Mike commented recently that I have become the Johnny Appleseed of the 200 mm ferrite antenna. Less kind folks might call me worse things, an unabashed evangelist, a zealous madman, etc. But it's true. Since I have no patience for fine-tuning analog radios and want digitals with great AM, the only two modern radios I can currently recommend are the Sangean PR-D5 and the CCR-2.
Case in point: Two nights ago I was listening to the Angels on the very weak 830 AM in my office, which features my C.Crane CSW. The radio sounded horrible with lots of ugly background noise. This supposed wonder radio, the CSW, has inferior AM to the aforementioned PR-D5 and CCR-2. I feel inclined to sell my CSW on Amazon and replace it with, what else, a radio that has a 200 mm ferrite antenna.
I could be wrong, but doesn't the CSW have a 200 mm ferrite antenna? If it does, it means there is more to good AM reception than the length of the ferrite antenna. (BTW, doesn't the Grundig 350 also have a 200 mm antenna? Its AM is pretty mediocre.)
Posted by: Ed | September 11, 2009 at 09:26 AM
I don't know why but I believe the S350 and the CSW do NOT have 200mm antennas. If they do, my theory is dead.
Posted by: Jeffrey McMahon | September 11, 2009 at 09:32 AM
Yes, the S350 has a lot of background slop on AM. It's even worse than the CSW.
Posted by: Jeffrey McMahon | September 11, 2009 at 09:33 AM
Extremism in the pursuit of good MW reception is no vice.
Posted by: Mike W | September 11, 2009 at 03:51 PM
Mike, do you know if what length the ferrite antennas are in the S350 and C.Crane CSW/Redsun 2100? Am I correct to believe they are NOT 200mm but in fact are smaller?
Posted by: Jeffrey McMahon | September 11, 2009 at 04:18 PM
From the redsun-shortwave-radios Yahoo group:
Gary: How long is the ferrite bar in the RP2100 and its variants?
Stephan: It's about 15 cm / 6", IIRC (Sony 7600 / YB400 ballpark).
Posted by: Gary | September 11, 2009 at 05:07 PM
From eham.net:
http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/3112?page=6
"I have the Tecsun version BCL-2000 [similar to the S350] and this is an outstanding portable. In MW the sensitivity [with its 8 inches ferrite rod] is better than the Sat 800 and DX-398, similar with the Sony ICF 2010 and CCradio plus."
Posted by: Gary | September 11, 2009 at 05:25 PM
Thanks, Gary. I always assumed it was shorter than 200mm on that family of radios, given the performance they have. I don't recall ever reading it exactly, however, and a quick check of CCrane's site didn't turn it up.
Posted by: Mike W | September 11, 2009 at 06:04 PM