16 Receivers (AM/FM DXing)
Description
This article is from the Shortwave radio FAQ, by Ralph Brandi rbrandi@lucent.com with numerous contributions by others.
16 Receivers (AM/FM DXing)
Almost any radio is capable of some broadcast-band DXing, especially
long-distance mediumwave reception. However, most recent radios, even
those designed for quality shortwave reception, do not have outstanding
broadcast band reception. One exception is the General Electric
Superadio III (Model 7-2887.) The SR III is designed for optimum AM/FM
broadcast performance, incorporating:
* RF amplifiers on both bands
* Ceramic filters and Automatic Frequency Control on FM
* No PLLs or digital displays for less electronic noise
* A 2-way speaker system with 1 watt of audio power
The SR III is a bulky (4" x 10" x 12") portable radio which can be run
off 120V AC or 6 "D" batteries, providing over 400 hours of battery
life. This radio has become popular among the DX community for its
exceptional performance.
It costs between thirty and sixty dollars in the US, and may be found at
many discount outlets. It can be obtained from Bennett Brothers (Order
#R3116) at 1-800-621-2626 or 1-800-631-3838, or from Best Products
(Order # 140457) at 1-800-950-2398.
If you don't have a Superadio, some important things to seek out in a
receiver are:
* External antenna connections. These make it easier to use a better
antenna than the one supplied with the radio.
* High selectivity. This refers to the receiver's ability to reject
strong signals on adjacent frequencies, and is more important to good
reception than is sensitivity, since a good antenna will provide
more-than-adequate signal strengths.
* Digital frequency display. While the circuitry involved can add to
the level of internal electronic noise in the radio, digital display
makes it possible to more easily determine what station is being heard.
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