Fanling DX Land - OL72CM - Home of VR2XMQ

SPECIFICATIONS:
Frequency Ranges: MW — 16MHz approx?
Output Impedance:450 Ohms
Current Consumption:BELOW 25mA
Loop Diameter:27.5cm
Battery: 9V DC

3.    1 x Chinese made indoor LW/MW/SW Active Antenna model: TG-35

SPECIFICATIONS:
Frequency Ranges: LW/MW/SW - 30KHz - 30,000KHz
Elements: 1 x Ferrite Plug in unit for LW/MW, 1 x telescopic whip for SW
Power: Solar cell or USB to charge up internal re-chargable batteries.



4.   2 x 4 foot long telescopic whip fitted with PL-259 for field use.

5.   1 x 9 foot long telescopic whip fitted with PL-259 for field use.

6.   1 x Radio Shack AM MW Loop (no. 15-1853) with tuning cap.

7.   1 x Terk "Advantage" AM MW Loop with tuning cap.

8.   Radio Shack Indoor Active Antenna


The RX Side:
1.       National Panasonic DR-49
2.       National Panasonic RF-2200 with Matching Tuning Unit
3.       Sanyo RP-8880
4.       Drake SSR-1
5.       Target HF-1
6.       Heathkit HR-1680
7.       Kenwood R-1000
8.       Kencraft QR-666
9.       Tecsun BCL-2000
10.     Redsun RP-2100
11.     Sony ICF-5800
12.     Sony ICF-5979
13.     Sony ICF-6000L
14.     Sony ICF-5500W "Captain"
15.     AOR-3030
16.     Radio Shack DX-394
17.     Uniden UBC-9000XLT
18.     Corona CD-6000AR High Grade Air Band Receiver
19.     Kenwood  RZ-1  wide band receiver
20.     GE Super Radio III - The MW and FM Dx'ers must have radio!
21.     Degen DE-1103 Portable World Band Rx with SSB (29/8/2007)
22.     Degen DE-1102 Portable World Band RX with SSB (31/8/2007)
23.     Hitachi KH-2200 Portable shortwave receiver
24.     Toshiba TRYX-2000 Portable shortwave receiver


SWL/BCL Accessories:
1.       Gilfer Associates model A-20 preselector
2.       CM Howes CTU-9 ATU
3.       PROCO RTTY & CW Communications Decoder
4.       Mizuho Active Audio Filter AP-1
5.       Diawa AF-606K Active Filter
6.       MFJ-784B Digital DSP Audio Filter
7.       Home made auto tracking notch filter

 
I still remember when shortwave listening and broadcast listening was popular and those who

listened to the shortwaves were called Shortwave Listeners (SWL's) or Broadcast Listeners

(BCL's). This was back in the 1970's and 80's and Japan came out with many portable

shortwave radios for this large market.

Most notable portables of the time were the Sony ICF-5900W and the National Pansonic

RF-2200. They are still both very much sought after today and are still collectors pieces.

My very first portable was the ICF-5900W and I spent many hours surfing the shotrtwaves

and listening to the amateur radio bands. I then moved to the Panasonic RF-4900 and  the

RF-2200 which I dtill have today.

If you are interested in listening to news and music from other parts of

the world, then you try surfing the shortwaves

instead of the internet.

Shortwave (SW) signals travel much farther than

those of MW and FM bands, and depending on

certain conditions, can reach the opposite side

of globe.

What is Shortwave DX'ING?

This term describes the listening of distant and often unknown radio stations. "D",

here stands for "Distant", and "X"  for"Unknown", or "Incognito". The Shortwave

Listener is called "DXer" and sometimes, "SWL". It may come to you as a surprise,

but Shortwave Broadcasters still serve millions of people worldwide, such as inhabitants

of vast and remote regions of the world, like the Mongolia, the South America, India  etc.

 Some listeners (DXers) will log certain details of a transmission and write a Reception

Report, sending it along  with a cover

letter to the broadcast station, they will

in return receive a Confirmation of the

Reception called a QSL card.

QSLs are station-issued cards confirming

that the specific reception log by the listener

matches their own transmission records, after checking their files. Some technical details of

the station may be added and signed by a verifier. These cards are collected by the DXers

much like stamps.

The International stations make it a policy of confirming reception of programs, since the

Reception Reports provide important data from which the staff can determine how well the

signals are being heard overseas and thus determine what their coverage can be.In many

cases, some stations will send one or more souvenirs items such as station banners, stickers,

T-shirts and current programme schedules.

The World Radio & TV Handbook and Passport to World Band Radio guidebooks

provide Domestic and International broadcaster transmitting schedules as well as

contact addresses.

The AOR AR3030 advanced features include: DDS (Direct Digital Synthesizer) with patented NCO (Numeric Controlled Oscillator) that dramatically improves carrier to noise ratio. This all mode receiver tunes from 30 to 30 MHz. Ten Hz tuning accuracy insures precise tuning. A synchronous detector improves AM signals that are fading. The supplied 6 kHz filter is Collins and the 2.4 kHz is Murata. Manual uning is via the large, smooth main tuning knob. You may also enter desired frequencies directly via the keypad. A built in TCXO (Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillator) provides 5 PPM stability. Other refinements include: AGC control with off position, large amber backlit LCD, analog S-meter, RF gain, Squelch, dual VFOs, RS-232 serial interface and 100 memories with scan. The AR3030 can also operate from eight AA cells (not supplied) stored internally. The antenna input is a BNC jack.

Radio Shack DX-394 Communications Receiver

FREQUENCY COVERAGE:
   LW                                     150-509.9 kHz
   MW                                    510-1729.9 kHz
   SW                                     1.73-29.9999 kHz

SW Sub-Bands:

  2.300-2.495 MHz (120 meters)     11.650-12.050 MHz (25 meters)
  3.200-3.400 MHz ( 90 meters)     13.600-13.800 MHz (21 meters)
  3.900-4.000 MHz ( 75 meters)     15.100-15.600 MHz (19 meters)
  4.750-5.060 MHz ( 60 meters)     17.550-17.900 MHz (16 meters)
  5.950-6.200 MHz ( 49 meters)     21.450-21.850 MHz (13 meters)
  7.100-7.300 MHz ( 41 meters)     25.670-26.100 MHz (11 meters)
  9.500-9.900 MHz ( 31 meters)

SENSITIVITY (AM 10 dB (S+N)/N at 30% modulation):
  LW                                                               10 micro V
  MW                                                                7 micro V
  SW                                                                 1 micro V

(SSB 10 dB (S+N)/N)
   SW                                                             0.3 micro V
(CW 10 dB (S+N)/N)
   SW                                                             0.1 micro V

SELECTIVITY:

ñ 7 kHz (AM)                                                  50 dB
ñ15 kHz (SSW/CW)                                       50 dB
IF Rejection (Lo-Z)                                         80 dB
Spurious Rejection (Lo-Z)                               80 dB

IF FREQUENCY:
   1st...............................................................45 MHz
   2nd..............................................................455 kHz

ANTENNA IMPEDANCE:
   Lo-Z.............................................................50 ohms
   Hi-Z................................................................2 kohms

AUDIO OUTPUT POWER (10% THD).........................................800 mW
BUILT-IN SPEAKER................................................3" (77 mm) 8-ohm dynamic type
POWER REQUIREMENTS:......................................AC 120 Volts 60 Hz 13 watts
                                                                                   DC 13.8 Volts, 8 watts

OPERATING TEMPERATURE................................32øF to 109øF (0øC to 43øC)
DIMENSIONS........................3 11/16" (96 mm) x 9 3/16" (233 mm) x 9" (230 mm)
WEIGHT....................................................................4.6 lbs (2.1 kg)
IF bandwidth...............................................................6 dB

TARGET HF3

The Target HF3 is a masterpiece of R. F. engineering covering the entire spectrum between 30Khz to 30Mhz. The large, clear liquid crystal display shows the precise frequency tuned to and there is no need for constant 'correcting' with the tuning knob so often associated with SSB signals as the receiver is fully synthesised.

Small and Precise

Target HF3

Tecsun BCL-2000 RED.

The Tecsun BCL-2000 (Red) offers reception of AM, FM and international shortwave. An analog

receiver with digital display of frequency and clock, it offers the best of both worlds to the radio enthusiast.

Utilizing single-conversion superheterodyne circuit design, it's powered by four D cells for exceptionally long

play-time and comes with an AC adaptor. It receives continuous shortwave from 2.9 - 27.4 MHz, covering

all 13 international shortwave broadcast bands of 11, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 31, 41, 49, 60, 75 and 90 meters.

You will get news and events from all over the world and superior reception of your favorite domestic AM

and FM stations, including those often hard to pull-in AM signals. It's ideal for the AM DX'er too. There is

a built-in  90 minute sleep timer that automatically turns the radio off after 90 minutes so if you fall asleep the

radio will not play all night long and run down the battery.

A wide and narrow switch on the front panel allows you to narrow the radio's bandwidth to reduce adjacent

channel interference. The radio is made in the People's Republic of China. There have been somewhat of a

revival of SWL/BCL activities in recent years in China with many new products being manaufactured and

coming from China. 

There is a built in telescopic antenna for FM and shortwave plus a built in ferrite bar antenna for AM.

The back panel features a 75 ohm antenna jack for FM and spring loaded terminals for 500 ohm AM/SW

wire antenna and ground.

There is also a 6 VDC input jack for the supplied AC adapter. The right side of the BCL-2000 even has left

and right line level outputs and a stereo/mono switch for line level outputs.

Redsun RP-2100.

The Redsun RP-2100 is a large multi-band portable measuring approximately 11 ½" x 7 ¼" x 2 ¾",

or 290 mm x 185 mm x 70 mm.

The RP-2100 is PLL tuned covering: FM: 87.00 - 108.00 MHz
MW: 522-1620 or 1710 KHz/9 or 10 KHz steps
SW 1: 1711 - 10010 KHz
SW 2: 9990 - 20010 KHz
SW 3: 19990 - 29999 KHz
50 Presets are available with 10 in each band

Dual Conversion on AM and SW, Two IF Bandwidths: Nominally 6 KHz and 3 KHz, Audio Power

Output 2.5 Watts on AC Power.

Power Supply: AC 220Volt Input
DC 6 - 9 Volt center negative
4 D Cells or 4 AA Cells (switch selectable)
Built-In Charger

I.F. Output Jack (an outboard SSB adapter is available on eBay), Stereo Line Out Jacks

(Dual RCA Type)

Kencraft QR-666.

The Kencraft QR-666 is a dual conversion solid state receiver covering 170 - 410, 525 - 30000 kHz in AM

and SSB. Features include:  ¼ inch headphone jack, S-Meter, bandspread, ANL, antenna trimmer, BFO,

dial lamp, tone switch, RF gain, external speaker jack and record jack. The bandspread includes the amateur

bands plus the major shortwave broadcast bands. Wide or narrow selectivity may be selected (5.0/2.5

 kHz@-6dB).

Kencraft is in fact another name which Kenwood used, Kencraft was a name used because the equipment was in

kit form.

117/220 VAC or 12-15 VDC or 8 D cells. 14.25 x 6.4 x 12.8 inches 17 Lbs. Th rare Mizuho SX-59 preselector

(in mint condition) can be seen above the QR-666.

My Kencraft QR-666 is somewhat different from the normal versions which have grey band and bandspread dials.

My version has red colored trims on the left and red colored band and bandspread dial and as far as I am aware

is unique and very rare.

A normal QR-666 facia with Grey White knobs.

The rear of the receiver (below):

National Panasonic Proceed DR-49.

The "Command Series" Proceed DR-49 AKA RF-4900 brings back memories as it was the first table top

receiver that I purchased with my first job back in 1980. The Panasonic RF-4900 was a sophisticated shortwave

communications receiver at the time. Complete shortwave coverage from 1.6 to 30 MHz is provided by eight

bands.

AM from 525 to 1605 kHz and FM band reception from 88 to 108 MHz is also supported. The double conversion

superhet circuit provides good sensitivity and image rejection. Wide-Narrow bandwidth selector includes ladder-

type ceramic filters to reduce nearby frequency interference. The Beat Frequency Oscillator pitch controls 

provides SSB and CW reception. I still have this beautiful set till this day.

Features include:   ¼" Headphone Jack, "S"/Battery-Meter, RF Gain, Automatic Noise Limiter, Panel Light, Bass,

Treble, Speaker Jack, Two Tuning Speeds, Handles, Antenna Trimmer, 2 Speed Spinner Knob, Record Jack, Aux.

Input Jack. The rear panel has multiple antenna inputs and an SO-239 jack plus a ferrite antenna for Medium

Wave Band.

The digital display operates on all bands. Operates from 220 VAC or eight D cells. 19 x 7.8 x 14 inches. 20 Lbs.

1. Kchibo KK-S500 (With Snyc. Det. AM - One of my favorites)   

2. Degen DE-1102:   

3. Degen DE-1103:   

4. Tecsun CR-1100DSP: (For FM Dx'ing)   

The Kenwood RZ-1 tunes from 500 kHz to 905 MHz. Modes of reception are AM, FM and FM-W

with tuning steps at 5, 12.5, 20 and 25 kHz. This incredibly wide frequency coverage includes almost

everything. Enjoy AM broadcast band and complete shortwave coverage as well as VHF and UHF

public service bands. It can even pick up TV broadcast audio. One hundred memories are available

with 7 character alpha-tagging to label the stations you have stored. The numeric keys let you recall

memories or directly enter the desired frequency. VFO and memory scanning are both supported. 

Other output jacks include: Left and Right Line Output and external speaker. This is an unusual design

by Kenwood, the size of the receiver was designed so that it could also be installed under the dash of

a car. The major shortcoming of this set is it runs very very hot when in use.

Frequency Range...... 500 kHz - 905 MHz
Tuning Steps ........ 5, 12.5, 20 and 25 kHz Manual, 10, 100 kHz Auto
Power................ 13.8 VDC at 1 amp
Antenna Impedance.... 50 ~ 500 ohm
Selectivity (-6dB)... AM 7 kHz, FM 10 kHz, FM-W 250 kHz
Sensitivity.......... 5 µV 2-30 MHz AM (S+N/N 10 dB), 3 µV 60-905 MHz FM (12dB SINAD)
IF Rejection......... >40 dB
Freq. Stability...... ±1 kHz 500 kHz-100 MHz, ±10 PPM 100-905 MHz
Intermediate Freqs... 1st IF=45.75 MHz, 2nd IF=10.7 MHz, 3rd IF=455 kHz
Audio Output......... 2 Watts at 8 Ohms.
Video Output......... 1Vp-p 75ohm NTSC (60-905 MHz)
Dimensions........... 7.1 x 2 x 6.25 inches (180x50x158mm)
Weight............... 3.31 Lbs. (1.5 kg)

This set was quite expensive when purchased in the 90s at approximately HK$5,000.00 or

US$641.00. I wished the Kenwood Engineers had put in a little more thought into the design of

this set and included SSB.

This is by far my favorite of all the receivers that I have, beacuse it is compact, is computer

controlled as well as having a front panel control, has two seperate receivers that can be used at

the same time and has provision for diversity reception. Not to mention that it is by far the

the best in terms of modes offered and RF Spectrum coverage is the widest. With the PCR Pro

amd Trunk PCR I am able to do RF spectrum scans and store measured data, I can think of no 

other receiver that has such offerings. 

Specifications

All stated specifications are subject to change without notice or obligation.

Supplied Accessories

PC requirements

For use with PC control software

• Microsoft® Windows® XP/2000/ME/98SE
• USB 1.1 or 2.0
• Intel® Pentium® III 450MHz or faster (Pentium® 4 recommended)
• Hard disk with at least 50 MB of free disk space
• At least 128 MB of memory (256MB or more recommended)
• Display with 1024 × 768 pixel resolution, high color
• CD-ROM or DVD drive is required for software installation
• USB audio dropouts or gaps may occur because of a lack of PC power
• Additional hard disk space is required for recording sound or storing scope data

Rear view

Dualwatch, Digital Mode, Diversity Receiver

Dualwatch capability

The IC-R2500 has dualwatch receive capability^*1, allowing you to receive two bands simultaneously. It covers 0.01–3299.999 MHz in AM, FM, WFM, SSB, CW, DV^*2 and P25^*3 modes on the main receiver, while the sub-receiver covers 50–1300MHz in AM, FM and WFM modes^*4.
^*1 Two antennas are required for dualwatch receive.
^*2 Optional UT-118 required.
^*3 Optional UT-122 required. Already installed with some versions.
^*4 Frequency range differs depending on version.

Diversity receive capability

The diversity receive* mode is useful for mobile operation where the received signal changes continuously. It compares the signal strength and chooses the antenna with the better signal to maintain good sound and receive quality.
* Two antennas are required. Available in FM/DV/P25 mode between 50– 1300MHz only. Diversity reception is not available while using dualwatch.

Wide LCD display for independent band control

The wide LCD display shows both main/sub receiver settings in an easy-to-read symmetric side-by-side layout. The controller provides separate tuning, volume, squelch knobs and function buttons for the left (Main) and right (Sub) receivers. The LCD backlit color is selectable between amber and green for your preference.

Digital mode reception

The optional UT-118 D-STAR digital unit and UT-122* P25 digital unit provide the latest digital mode reception. Catch the action in digital communications!
* Already installed with some versions.

1000 alphanumeric memory channels

With Icom’s Dynamic Memory Scan, DMS, you have a versatile memory channel management system at your command. The 1000 memory channels can be arranged by service or personal preference in the 21 memory banks. Selectively link the channels together to scan depending on your needs. Programming the memory channels and 6 character memory names is simple with your PC.

Other features

Photos:

Above: My operating position for the Icom IC-R2500

Above: The Control Head in use.

Above: Shot of the receiver program running on the PC

Below: Screenshots PCR Pro and Trunk PCR Softwares by Jay L Bray in use

Screenshot of the Trunk PCR software in use below - this is a seperate program from the PCR Pro and

is used for trunk radio scanning.

Below is a homebrew RX antenna for the IC-R2500 designed for 25 to 3000MHz with a double Nagoya ground plane

system trimed to different frequencies:

1.   My Old Scanners:

1.1 Handic 016

1.2 Radio Shack PRO 2008

2. Preselectors

2.1 Gilfer Associates A20  - HF

2.1 Mizuho SX-59 - HF

Inside the SX-59

3. Audio Filter

3.1 Daiwa AF-606K Audio Filter

3.2 MFJ-784B DSP Filter

The MFJ-784B tunable/programmable DSP audio filter can simultaneously eliminate heterodynes, reduce noise and reduce interference in nearly any mode. You get five tunable DSP filters, plus ten programmable filters. The automatic notch removes heterodynes, adaptive noise reduction reduces fatigue and the highpass-lowpass & tunable bandpass filters is effective to dig out the weak signals.

4. SWL/BCL Antenna Couplers:

4.1   National Panasonic RD-9820 Antenna Coupler:

Above: Front View

Below: Rear View

4.2   Howes CTU-9 Antenna Tuning Unit With built in 4:1 Matching Balun (Built from Kit):

5.   Headphones:

5.1 Panasonic RP-HTX7 Green

Headphones

Headphones Type Headphones - Binaural

Headphones Form Factor Ear - cup

Headphones Technology - Dynamic

Connectivity Technology - Wired

Sound Output Mode - Stereo

Response Bandwidth - 7 - 22000 Hz

Diaphragm - 1.6 in

http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/01/ces-panasonic-r.html

The GE 7-2887 Superadio III is described as a High Performance Long Range AM/FM Radio.

I think it is probably the best AM MW DX radio with the best sound reproduction around even today although this

model has been around for a number of years. It superseeded the Super Radio I and II. The preformance of this

machine on MW can only be described as legendary and I did not know that AM could really sound this good until

I bought this radio. The AM sound reproduction will literally blow your socks off, it is that amazing. It retails for

only US$40 in the US and the postage would probably be more to send it out to the Far East, but it is worth every

single cent. My Super Radio has been with me for many many years and it's ability to pull in DX stations on MW

is stunning.

The Superadio used Varactor tuning diodes rather variable capacitors, GE/Thomson displays this prominently on

the features list for this radio, varactor tuners are more stable, and less affected by outside interference. The Super

radio also has a 200mm ferrite rod antenna, larger than most, but fairly common, which should be pretty good for

pulling in distant stations, but it also means you’ll often need to turn the radio to improve reception and/or minimize

noise. A few other reception enhancing features are also listed, including tuned RF on both AM and FM. GE also lists

features to improve selectivity and separation (to distinguish between “close” siginals on your radio), including …. a

Ceramic IF filter, plus 3 IF tuned Circuits on FM and 4 tuned IF circuits on AM.

Don't be mistaken by it's domestic style packaging, this is a radio that is used by most MW DX'ers and is already a

legend. Would I recommend it - 100%

AM & SSB Signals

To understand how the adaptor works, it is necessary to explain the basic differences between AM and SSB transmissions.

A modulated AM signal consists of a carrier and two symmetrically spaced side bands. The amplitude of the carrier is a function of the amplitude of the modulating signal.

The two side bands on either side of the carrier have the same amplitude and carry the same information. This is why AM is also sometimes reffered to as double side band, or DSB in short. In fact the carrier itself conveys no information. In mathematical terms : AM power = carrier power + side band power

By removing one side band and the carrier, more efficient use of the available transmitter power is made without sacrificing the transfer of information from transmitter to receiver. In fact, an SSB transmitter uses approximately one quarter the power of an equivalent AM transmitter.

Another advantage of SSB operation is that the band width required to transmit the signal is significantly reduced. So by removing the carrier and one sideband, we can make more efficient use of the RF spectrum.

RECEIVING SSB

To demodulate an SSB signal (ie, to turn it back into intelligible speech), it is necessary to insert a locally generated carrier at the receiver. This carrier can be generated by using an external oscillator tuned to the receiver's intermediate frequency (IF) - in this case. 455 KHz. The new carrier provides a reference frequency against which the upper or lower side band can be demodulated.

Note that the opposite side band is also generated during this process, so that a complete AM signal is available for detection.

OK, so that's how we convert an inexpensive short wave receiver to SSB operation. It's an arrangement that can be made to work quite well but don't expect it to perform as well as a fully-fledged SSB receiver with narrow band IF stages and special audio filters.

HOW IT WORKS

The heart of the circuit is a 455 KHz ceramic resonator. This provides a reliable 455 KHz source at a fraction of the cost of a crystal. The resonator is used in the CMOS oscillator circuit and provides an RF output level of 5 volt peak to peak.

The output of the oscillator is then fed to a length of insulated hookup wire which is wrapped several times around the receiver, thus providing a degree of inductive coupling. The amount of signal required varies from receiver to receiver and can be adjusted by varying the number of turns.

CONSTRUCTION

The unit can be easily be made up on a small piece of Vero board. Note that all the unused input and output pins on the 4069 are grounded to prevent spurious oscillation.

Because the ceramic resonator operates at fixed frequency, no tuning of the circuit is required. To demodulate an SSB signal, first tune your AM radio to and SSB signal. You can then wrap the oscillator output lead around the receiver, apply 5 volt, and carefully tune your receiver for best quality demodulated audio.

By Garry Cratt, VK2YBX

Degen DE-1103 Portable World Band Radio with SSB.

I was talking to my friend Paul Fok the other day about his recommendation for a small portable world band receiver. It had to be small, good value for money, sensitive and selective, must have single side band (SSB). I wanted something small not for the shack, but portable so that I could do some causal SW and BC listening whilst on the roof or sitting back reading a good book in the sun.

Without much thought he recomended the Degen DE-1103 portable. This small portable is made in China and the front sports a LCD digital readout plus an LCD analog type display.

So after work today, I took a journey over to Hong Kong's equivalent of Akiabara know as Ap Liu Street found the said radio and paid the vendor HK$400 for it and took it home. There was no real way to test out the DE-1103 in the shop so I took Paul's word on trust. My own thoughts at the time were simple, what can you expect fro a world band radio that is under US$60.00 comes with an AC adapter, a carrying pouch, ear buds, rechargable batteries and an antenna.

I was actually tempted by the small brother of the DE-1103, the DE1102 which had a wider FM band segment from 70MHz to 108MHz, the DE-1103 is from 76MHz to 106MHz.

The general specifications are as follows:-

The radio measures 6.5"(w) x 4" (h) x 1" (d) and weighs approximately 1 lb.

Frequency coverage is:

AM/MW 520 - 1710 kHz
LW 100 - 519 kHz
FM 76 - 108 MHz
SW 1711 - 29999 kHz

The DE1103 has ten shortwave band segments identified, the coverage is indeed continuous. The radio is capable of receiving single sideband on LW, MW and SW.

Tuning can be by direct frequency entry. Using this method, you enter the frequency from the "keypad" (a single horizontal row of buttons, 0 …. 9) and then hit the Bands+/AM button unless you are on FM, where you use the Band-/FM button or by Automatic scanning.

This can be accomplished by holding the Band+ or Band- button down for a few seconds. The radio will scan until a strong station is found. It will pause for 3 seconds and then continue. In auto-scan mode, the tuning increments are 1 kHz for MW/LW, 5 kHz for SW and 100 kHz on FM.

Finally you can tune it by manual tuning. The radio can be tuned manually with the tuning knob. It tunes in increments of 1 kHz on SW/MW/LW and 25 kHz on FM.

The Performance:     

The built in wide-narrow filter on the DE1103 is very effective. It does a really good job of with handling adjacent channel interference and I was particulary impressed by this coming from this small radio. You will be impressed with both selectivity and sensitivity.

AM/MW
The DE1103 is a very good performer on MW. Selectivity seems to excel for this radio on Medium Wave. Sensitivity on MW was just slightly above average. You can really see the effectiveness of the narrow band filter on Medium Wave.

LW
There isn't much to listen to on Long Wave so I did not even bother to test it there.

SW
The DE1103 performs extremely well on shortwave. I can copy the major shortwave broadcasters with ease using the built in telescopic antenna and suspect that the receiver front end would overload if connected to external antenna. The narrow filter setting is quite effective and set it through it's paces copying weak signals on 80M 40M, 20M, 17M amateur radio bands. Both sideband and cw signals were very easily copied. The 1 kHz tuning increment and the fine tuning (BFO) control works well to copy sideband, so I was was impressed with the SSB performance.

Quirks:
This radio is not entirely user friendly and the layout and logistics of the controls takes some getting use to, there is definately a leaning curve here as the designer was obviously not thinking straight when he designed some of the controls.

There is no knob for the volume control. Degen has turned the most basic of operations into an expensive engineering exercise, in order to adjust the volume, you need to push the volume button and then turn the tuning knob. Huhhh! A simple VR would have been better. Sorry guys, I think you were trying to impress the user but I'm not impressed, the whole AF adjustment process is tedious and the blinking and readjustment is just plain annoying.

There are other quirks such as the tuning but I will not go into it here, after all I may be spolit after using professsional grade receivers and transceivers costing thousands of dollars and to keep things in perspective this is under US$60.

All in all two thumbs up and money well spent, a sure performer on reception for MW and SW with SSB to boot.

Oh and thank you Paul for the recommendation. I am toying with the idea of getting the smaller brother, the DE-1102 because I want the 70-76MHz FM band portion for monitoring purposes. The smaller brother is HK$360 or approx. US$50.00, it also has SSB.

If you are looking for extreme value for money in a portable world band radio then the DE-1103 is the ticket, you will not be sorry.

This a book from Japan which effectively catalogues all the BCL receivers from the 70s and 80s:

 Front Cover