Please recommend some good MW and LW DX radios

[alpard]

Hi All

I am trying to do some MW and LW DX at nights.
Right now, I am using a Sangean ATS-803 and Realistic DX-392.
I wonder if there are better MW and LW DX radios out there.
Thanks

[pinto vortando]

Take a look at various ham transceivers with general coverage receive capability.   Lots to choose from new and used and most all nowadays have general coverage receive capability.
If your main interest is MW and LW DX, pay particular attention to the sensitivity specs for those bands.  Many of these radios are intentionally
desensitized below the 160 meter ham band to avoid receiver overload from powerful AM broadcast band stations.  Many are practically deaf
on longwave.  The Alinco DX-SR8 has worked out well for me doing LW DXing.  It is very sensitive in the CW mode on LW.  On long winter nights
when conditions are just right and the band becomes perfectly quiet you want all the sensitivity you can get to be able to hear a 25 watt NDB a
couple thousand miles away.  Almost as important if not more so is the antenna.  All kinds of choices here from simple to quite exotic...
longwires, loops, ferrite sleeve, Beverage, KAZ, flag, K9AY, active, and on and on.

[CoolAM Radio]

Many people are very satisfied with Tecsun radio's!

Check out

https://www.tecsunradios.com.au/store/

It also depends where and what you wanna RX !


Goodluck!

André
CoolAM Radio - Shortwave

[alpard]

I watched youtube videos and also read some SWL blogs on the review of the Tecsun radios.  The problem they highlighted was poor performance on MW and LW bands with the TECSUN radios. They seem very good on SW HF bands, but on MW and LW, they couldn't hear any DX stations, the reviewers and bloggers said.  Especially the TECSUN S-8800 and PL-660 were poor on MW and LW.

Not sure, if these reviews are true, not having used any Tecsun radios myself. But it alerted me that I must be cautious and selective on what I am buying.

With HF and SW bands having gone mute for years due to the Sun spot minima cycle, MW and LW bands are important for DXing, and I am sure many good and interesting DX to be had in those bands.

[Stretchyman]

More down to the antenna than the radio.

The Tecsun and many others are true SDR and way better than any of the older superhet designs.

Str.

[alpard]

This is one of the the review on the Tecsun radios, pointing out poor performance on MW and LW.  I think there are also similar reviews of concern on the Tecsun PL-660 and other models.

The reviewer seems equipped with many of the best antenna on the market for reception such as expensive Wellbrook and KAZ and many others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPcz2JpUTJc

[pinto vortando]

Most portables just aren't going to hack it on LW for any sort of serious DXing.  Mostly they have no provision for an antenna other than the built in ferrite loopstick.  You may be able to fabricate some sort of an inductive coupled arrangement to transfer energy to the loopstick and greatly enhance reception but then you will be confronted with the inherent lack of selectivity found in
most portables.  Selectivity (filtering) is what costs money and most portables are relatively inexpensive and the selectivity just isn't there. 

However, for MW work, there are some portables that are outstanding AM broadcast band DX machines.  The CCrane Radios 2E and EP come to mind as well as the GE Superadios.
These portables all have provision for an external antenna but in most cases you won't need one... their large internal loopsticks are that good.  They also can be easily rotated to peak/null
desired/undesired stations. 

[alpard]

Thanks for your recommendation with the info.

Unfortunately CCraine radios are not available to buy in where we are. And if there were available to buy, they seem more expensive than usual market price.

[CoolAM Radio]

Why not order from another country then?

And.. what is yours if I may ask?

==================================



André
CoolAM Radio - Shortwave
the Netherlands

[chanito]

RSP1A or better and don't look back.

[alpard]

Why not order from another country then?

And.. what is yours if I may ask?

==================================



André
CoolAM Radio - Shortwave
the Netherlands

It makes more expensive and takes longer to arrive when ordered from other countries sellers.
And if something goes wrong, then it is more difficult and complicated to put it right.

We try to avoid buying from overseas due to above reasons.
And most importantly, I am not sure if those radios are really good or not just by reading about them, it is difficult to know.
But still it is good to have some ideas about them, what is available out there, and who know next month, they could be for sale from the local suppliers for cheaper price, and with next day delivery.

[Sealord]

If you can find a used older Palstar R30 in good shape it will perform well at least for MW.

[ThaDood]

The Sangean ATS-803A is certainly one of the better, more sensitive, portables to have for LW and MW DX'ing. I still use mine to DX MW at times. However, when I put that portable to my Windom, I can get IMD from local stations and very strong 90M SW. You may want to consider a preselector to help improve what you already have. https://www.eham.net/reviews/view-product?id=3912

[alpard]

The Sangean ATS-803A is certainly one of the better, more sensitive, portables to have for LW and MW DX'ing. I still use mine to DX MW at times. However, when I put that portable to my Windom, I can get IMD from local stations and very strong 90M SW. You may want to consider a preselector to help improve what you already have. https://www.eham.net/reviews/view-product?id=3912

Sangean 803A is very good on HF bands, but I was not sure if it will be good enough for DXing on MW and LW. I have not tried it yet.
Good idea on the preselectors and ATUs, but again I am not sure if they will be effective on MW and LW bands. I know they work well on HF bands.

[alpard]

If you can find a used older Palstar R30 in good shape it will perform well at least for MW.

I have seen Palstar R30 for sale on local eBay, but asking price was very high.  It seems very rare receiver.
I would only consider older radios if the price is good, in case they might need servicing or repair.