Herculodge: Radio Lovers Can't Be Cured

Jay Allen Reviews the Sangean PR-D6 Portable Radio

Thanks, Gary:

Here is Jay's PR-D6 review.

https://radiojayallen.com/sangean-pr-d6-amfm-portable-radio/

Posted at 11:41 AM in Radio Lovers Can't Be Cured | Permalink | Comments (7)

Jay Allen rates pocket portable AM/FM radios. By his definition, they must have a speaker and built in AM and FM antennas

Thanks, Gary:

Jay Allen rates pocket portable AM/FM radios. By his definition, they must have a speaker and built in AM and FM antennas.

https://radiojayallen.com/pocket-portable-amfm-radios-update/

Posted at 07:39 PM in Radio Lovers Can't Be Cured | Permalink | Comments (0)

Amazon Radio Mixup: Selling Kaito CBR3 Retro Bluetooth Radio with Kaito 1102 (Including Mine) Review!

Image result for kaito cbr3

Here's a weird Amazon mixup I've never seen before. Amazon is selling the Kaito retro style CBR3 Bluetooth radio, but the reviews, including mine from 12 years ago, are for the Kaito 1102.

Posted at 01:06 PM in Radio Lovers Can't Be Cured | Permalink | Comments (0)

National Geographic Selling Eton Bluetooth SW Radio

Bluetooth Shortwave AM/FM Radio

Ed apprised me of an Eton Bluetooth SW Radio he purchased on National Geographic. He may write a short review soon.

Overview:

Tune in to AM, FM, and shortwave radio at home or abroad. Bluetooth technology lets you stream your own music or podcasts from any compatible device. Includes local and world time settings, alarm clock, and sleep timer. Powers via AC/DC adapter, included, or 4 D batteries, not included.

Posted at 01:02 PM in Radio Lovers Can't Be Cured | Permalink | Comments (0)

Mark Roberts' First Impressions of the Sangean DT-160 Pocket Radio

First impressions of the Sangean DT-160(earlier reviewed by Herculodge)were so-so regarding sensitivity on FM, though good on AM. But today I did a head-to-head comparison at high noon (1 pm) on both AM and FM with my CC Pocket (v2) and on FM only with my Degen DE1123. On FM, all three were very close in sensitivity, judged by the number of stations received - 48 for the Sangean, 46 for the CC Pocket. (Degen: 50, but those added four were very weak.) The DT-160 and the CC Pocket were identical in number of stations received and the quality of signal received; the Degen was just slightly better. On AM, the Sangean and the CC Pocket were exact equals. I don't know what the AM bandwidth settings are on the Sangean; the narrowband position seems mushy. The CC Pocket does a better job here. The dual FM bandwidths is a nice feature of the Sangean, though, practically speaking, I don't know how important it is. Still, it made a very weak signal from Napa's KVYN more listenable, though still weak and in mono. It won't work miracles but it might help in DX chasing, if that's even possible on the currently overcrowded FM band.

Negatives: Only five presets per band. This is what, 2016, and a car radio from 1966 could do better in this regard? The long press to turn the radio on and off takes a little getting used to. Earbuds - whatever. I wish the automatic 90-minute sleep timer could be disabled permanently. Lock switch on the back isn't where you'd expect to find it. No speaker.

Positives: Ergonomics generally very good. Dual bandwidths on AM and FM a desirable thing to have. Nice big display. AM audio recovery good; also free from digital noises. FM sensitivity good; FM selectivity exceptional when the narrow bandwidth is used.

I'd recommend it.

Posted at 07:45 PM in Radio Lovers Can't Be Cured | Permalink | Comments (0)

SWLing Post Review of the Sangean DT-160CL Portable Radio

Sangean_DT-160CL_15

Thomas has sent us his latest Sangean DT-160CL portable radio review. He likes it so far and is doing battery tests.

Posted at 06:27 AM in Radio Lovers Can't Be Cured | Permalink | Comments (0)

Jay Allen Reviews the Sangean HDR-18 Radio

Image result for sangean hdr 18 radio

Thanks to Paul and Gary or apprising us of Jay Allen's review of the Sangean HDR-18 Radio. Jay is pleased with both the FM and AM and heartily recommends this new Sangean offering.

Posted at 10:24 AM in Radio Lovers Can't Be Cured | Permalink | Comments (5)

Herculodge Sangean DT-160 Review

Due to unstable reception on FM for both my Sangean DT-180 and Sangean DT-400 portable radios, I had been thinking of getting an upgrade. And then I read Jay Allen’s excellent review of the Sangean DT-160. Here is a portable radio for under $40 with DSP-enhancing FM reception. I was not disappointed. The radio is a keeper overall with a couple of annoyances.

The radio takes two AA batteries. So far so good. The battery compartment is easy to open and close.

Now the annoyance: The toggle tuning wheel on the radio’s right side. You hold it to set the time. You wait for the hour number to flash, then set with preset 1. You do the same for the minute. You have to click downwards to scroll through the numbers. The toggle feel is awkward.

You use the same toggle for tuning, and here I really dislike the tune/set jog wheel because it’s impossible to scroll through the stations without prompting the set button to flash. It’s like my wife doesn’t like me brushing my teeth in the shower. Don’t mix the tuning with the time set. They belong in separate chambers, so to speak.

Once you get your presets (5 for 2 FM bands and another 5 for one AM band), you’re done with this tuning nonsense. Make sure you change batteries when they’re low on the indicator light so you don’t have to use this annoying jog wheel.

The volume is not a wheel. It’s buttons.

Now the good news: FM Reception

While my aforementioned DT-180 and DT-400 are unstable on FM and while they bleed adjoining stations so you will too often get two FM stations on one signal, the DT-160’s DSP really improves FM in terms of stability, selectivity, and overall reception. This is evident here where I live in Torrance where KPCC 89.3 from Pasadena can be problematic. Not so with the DT-160. KPCC comes in loud and clear.

While I heard AM could be a problem due to a small ferrite, I had no problems with AM. It seems as strong on my DT-180 as my other portable radios.

Another annoyance are the earbuds. They’re like giant coin-sized buds, slightly smaller in circumference than a nickel, and are way too big for my small ear canals.

I threw them away and chose properly-fitting buds.

All in all, my DT-160 improves FM and allows me to listen to the FM stations I enjoy, so it’s a keeper.