency-coverage-limitations\/","url_meta":{"origin":52655,"position":0},"title":"Radio Mods: Unblocking the YAESU FRG-8800 Frequency Coverage Limitations","author":"Thomas","date":"November 15, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor,\u00a0Paolo Viappiani (SWL I1-11437), who shares the following guest post. Note that, as with any radio modification, perform this operation at your own risk. This is a very simple mod, but if you feel it might be beyond your skill level, consider hiring a radio\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Guest Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Guest Posts","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/guest-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/figure-e-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/figure-e-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/figure-e-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/figure-e-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":45844,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/10\/how-to-install-a-mechanical-ssb-filter-on-the-yaesu-frg-7\/","url_meta":{"origin":52655,"position":1},"title":"How to install a mechanical SSB filter on the Yaesu FRG-7","author":"Thomas","date":"October 11, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0contributor, Kostas (SV3ORA), for sharing the following guest post which originally appeared\u00a0on his radio website: How to install a mechanical SSB filter on the Yaesu FRG-7 by Kostas (SV3ORA) The Yaesu FRG-7 is a general coverage MW\/SW receiver that uses the Wadley Loop system for stabilizing the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Accessories"","block_context":{"text":"Accessories","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/accessories\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/FRG-7-Internal-3.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/FRG-7-Internal-3.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/FRG-7-Internal-3.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/FRG-7-Internal-3.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16866,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/01\/ebay-find-pristine-sears-412-36380700-yaesu-frg-7-shortwave-communications-receiver\/","url_meta":{"origin":52655,"position":2},"title":"eBay find: Pristine Sears 412.36380700 (Yaesu FRG-7) Shortwave Communications Receiver","author":"Thomas","date":"January 16, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"This must be the day for eBay finds! This one will not be a deal (price-wise) unless you're on the market for a NOS (New Old Stock) classic receiver. Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mario Filippi (N2HUN), who writes: On eBay is an auction that is worth watching, just\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Sears-Yaesu-FRG-7","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Sears-Yaesu-FRG-7-1024x683.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Sears-Yaesu-FRG-7-1024x683.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Sears-Yaesu-FRG-7-1024x683.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":59172,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/03\/radio-waves-international-symposium-focuses-on-broadcasting-last-morse-station-yaesu-frg-7-digital-frequency-kit-and-remembering-bob-heil\/","url_meta":{"origin":52655,"position":3},"title":"Radio Waves: International Symposium Focuses on Broadcasting, Last Morse Station, Yaesu FRG-7 Digital Frequency Kit, and Remembering Bob Heil,","author":"Thomas","date":"March 6, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Radio Waves:\u00a0 Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio Welcome to the\u00a0SWLing Post\u2019s Radio Waves, a collection of links to interesting stories making waves in the world of radio.\u00a0Enjoy! Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors Paul Jamet, Bob Butterfield, and NT for the following tips: International symposium: Universit\u00e9 Toulouse\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Yaesu-FRG-7.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Yaesu-FRG-7.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Yaesu-FRG-7.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Yaesu-FRG-7.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":21294,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/09\/mark-notices-a-yaesu-frg-8800-on-death-in-paradise\/","url_meta":{"origin":52655,"position":4},"title":"Mark notices a Yaesu FRG-8800 on “Death in Paradise”","author":"Thomas","date":"September 11, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mark Hirst, who writes: I noticed recently in an episode of the BBC series, \"Death in Paradise\", a Yaesu FRG-8800 sat on a book case. [The screenshot is]\u00a0from Season 4, Episode 1 \"Stab in the Dark\", with the radio off DS Camille Bordey's right\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"frg-8800","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/frg-8800-1024x640.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/frg-8800-1024x640.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/frg-8800-1024x640.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":50430,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/10\/ebay-find-new-in-sealed-box-yaesu-frg-100-receiver\/","url_meta":{"origin":52655,"position":5},"title":"eBay find: New in Sealed Box Yaesu FRG-100 Receiver","author":"Thomas","date":"October 4, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dave Zantow (N9EWO), who shares a link to this eBay Buy It Now auction for a new in sealed box Yaesu FRG-100. Dave notes, \"The seller does not disclose the serial number so no way of telling if this is a later B version\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/FRG-100-NIB-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/FRG-100-NIB-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/FRG-100-NIB-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/FRG-100-NIB-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/FRG-100-NIB-1.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52655","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=52655"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52655\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52655"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=52655"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=52655"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}