Running out of features

[ditto1958]

I’m running out of features to add. 😢

Up to now, whenever I have bought a new radio, I’ve justified it by choosing one that added one for more features I didn’t already have.

1. I bought an XHData D-109WB. It has FM, MW, SW, WB, NOAA alerts, is a Bluetooth speaker and an MP-3 player
2. I next bought a Qodosen DX-286. It added super high sensitivity on FM, MW and SW
3. I then added a Tecsun PL-660. It added SSB, Sync that works, analog tuning, and (I thought) air band. The air band doesn’t really work.
4. I recently got an Eton Elite Executive. It has the same features as the Tecsun, except analog tuning, and the air band works!

Alas, when I get new radio fever again, I’m about out of features to look for. Internet radio would be one, I suppose. But I’m not all that interested in that. An emergency radio, with a hand crank, solar panel, and a flashlight? Might be a good think to have around, but DXing is not the first purpose of them. Maybe one of those newfangled receivers with the waterfall display? They look cool, but that would wear off fast.

I suppose I could just admit to wanting to collect radios, and just buy good ones and interesting ones, lol.

 

[EAFrizzle]

Radtel RT-880. It's good, interesting, and packed with a ton of features. Fantastic audio on AM in both civil and military airbands. Transceiver section with 18-64, 64-620, and 820-1000 MHz bands and a receiver section with LW, MW, SW, and FM bands. All fitting in your shirt pocket.

If you're an airband fan, it's an all-in-one-hand solution. As a VHF airband receiver, it beats my Eton Elite Executive hands down, plus does just as well in military airbands. It doesn't have the scan speed of my Unidens, but it beats them as a pure receiver. You also have easy access to HF aeronautical bands, and you can dual watch HF and VHF.


I didn't really need any more radios, either, but I got this and it's little brother, the RT-860 recently, so I understand your quandary.

 

[bearcatrp]

If you have never used a waterfall display, you’re missing out. It’s a great tool to find active frequencies. I have 2 radios with a waterfall display. It’s awesome.

 

[ditto1958]

If you have never used a waterfall display, you’re missing out. It’s a great tool to find active frequencies. I have 2 radios with a waterfall display. It’s awesome.

I think what’s causing me to wait on buying one is that it’s such an undeveloped niche. New models and new firmware seem to come out daily and, tbh, I really would prefer more of a finished product. But they do look tempting.

 

[bearcatrp]

Undeveloped? Been out for awhile. Ham radios have them. Had a Icom ic705 for a bit but sold it. Regret selling it. It’s a great feature. In my signature, you will see the last 2 entries are the hf receivers I have with a waterfall display. Won’t own a hf receiver without one.

ICOM IC-705 ICOM IC-705 HF/50/144/430 MHz All Mode Portable Transceiver | DX Engineering

Free Shipping - ICOM IC-705 HF/50/144/430 MHz All Mode Portable Transceiver with qualifying orders of $99. Shop Mobile Transceivers at DX Engineering.

www.dxengineering.com

 

[ditto1958]

Undeveloped? Been out for awhile. Ham radios have them. Had a Icom ic705 for a bit but sold it. Regret selling it. It’s a great feature. In my signature, you will see the last 2 entries are the hf receivers I have with a waterfall display. Won’t own a hf receiver without one.

ICOM IC-705 ICOM IC-705 HF/50/144/430 MHz All Mode Portable Transceiver | DX Engineering

Free Shipping - ICOM IC-705 HF/50/144/430 MHz All Mode Portable Transceiver with qualifying orders of $99. Shop Mobile Transceivers at DX Engineering.

www.dxengineering.com

Well… I guess they have been in development for quite a while, the the development is fast-moving, and it seems strange that some of the radio brands don’t get into this area.

 

[merlin]

I think for everything in one box, maybe an AOR5700d/ AR-DV10/ therabouts.
Waterfall you would love getting used to it, Add an SDU5600 to the AOR.

waterfall display? They look cool, but that would wear off fast.

Wait til you get a load of what it can show you, thats where you will probably park your eyeballs.

 

[bearcatrp]

Well… I guess they have been in development for quite a while, the the development is fast-moving, and it seems strange that some of the radio brands don’t get into this area.

It adds to the cost of the radio. Some brands want to keep costs down. To me, worth every penny!

 

[kc2asb]

You can test drive waterfall displays by using an online software defined radio (SDR). I don't own any radios with a waterfall, but after using the online SDR's on and off for a couple of years, it's easy to get spoiled. Try this link below - it has a map of SDR's that are available for use.

Map of SDR Receivers | World of Receivers and Transmitters

rx-tx.info

 

[EAFrizzle]

I use an RTL-SDR v4 and SDR console just for a waterfall. Takes a bit of tweaking to get an optimal signal chain, but once dialed in, I get beautiful waterfalls from MW to UHF. Easiest way to check propagation that I know of.

 

[EAFrizzle]

Plus, it's nice just to zoom in on a signal and watch it closely for a while. WWV/H at :08 and :48 past the hour is very interesting; the Iron Mike broadcasts have a certain beauty viewed up close.

 

[ditto1958]

My most recent acquisition (which inspired this thread), an Eton Elite Executive, is really turning out to be a keeper. I bought it about 3 wks ago bc they were being blown out on eBay at $40-50. I gotta be honest, I always stayed away from this one as I thought they were way overpriced. But for $40-50? What a steal, and I couldn’t pass that up. But tbh I didn’t have big expectations for the radio.

Turns out I’m very pleasantly surprised. The first thing I was happy about was that the air band works, as on my Tecsun PL-660 it doesn’t. So that added a feature I didn’t have. 😊 Since there, I’ve found it’s a very sensitive SW receiver. I use it with an indoor retractible wire antenna.

Well, on to looking for more features, lol. Maybe I do need a waterfall.

 

[bearcatrp]

If you know of any ham operators, see if they have a ham radio with a waterfall display on a HF rig. Am sure they can show you how it works.