Quantcast
Channel: Jay Allen – The SWLing Post
Viewing all 33 articles
Browse latest View live
↧

Jay Allen reviews the Eton Traveler III

November 14, 2014, 5:51 am
$
0
0
The Eton Traveler III

The Eton Traveler III

A big hat tip to SWLing Post reader, John, who shares this link to Jay Allen’s review of the Eton Traveller III via the excellent Herculodge blog.

Teaser? Jay comments that the Eton Traveler III “offers the best AM reception [he has] seen yet in this size and price category among DSP equipped designs.” On the flip side, he was less impressed with SW and FM sensitivity as compared with the Traveler II and Tecsun PL-310.

Click here to read Jay’s excellent comparative review of the Eton Traveller III.

The Traveler III is available from Universal Radio and Amazon for about $59 US at time of posting. 

↧
Search

Jay reviews the Eton Satellit

January 2, 2015, 3:53 am
$
0
0

Eton-Satellit

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Ron, who notes that Jay Allen has just posted his review of the Eton Satellit. Click here to read.

There are now several user reviews on Amazon.com as well; its current rating is 2.5 stars. The main user complaint is muting while tuning–Jay believes this may be due to synthesizer noise. In SSB mode, Jay notes that muting is not an issue.

The Satellit is available at Universal Radio for $199.95 and Amazon.com for $193.82 (note that Amazon’s prices fluctuate almost daily).

↧
↧

Jay compares the Eton Mini & Radio Shack 2000629

February 1, 2015, 4:43 am
↧

Jay Allen reviews the Eton/Grundig Field 550

March 3, 2015, 7:47 am
↧

Jay’s mega medium wave review

March 18, 2015, 6:30 am
↧
↧

Jay’s review of the Sony TFM-8000W

April 22, 2015, 6:43 am
$
0
0
(Source: Universal Radio)

(Source: Universal Radio)

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Ron, who shares this link to Jay Allen’s review of the classic Sony TFM-8000W.

Last year, at the Dayton Hamvention, I picked up a Sony TFM-1600W; I find it to be an amazingly sensitive radio with robust audio. Like the 8000W, it has a weighted fly wheel tuning knob.

Click on this link to search eBay for Sony TFM model receivers. The results pull up everything from clock radios to portables, but occasionally you will a gem in the mix!

Also check Universal Radio’s full list of used radios.  Thanks again for the tip, Ron!

↧

PL-680 and ATS-405 radio reviews now online

July 11, 2015, 2:05 pm
$
0
0

PL-680-BBC-Click-FrequencyThis week, both Jay Allen and Chris Freitas have reviewed the Tecsun PL-680. If you’re considering purchasing a PL-680, you should check out both reviews and also our PL-680 review and radio comparison from February.

Jay has also reviewed the Sangean ATS-405 on his website and Keith Perron tells me he will include a review of the ATS-405 on today’s episode of Media Network Plus. Keith has informed me he was very disappointed with the ATS-405, but Jay’s review is mostly positive, focusing on its great AM (medium wave) performance and new tuning/muting functions.

This is certainly the week for reviews!

On that note, Universal Radio is kindly sending me a loaner Sangean ATS-405 for review. I hope to compare it with some other benchmark portables in the next few weeks. Follow the tag ATS-405 for updates.

Click on the following links to check pricing for both the PL-680 and ATS-405:

Tecsun PL-680

Sangean ATS-405

↧

Jay reviews the Sangean PR-D19 AM/FM radio

September 19, 2015, 2:29 pm
↧
Search

Jay reviews the Panasonic RF-2400 AM/FM radio

December 10, 2015, 5:23 am
$
0
0

Panasonic-RF-2400Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ron, who shares this review of the Panasonic RF-2400 by Jay Allen.

Jay begins his review:

Definitely a no-frills set the Panasonic RF-2400 is a basic AM/FM portable radio with a pleasing retro look and a large slide rule tuning dial. At a street price generally below $31 it offers good utility where maximum performance is not needed nor expected. The fact that it has a built-in AC power supply (no external wall wart needed) means it will be perfect for a desk or kitchen counter where it can operate for long hours without draining its batteries. However, being a totally analog design, it sips power from its batteries and will give many hours from a set of 4 AA alkaline batteries unless it is played very loudly which will consume the batteries faster.[…]

Click here to continue reading on Jay Allen’s website…

↧
↧

Jay Allen updates his AM radio shootout

March 15, 2016, 4:53 am
$
0
0

Jay-Allen-PortablesMany thanks to SWLing Post contributors Ron, Vimal and Phil for noting that Jay Allen has updated his excellent AM radio shootout. Click here to read his full post.

Happy to see that the Panasonic RF-2200 remains his reference AM rig. I must agree: it’s the best portable I’ve ever used on the mediumwave band. I’m so glad I snagged a ‘2200  on eBay last year.Panasonic-RF-2200-3Tuning the RF-2200 in the field makes me feel like some sort of Cold War spy.Panasonic-RF2200-MtMitchell

A radio with fortitude and purpose.

↧

Jay reviews the Channel Master 6515 Super Fringe AM radio

June 4, 2016, 3:00 am
$
0
0
Photo source: Jay Allen

Photo source: Jay Allen

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ron, for sharing a link to Jay Allen’s review of the Channel Master 6515 Super Fringe AM radio.

Jay notes:

The Channel Master 6515 “Super Fringe” is a beautiful 8 transistor AM portable radio with a tuned RF stage manufactured by Sanyo exclusively for Channel Master throughout most of the 1960’s. These usually need recapping when received and it’s not an easy job but once recapped and aligned they are excellent performers. I decided to put it up against the most obvious competition…namely a Zenith Royal 500H, long known as a reference among vintage mid-sized AM portables. Does the Channel Master Super Fringe match or even unseat the Zenith sensitivity champ?

Click here to read Jay Allen’s full review.

↧

Jay reviews the new Sangean DT-160 AM/FM portable radio

July 28, 2016, 11:59 am
$
0
0

Sangean-DT-160Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ron, who shares a link to Jay Allen’s review of the new Sangean DT-160 and notes:

https://radiojayallen.com/sangean-dt-160-amfm-mini-portable/

100 hours on two AA’s.
Selling like hotcakes on Amazon:

http://amzn.to/2agELDo

With Sony no longer making Walkmen,this is worth a look.
Sangean has finally “perfected” their mini portable.

Thanks, Ron! This is a most welcome portable–especially for those who want a simple AM/FM radio that delivers a lot o performance from two AA batteries. I may grab a DT-160 for my father who likes to listen to radio on his daily walks. His current portable burns through batteries.

$40 US is a fair price for what looks like a quality receiver.

↧

Jay Allen reviews the Sangean HDR-18 AM/FM HD radio

August 3, 2016, 5:06 am
$
0
0

Sangean-HDR-18

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Ron, who shares a link to Jay Allen’s review of the Sangean HDR-18.

Jay gives the HDR-18 high marks for audio fidelity, and HD radio sensitivity. He’s also impressed with its noise-free power supply.

In general, HD radios fly beneath my radar–they’re not terribly useful to me in the rural, mountainous area where I live. HD propagation footprints are much smaller than their analog counterparts. Indeed, I can’t reliably receive a single HD broadcast unless I’m driving in town.  My friends who live in larger urban areas, though, often like the added music selection HD channels offer.

When I first noticed the HDR-18, I had hoped it also included WiFi radio functionality, but it does not. (Sangean: take note for your next HD radio!)

At time of posting, Amazon’s price for the HDR-18 is $176.10 (shipped) and Universal Radio’s price is $169.99 (plus shipping).

↧
↧

Memories and transistor radios

August 27, 2016, 7:47 am
$
0
0

Magnovox 1R 1203Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors, Ron and Aaron, who shared a link to Jay Allen’s latest post–an update on his pocket AM/FM radios.

Like Jay, I’ve always had an affinity for pocket transistor radios.

The Realistic Model 23-464.

The Realistic Model 23-464.

My first one was an AM-only model: a Realistic Model 23-464. It was about the only new pocket radio I could afford–and purchase locally–when I was a kid.

It was surprisingly sensitive on the AM broadcast band, but the dial was a far cry from accurate. At some point, I either gave this radio to someone or lost it. Last year, I happened upon one on eBay and purchased it for $9 shipped. Its plastic body shows signs of wear, but it works and reminds me of my childhood.

My grandpa's Magnovox 1R 1203

My grandpa’s Magnovox 1R 1203

Another pocket AM/FM radio that brings back a flood of memories is the Magnovox 1R 1203. It belonged to my dear grandpa, who also shared and conveyed a love of radio. When I was a kid, we would sit around on his front porch on hot summer days and listen to local AM stations on this little radio, cicadas whirring in the background.

I still have his Magnavox–it sits here in my radio room and brings back memories every time I look at or listen to it.

Am I a nostalgic fellow? You bet!

Anyone else have memories associated with pocket radios? Please feel free to comment and share!

↧

Jay reviews the Sangean PR-D6 AM/FM Portable Radio

September 14, 2016, 5:17 am
↧
Search

Jay reviews the Sangean WR-50/WR-50P

October 29, 2016, 4:07 am
$
0
0

sangeanwr-50pMany thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ron, who shares a link to Jay Allen’s review of the Sangean WR-50/WR-50P:

The Sangean WR-50/WR-50P is a high performance table radio with excellent AM/FM reception and sound quality. […]It features standard AM/FM reception plus FM RBDS capability and has Bluetooth connectivity so you can stream audio from any Bluetooth enabled device. It has all the digital features we have come to expect of modern radios. Continue reading…

Click here to view the Sangean WR-50 and WR-50P on Amazon.

↧

Jay updates his AM radio shootout

March 23, 2017, 3:05 am
$
0
0

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ron, who notes that Jay Allen has updated his AM radio shootout for 2017. Jay publishes the following:

It’s Here! The AM Portables Mega Shootout 2017 Update has just been posted. I believe this is one of the most comprehensive ratings lists of portable AM radios anywhere and for 2017 over 100 models are included. I have carefully tested every one of these myself, plus more radios are in house. Their reviews are on the way and will be added in the coming weeks. New entries include new models in current production and some vintage radios I have acquired over the past year.

—————AM Portables Mega Shootout – 2017 Update—————

↧
↧

Yet another favorable review of the Grundig Executive Satellit

April 9, 2017, 4:01 am
$
0
0

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors, Troy, Ron and Steve, who note that Jay Allen has just posted a review of the Grundig Executive Satellit on his website.

The upshot? Jay found the performance identical to the previous (non-Executive) version of the Satellit which is to say that it has excellent AM performance and built-in audio.

In February, Clint Gouveia wrote up a review of the Satellit based on three weeks of DXing in the field. He found it to be an exceptional performer on the shortwave bands and stated:

“Ultimately, I have to strongly recommend this portable to anyone interested in DXing and in particular those that embark on DXpeditions.”

He embedded a number of videos from the field in his review (click here to view).

And, of course, our buddy Tom Stiles also reviewed the Executive Satellit on his YouTube Channel.

The original Eton Satellit

Like Clint, I own the original non-Executive version of the Satellit–since performance is identical, I’m not going to “upgrade” to the Executive version (though I do really like the executive case).

After Clint’s review in February, I stated taking the Satellit with me on travels more often and have been most pleased with its performance. While it took me a while to get used to its amber display at night, I must say it is a fantastic performer, has superb built-in audio and is overall a wonderful full-featured radio travel companion.

I often forget to mention the Satellit when readers ask for portable radio recommendations–perhaps this is because the Tecsun PL-880 simply overshadowed it in my mind.  Not anymore.

Executive on sale

As we mentioned yesterday, the Executive Satellit also happens to be on sale at Amazon right now for $156.92 shipped. Click here to view on Amazon.com.

Eton Satellit vs. Tecsun PL-880

Speaking of the Tecun PL-880, SWLing Post contributor Charles Rippel recently ordered the Executive Satellit–he plans to compare it with the Tecsun PL-880 and share his findings with us. Stay tuned!

↧

Jay’s FM radio shootout

May 26, 2017, 4:16 am
$
0
0

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors Ron and Troy who note that Jay Allen has posted a review comparing FM performance on a large number of radios. His takeaway? Modern portables do an exceptional job receiving FM broadcasts.

He’s got a great point, too. While I don’t spend a lot of time testing FM on shortwave rigs, I always run each radio through a benchmark FM test. Even some of the smallest, least expensive DSP-based portables I’ve tested, seem to receive my distant FM stations list with relative ease. Shortwave and mediumwave performance, however, varies greatly from unit to unit–no doubt, based on DSP implementation.

↧

Jay restores a Panasonic RF-2200

June 7, 2017, 4:21 am
$
0
0

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Troy Riedel, who notes that Jay Allen has just published a post detailing a recent Panasonic RF-2200 restoration. Click here to read Jay’s post.

I recently picked up an RF-2200 at the 2017 Hamvention flea market. Like Jay, I love this particular radio. The thing is built like a tank, but like any vintage rig, 2200s need occasional servicing and cleaning. If you treat a ‘2200 well, it’ll outlast all of us. I’m happy Jay was able to bring this old girl back to life!

↧
Viewing all 33 articles
Browse latest View live
Search