a great new Dxing radio

[KW4RZ]

If anyone is serious about FM DXing, or AM and are in the market for a new radio consider the Sony XDR-F1HD.
The Denon TU1500RD that several serious FM Dxers use, including myself with the Murata IF filter modification and has been rated as one of the best, if not THE best tuners available in the last few years. The new Sony tuner with HD compares to the Denon WITHOUT ANY MODIFICATIONS. I plan on getting one myself.

David in Virginia has been using the Denon TU1500RD and recently purchased the Sony for $100 new and here's his review

http://home.comcast.net/~dlp85x/review.htm

Brian Breezly K6STI has a more technical review and also shows the radio is remarkably sensitive and selective straight out of the box.
http://ham-radio.com/k6sti/xdr-f1hd.htm

 

[Rob]

whats the price on that? prob too damn much

question is i would need to put an antenna away from my computer and don't know what i can get

-Rob

 

[Tom Wells]

I already bought a Radio Shack Accurian for $99. It works well enough here in Chicago for the FM.
We don't really have many frequencies open to dx here.

I can't see buying another HD, but I enjoyed the reviews.

The Sony and Sangean both appear to have the same horrendous telephone-or-worse audio bandwidth
on AM that the Accurian has.

ON the Accurian, the IF bandwidth does seem to open up on AM with low signals and especially with low modulation.
Do the Sony and Sangean do this on AM?

I was surprised the reviewers were not horrified by the AM performance enough to make commentary.

The only way I'll ever consider spending another dollar on an HD radio is when they make one that's designed to
detect and reproduce up to 10khz audio, (that's 20khz IF bandwidth, yes) on the AM audio.

Or if they put in some switchable bandwidth for the AM. It could be done easily in 1936, and I'm supposed to believe we can't
figure out how to put it on consumer radios today?

I pray the analog world teaches those resposnsible for this travesty a lesson.
They deserve leaky tires, sticky doors, drawers and locks, and cold food.
I will stop short of wishing severe hearing loss upon them, but that would be fitting.

The severe cutoff curve illustrated is not there to help short-wave listening, it's there purely and intentionally
to make AM broadcast analog sound as bad as possible, and should be considered as evidence of ...

a malicious loathing or whatever ibiquity must feel to do such a disservice to proper AM detection.

Help me understand why HD radios make analog AM sound like the old gooseneck-horn speaker AM radios of 1927?
I have a '27 Atwater Kent, I know what WBBM AM sounds like on it, so I can make this comparison.
Come to think of it, the sensitivity of the Accurian is about the same as the Atwater Kent 35. Hmmmmm.
But it's easier to tune cause there's no delay or AVC of any kind, unlike HD radio.

 

[SUPERCASTER]

A major market muti-station broadcast engineer friend (with over 40 years experience) recently told me that the Sangean HDR-1 HD radio he bought a few months ago is now past history. He was never able to get it to pick up most of the local HD stations reliably, even with external antennas and within plain sight of the broadcast towers! It wasn't that great on analog reception either, fidelity was poor and the HDR-1 was prone to local interference. The HDR-1 is internally the same as the Sangean HDT-1 tuner, but with built in speakers and amplifier.
He also said on the few HD stations he was able to pick up sounded hardly better then analog FM and were full of HD radio digital coding artifacts and sounded artificial, and not musical.

He bought the Sangean WFR-20 and now he is delighted!
He now reliably get's thousands of stations from all over the world including virtually all HD stations (including HD-2 HD-3's etc.) 24/7 with much better fidelity, less digital encoding artifacts, no extra antennas, and no problems with local interference.

His Sangean HDR-1 is now past history, collecting dust in it's box, permanently retired. He does all his serious local and long distance listening on the WFR-20.

http://www.sangean.com/product.php?model=WFR-20&prod_id=42

 

[kenglish]

My hometown, back in Georgia, had a huge tornado last Sunday morning. Those people with Cable TV and Internet are still waiting for service to be restored, so they can find out what the heck hit them .

Sorry, I still want a good, old-fashioned radio when the chips (no digital pun intended) are down.

 

[SUPERCASTER]

My hometown, back in Georgia, had a huge tornado last Sunday morning. Those people with Cable TV and Internet are still waiting for service to be restored, so they can find out what the heck hit them .

Sorry, I still want a good, old-fashioned radio when the chips (no digital pun intended) are down.

I guess you'd better hoard your old radios then. Virtually all the new ones are chips (especially HD radios) and some are now down to a single chip.

 

[SUPERCASTER]

I guess you'd better hoard your old radios and TV's then. Virtually all the new ones are chips (especially HD radios) and some AM/FM radios are now down to a single chip.

Over the air TV broadcasting is mandated to be totally digital by Feb. 2009. Say goodbye to analog TV! It takes chips to decode and receive digital TV.

WiFi wireless digital is available now and WiMax is coming soon to most areas of the country.

Most local, regional and national emergency services including homeland security are switching to digital radio transmission, and internet inter-connection links. The large phone companies are replacing all their copper right up to the house with digital fiber optic (such as Verizon FiOS which has battery back up and provides TV, internet, phone and just about anything else you can think of). To think that they won't be able to get them to work when the AC power, or cable TV is out is just silly. The internet runs 24/7/365 even if your cable TV connection dosn't.

Tubes are out, individual transistors are on the way out, virtually everything uses chips. Replacement tubes are often very hard to find, and single transistor replacements for repairs or transistors in new sets are also getting hard to find. So without using chips I guess you'll soon be SOL, as they say.

You'll be just whistling in the dark, listening to static.

 

[SUPERCASTER]

If anyone is serious about FM DXing, or AM and are in the market for a new radio consider the Sony XDR-F1HD.
The Denon TU1500RD that several serious FM Dxers use, including myself with the Murata IF filter modification and has been rated as one of the best, if not THE best tuners available in the last few years. The new Sony tuner with HD compares to the Denon WITHOUT ANY MODIFICATIONS. I plan on getting one myself.

David in Virginia has been using the Denon TU1500RD and recently purchased the Sony for $100 new and here's his review

http://home.comcast.net/~dlp85x/review.htm

Brian Breezly K6STI has a more technical review and also shows the radio is remarkably sensitive and selective straight out of the box.
http://ham-radio.com/k6sti/xdr-f1hd.htm

Sony really screwed up -- their radio didn't work well so we no longer carry it."

http://www.radio-info.com/smf/index.php/topic,99805.msg779522.html

and:

The furthest HD Radio signal I have received at the time of this review is 26 miles away.

Now that's what I call DXtreme!

From:

http://home.comcast.net/~dlp85x/review.htm

 

[dx1ng]

If anyone is serious about FM DXing, or AM and are in the market for a new radio consider the Sony XDR-F1HD.
The Denon TU1500RD that several serious FM Dxers use, including myself with the Murata IF filter modification and has been rated as one of the best, if not THE best tuners available in the last few years. The new Sony tuner with HD compares to the Denon WITHOUT ANY MODIFICATIONS.

This is a GREAT tuner for FM DXing, and at a $100 price tag it's a bargain. I got mine today and have been tuning around virtually all day, when conditions were pretty dead. Very nice selectivity and sensitivity. Last year, I acquired a modified Denon TU-720 analog tuner, which is very sensitive and also has very good selectivity, but it had a few overload problems, and had a few nasty images, most notably on 95.3 (WPKF-96.1 and WRRB-96.9). With the SONY XDR-F1HD, I aimed my antenna right at my strongest local (WPFK-96.1, 4.4 kw at 3 miles) and NO IMAGES anywhere. WDNH from Pa was coming in on 95.3 clear as a bell. Also, WFOX-95.9 from Connecticut which doesn't have that great a signal in this direction, was coming in quite well in stereo (51 miles), by far the best I've ever heard them on any tuner here. I scanned the whole dial with the antenna pointed at the local antenna farm in almost the same direction as WPKF, and didn't get any overload... just a few cases of grungy multi-path audio as I was aimed at the area's largest hill (mountain). I even got a new logging during that scan: 27 watt translator W295AA (106.9) from Middletown, NY with Northeast Public Radio. I did note, however, the tuner seemed to desensitize a bit when the antenna was aimed toward WPKF. (Kind of like my car radio does when I drive within a mile or two of WPKF).

We have 3 local HD stations (WPDH-101.5, WAMK-90.9, and WGNY-103.1), and only WGNY had multiple HD channels. Quite a few New York City HD's were detected, but many of them would not lock on. Three NY HD's (WPLJ-95.5, WWFS-102.7, and WAQX-104.3) did lock on HD, but would once in while slip back to analog. This is at 71 miles. Interesting to note "The Oldies Channel" on WPLJ-HD-3.

First impressions of this new SONY tuner are great. Can't wait to try it out when conditions really pick up!!

 

[BRNout]

I guess you'd better hoard your old radios and TV's then. Virtually all the new ones are chips (especially HD radios) and some AM/FM radios are now down to a single chip.

Most local, regional and national emergency services including homeland security are switching to digital radio transmission, and internet inter-connection links. The large phone companies are replacing all their copper right up to the house with digital fiber optic (such as Verizon FiOS which has battery back up and provides TV, internet, phone and just about anything else you can think of). To think that they won't be able to get them to work when the AC power, or cable TV is out is just silly. The internet runs 24/7/365 even if your cable TV connection dosn't.

Tubes are out, individual transistors are on the way out, virtually everything uses chips. Replacement tubes are often very hard to find, and single transistor replacements for repairs or transistors in new sets are also getting hard to find. So without using chips I guess you'll soon be SOL, as they say.

You'll be just whistling in the dark, listening to static.

Which just goes to show how unprepared our Dep't of Homeland Security really is. All it would take is one high-altitude electromagnetic pulse (EMP) to fry almost all chips within a 1,000 to 1,500 mile radius. Then where will we be?

If (God forbid) something like that were to happen after next year's digital switchover, this country could be without TV service until such time as an analog signal could be initiated using [very] old equipment. Even if the broadcast equipment is shielded, the public's digital TV sets are not and would be fried. So, the net effect would be the same. For that reason, I'd recommend saving an old portable TV - if you have a little one somewhere.

The simpler radios will still work after an EMP; the question is - would any of the broadcasters be able to get on the air with all of their computers fried? The more technologically advanced we are, the easier it is to cripple us by using that technology against up. Back in the CONELRAD days, they didn't have the same worries. Hang on to those old transistor radios too.......just in case.

I know it's a grim, depressing thought (and I probably should finish my first coffee before posting :) but kenglish brings up a great point. It is important to be prepared for a disaster be it natural or man made.

 

[rbrucecarter5]

Which just goes to show how unprepared our Dep't of Homeland Security really is. All it would take is one high-altitude electromagnetic pulse (EMP) to fry almost all chips within a 1,000 to 1,500 mile radius. Then where will we be?

The infidels have proven to be too stupid to pull off another 9-11. As for EMP - newer research is showing that the threat is vastly overrated. Most devices with chips inside could be saved by wrapping in tin foil. Tube equipment is more at risk, the magnetic nature of the EMP could distort the inner elements of the tubes shorting them out.

 

[BRNout]

The infidels have proven to be too stupid to pull off another 9-11. As for EMP - newer research is showing that the threat is vastly overrated. Most devices with chips inside could be saved by wrapping in tin foil. Tube equipment is more at risk, the magnetic nature of the EMP could distort the inner elements of the tubes shorting them out.

So far you're right about that. Then again, the high-altitude EMP studies have been done by the likes of China and Iran...so it's not just the terrorists who are studying our vulnerabilities. Let's not be too complacent.

With respect to wrapping chips in tin foil (do you really mean aluminum foil?), that is a great idea that almost no one will do. Would wrapping foil around the radio have the same effect....just curious?

So, I still think we're still pretty unprepared. The farther we delve into the digital realm and the more we depend on technology, the more vulnerable we are to failures of that technology. Simpler technology seems to be more resilient.

 

[Rick_E]

If anyone is serious about FM DXing, or AM and are in the market for a new radio consider the Sony XDR-F1HD.
The Denon TU1500RD that several serious FM Dxers use, including myself with the Murata IF filter modification and has been rated as one of the best, if not THE best tuners available in the last few years. The new Sony tuner with HD compares to the Denon WITHOUT ANY MODIFICATIONS. I plan on getting one myself.

David in Virginia has been using the Denon TU1500RD and recently purchased the Sony for $100 new and here's his review

http://home.comcast.net/~dlp85x/review.htm

Brian Breezly K6STI has a more technical review and also shows the radio is remarkably sensitive and selective straight out of the box.
http://ham-radio.com/k6sti/xdr-f1hd.htm

Thank You for tip and reviews!! I found and purchased the Sony XDR-F1HD from J&R over the internet for 99.95, free shipping and no tax (since I am in PA & J&R is based in NY) I ordered it on Thursday afternoon and it was on my door step Friday @ Noon (now that is what I call fast service!)

The reviews are right on. I am between the Philly and Reading/Allentown markets and ALL stations that have HD come in w/HD along with their secondary channel w/no issues, and this is only using the supplied FM antenna. The total number of HD stations I receive is 21.

The other thing is I can now get those adjacent stations I lost on my other receivers due to either a translator or the HD hiss splatter. Really impressive. Also on Sunday AM the New York City and Jersey shore stations Dxed in for awhile..another impressive thing. I am just wondering what I could get with a roof top antenna!

I also like the size of the receiver, nice and compact, and the sound is great. The display is a little hard to see at a distance with the black text on the white background but no big deal.

Thanks again for the reviews and the tip on this receiver, I wanted an HD receiver but not at the prices they were going for. At $100, and the quality of this receiver, you can not go wrong.

 

[PhilJSmith67]

A major market muti-station broadcast engineer friend (with over 40 years experience) recently told me that the Sangean HDR-1 HD radio he bought a few months ago is now past history. He was never able to get it to pick up most of the local HD stations reliably, even with external antennas and within plain sight of the broadcast towers! It wasn't that great on analog reception either, fidelity was poor and the HDR-1 was prone to local interference. The HDR-1 is internally the same as the Sangean HDT-1 tuner, but with built in speakers and amplifier.
He also said on the few HD stations he was able to pick up sounded hardly better then analog FM and were full of HD radio digital coding artifacts and sounded artificial, and not musical.

He bought the Sangean WFR-20 and now he is delighted!
He now reliably get's thousands of stations from all over the world including virtually all HD stations (including HD-2 HD-3's etc.) 24/7 with much better fidelity, less digital encoding artifacts, no extra antennas, and no problems with local interference.

His Sangean HDR-1 is now past history, collecting dust in it's box, permanently retired. He does all his serious local and long distance listening on the WFR-20.

http://www.sangean.com/product.php?model=WFR-20&prod_id=42

There must have been severe quality-control (or quality-consistency) issues with the Sangean HDR-1. My HDR-1 is an excellent AM DX receiver, and the FM is good, especially for selectivity. I do not have any front-end overload nor images with an FM stick one mile away, and that station runs HD Radio. I have other radios that are almost completely nonfunctional because of that local FM station, unless their antennas are collapsed, which includes a Radio Shack DX-398 (Sangean ATS-909).

As for HD Radio reception, I have a run-of-the-mill FM twinlead dipole along the back of the bed headboard, and I only get breakup on three of the 19 Chicago HD-FM stations (unless I move the antenna). All of the other 16 remain locked. I am 38 miles south of Chicago's stations, and I am not on top of a hill or any other advantageous terrain. Even from my rooftop, I cannot see the lights atop the sticks on the Sears Tower or Hancock Centre.

Perhaps I would have overload issues with an actual outdoor antenna, I don't know. But, I have no sign of overload regardless of where I put the indoor antenna now, and the local station completely pegs the signal meter, and shows an HD Radio dB figure of 72.0, by far the highest.

I am, by no means, saying I disbelieve your story about your friend having these issues. I think it proves that not all HDR-1's are equal. The only real problem I have with mine is a firmware defect affecting how the backlight dimmer works, which obviously has zero effect on reception. I am glad I didn't get stuck with a bum "build."

 

[OKCRadioGuy]

This Sony is the best damn thing I've ever used!

Wow! SUPER selective!

Forget the 1500 dollars of cans ahead of the tuner to kill adjacents. This damn thing just works barefoot (and better at that!)

WOW!

 

[OKCRadioGuy]

I guess you'd better hoard your old radios and TV's then. Virtually all the new ones are chips (especially HD radios) and some AM/FM radios are now down to a single chip.

Over the air TV broadcasting is mandated to be totally digital by Feb. 2009. Say goodbye to analog TV! It takes chips to decode and receive digital TV.

WiFi wireless digital is available now and WiMax is coming soon to most areas of the country.

Most local, regional and national emergency services including homeland security are switching to digital radio transmission, and internet inter-connection links. The large phone companies are replacing all their copper right up to the house with digital fiber optic (such as Verizon FiOS which has battery back up and provides TV, internet, phone and just about anything else you can think of). To think that they won't be able to get them to work when the AC power, or cable TV is out is just silly. The internet runs 24/7/365 even if your cable TV connection dosn't.

Tubes are out, individual transistors are on the way out, virtually everything uses chips. Replacement tubes are often very hard to find, and single transistor replacements for repairs or transistors in new sets are also getting hard to find. So without using chips I guess you'll soon be SOL, as they say.

You'll be just whistling in the dark, listening to static.

Here's something discomforting to consider. Power plants are controlled by solid state computers. I'd bet there are some other solid state devices involved somewhere in the process. So much for power for your home or for some stations. Most generators at stations have a controller of some sorts. So much for them being on the air just from the fact there will be no power most likely for them to broadcast. Considering you can't find a tube anything in most studios, good luck getting audio out to the transmitter, even if the transmitter was anchient enough to be all tube. Keep in mind most stations have solid state exciters at a very minimum. I can count on one hand the number of stations in the state that, with power, have an all tube transmitter as a backup or something. The processor and other audio stuff isn't, of course tube.

I have a 20s AM radio that would be really nice for a great electronic apocalypse.(UNLIKELY!) Bad news is IF I could somehow still get power it would only pick up noise anyway. Sorta negates the whole concern for "single chip" radios doesn't it? Time marches, on good or bad bro. If you are really concerned get a tube short wave radio with battery options. (being able to wire up mulitple car batteries would be the best idea of course to get to the right voltage to get some run time) Chances are some other country might not be affected. Judging by the pictures and descriptions of WBCQ in Maine I'd say they'd likely be the last station standing in the event something ever happened. That place looks like a broadcasting museum. LOL!

A couple of big EMP bumps and this country is so f#%@ed it's not even funny. Personally I'm not going to worry about such a thing. We'd have more to worry about anyway if it ever happened than just radio I assure you.

 

[ponderosaAZ]

If anyone is serious about FM DXing, or AM and are in the market for a new radio consider the Sony XDR-F1HD.
The Denon TU1500RD that several serious FM Dxers use, including myself with the Murata IF filter modification and has been rated as one of the best, if not THE best tuners available in the last few years. The new Sony tuner with HD compares to the Denon WITHOUT ANY MODIFICATIONS. I plan on getting one myself.

David in Virginia has been using the Denon TU1500RD and recently purchased the Sony for $100 new and here's his review

http://home.comcast.net/~dlp85x/review.htm

Brian Breezly K6STI has a more technical review and also shows the radio is remarkably sensitive and selective straight out of the box.
http://ham-radio.com/k6sti/xdr-f1hd.htm

What a coincidence! Just logged in here, Literally tonight just got the SONY XDR-S3HD ON CLEARANCE AT BEST BUY for (are you sitting down?) $43 at Best Buy in flagstaff, arizona. Regular: $199. An impulse. I'm no expert in HD - In fact I reject the technology but I'll still have fun.Between these two models which one is more sophisticated? The Best Buy salesman stated that they'd replace the clearance $43 with another $199 one