The AM Forum

I stopped by the local Circuit City to-day looking for a cartridge of printer ink.  I noticed they have a whole shelf full of "emergency portable radios".  One that caught my eye was an Etón ETN 10.  It has digital tuning allowing frequencies to be keyed in or dialled in with a manual tuning knob.  It covers AM, FM and shortwave starting at 1700 kHz all the way up to 30 mHz, with rechargeable batteries and charger, and whip antenna.

I was interested, but the only live sales person I could find in the store obviously knew absolutely nothing about anything electronic.  She said that since there was no unit open on display, the only way I could try one out would be to buy it, and then return it per their 30-day return policy if I didn't like it. 

I wouldn't count on top quality shortwave reception for a small cheap portable, but I would expect to be able to pick up stronger stations like WBCQ, and maybe some of the more strapping AM hams, with halfway decent audio quality, but I was not inclined to buy something right at the store without at least first being able to listen to what it sounds like.

Wonder if anyone here has any experience with that radio, and could say whether it would be worth my while to go back across town some other time when maybe someone who knows what they are doing is tending the store.

Do you mean the Eton E 10? No SSB, but some folks like it. http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/5100

Word on the street is the Degen 1103 is/was a good buy, vy hot recvr. Guy I know says listening to 75M AM with just the radios whip is FB OM.  http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/4288 (http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/4288)

 I have a Degen 1103. Its now has replaced my Realistic DX 440 as my bedside receiver. At first I used a outside clip-on wire (50ft) but found it overloaded it and increased the noise level. But without it it really works FB. The audio is very good with a halfway decent set of headphones. I think it is the best $65.00 little receiver. Here is a review.http://radiointel.com/review-degende1103.htm

Geez, Don, you can get a "vintage" portable too, you know.
(http://amfone.net/Amforum/gallery/42_01_06_07_8_42_23_1.jpg)

I own a KAITO 1103. Identical to the DEGEN 1103 (probably made in the same factory).

It is superb. Hot receiver. I  can pick up most stations on 75 M with just the supplied 30 foot wire antenna.  Can copy Don K4KYV with  this antenna!  Copies SSB too. Covers  100 khz to 30 Mhz either by direct freq. entry, or by tuning the side mounted VFO knob. 

FM band  has stereo output on phones.  Has a line out jack,  Wide/narrow bandwidth switch, 

 I love it. 

Thanks all.  That was useful.

I echo the above on the Degen 1103. I have had mine for about 2 years now & it' the best portable I have ever had.

I'm awaiting the new Redsun RP3000 (see here: http://www.fenu-radio.ch/Redsun%20RP3000.jpg)

It's supposed to be available this summer through C. Crane & most likely, various Ebay retailers. It's said to have AM synchronus detection (usually only found on higher end radios), a bigger speaker, better audio,  plus all of the other features of the Degen 1103.

Terry
W8EJO

The Sony 2010 - Still at the top of the heap, after 20 years!

http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/479


(http://www.wjoe.com/sony2010.jpg)


Or when I am on tour, the Sony SW100S.

(http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B00005KHYN.03.LZZZZZZZ.jpg)

I like my portables(Sony, Hammarlund, Icom):

(http://amfone.net/Amforum/gallery/25_13_02_07_5_35_51.JPG)

  The Sony 2010! Loved it. I loaned it out and never got it back.  ??? Got the Realistic DX 440 to replace it. It was pretty good. Still works fine but the lil Degen seems to work just as if not a bit better and takes up less space . 

My experience with the Sony 2010 was disappointing. Very highly rated radio BUT weak audio quality out of both jacks....EXT speaker and headphone. No LOW end!!! Cuts off around 100 cycles. My Yaesu FROGGY 7700 has beautiful audio out of the headphone jack. I'm rockin with 'BCQ and the Blogen amplifier driving a 70's book shelf Advent speaker.
fred

Yes the 2010s audio was something less than perfect for sure. Radio Moscow sounded great on it though.  ;)  I loaned my set out and never got it back. I got a Realistic DX440 as compensation and the audio was better than the 2010.

I bought a 2010 brand new and kept it for about a week.
The steps between tuning  increments were way too large.
Also, the batteries would come off the contacts with the least little bump, and you'd lose all the presets and the clock, arrgh.
Returned it, got my $329 back.

Meh. Too much plastic. I'm one of those fools who prefers listening enjoyment to convenience. Give me the Transoceanic any day. ;) Sounds better than many larger, more robust receivers and isn't really all that big to tote around. Someone has been making replacement batteries for a while now, too.