The Radiophile’s Essential Lexicon: Word #9: Selectivity

Thanks, Gary:

Basically selectivity is a measure of a radio's ability to separate a desired signal from nearby competing signals, while sensitivity is a measure of a radio's ability to hear a signal.

Ideally a radio should have both good sensitivity and good selectivity.

Some radios offer multiple bandwidths to allow the user to pick the appropriate selectivity for the situation. Wider bandwidths provide more extended treble response but less selectivity, while narrower bandwidths muffle the treble but provide more selectivity.

Comments

[Mike W]

Aha, the RF-1130...one of the other radios I covet, but if I had one, I'd want something else.

[Jeffrey McMahon]

I never use mine. Great radio though. I use my digital radios 99% of the time.

[Mike W]

I have gone back to using mostly digital as well. There's something to be said for always knowing where you are on the dial, and the stability is generally much better.

[Jeffrey McMahon]

Some people like fiddling around with the tuner. I'm not of of them.

[Huesby]

Jeff:
How come you never talk so much about this radio the RF-1130 ?.. It's supposed to be your best radio..isn't it ?
Because if it's not then something it's wrong with it.

[Jeffrey McMahon]

It works great. Great AM and FM. Loud speaker. I'm just too lazy to fine-tune analog radios.

[kr]

it's baaaack:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ZENITH-TRANS-OCEANIC-ONE-OF-A-KIND-RARE-RADIO_W0QQitemZ190331967645QQcmdZViewItemQQptZVintage_Electronics_R2?hash=item2c50ab589d&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

[Scooby214]

I use both analog and digital radios daily. My RF-888 and RF-930 get used daily for their good AM reception and sound quality. My wife actually likes using the 888 in the kitchen.

I use my newly acquired Kchibo D96L as my current bedside radio. The rechargable battery is a nice feature, and it recharges in about 3 hours when connected to my computer's USB port.

I use my Grundig G8 as my morning radio. I get up at about 5:00 AM, and this radio is able to play softly enough to not awaken the family as I get ready for work. I carry it around from room to room.

I suppose the ultimate analog radio is a crystal set. I have one set up on my bedside table. When I can't sleep, I bandscan with the crystal set. It has three tuning dials, so it isn't something to use when I think I'll actually sleep. I'm amazed at the distant signals the crystal set pulls in at times.