gst@BBN.COM> (02/04/90)
Sorry if this question has been asked before. I just purchased a Radio
Shark DX-440 to pick up the series on the environment being aired by CBC,
which Robert Horwitz alerted us to back on 15 January (thanks, sir!).
Not knowing anything about current technology (my last experience with
shortwave was when I assembled a Heathkit receiver (with tubes!) 25
years ago as a teenager (guess that kinda dates me :-), I just let the
guy behind the counter talk me into their DX-440. He claimed it was
rated just below the Sony (2010?) receiver in a recent review.
My questions are:
1. How good is it? Is it worth the $200 I paid for it? What are
the alternatives in its price range, and their advantages?
2. I'd like to tape from the receiver. The only audio output is
the headphone jack. The RS guy sold me an "attenuating patch
cord" and an RCA adaptor. Do other models have an RCA jack
with the proper level for direct input to a tape deck or amp?
Despite the fact that the output level from the headphone
jack is higher than the standard preamp-level output, I find
that I have to crank the input controls to my tape deck way
up to get a decent signal. Why is this?
3. I just spotted the article about the new IRCOM unit. I note
that it has *lots* of memory cells (the DX-440 has only nine).
How much does the IRCOM model cost? If it's a lot more than
$200, does it seem worth the extra money?
4. Anything else you'd like to say on the subject?
I have 30 days to make up my mind on whether I want to keep the thing,
so I'd appreciate comments in that time period. I haven't been a regular
reader of this newsgroup, but will become one during at least the next
few weeks in order to collect replies (and learn something about this
fascinating subject). I'll also summarize any emailed replies I receive.
Thanks in advance for any advice!
BTW, while listening to Radio Canada International tonight, I heard a
review of the "Grundig Satellite 500." They said the unit they just
tested, from a late production run, was much better than an earlier
one - mostly in terms of sensitivity, I think, but they said the
batteries have a tendency to slide around inside, and can lose contact
with the terminals, due to their weight when the radio is in whatever
orientation causes said batteries to assume a vertical position, resulting
in a loss of power (sloppy!), and that they were unable to easily correct
the problem. Back to the drawing board, guys...
--
Gary S. Trujillo gst@gnosys.svle.ma.us
Somerville, Massachusetts {wjh12,spdcc,ima,cdp}!gnosys!gst