Just got it today and am pretty impressed . One possibly dumb question--- Can the telescopic antenna be useful for MW when it is set on External Antenna? If so,I have never heard of a radio that does that. I haven't yet seen much difference with the telescopic on External. Also ,do I have it right that the Antenna Amp is only effective when the unit is set to External Antenna?
Somewhat of a complex question. I believe that when you switch the antenna to ANT EXT that it does connect the telescopic antenna, if there is nothing in the ANT jack. I just tried it again and extending the whip makes a ~35+/-dBu difference in reception. Now, whether this is "useful," i.e., better reception is a question only your EFI and QRM will decide. I do not find it better reception than the internal ferrite antenna. Now, I think this is the same with my PL-330, so if you have one, you could compare and contrast. As to whether the amp is in the EXT ANT and whip loop, I'm not sure. As I don't find the whip on ANT EXT better than the ferrite on ANT INT, I don't have much to say on that. I don't know the wiring of the unit. Trying a longer wire in the ANT jack will bring the best reception IMO. A simple roll-up antenna, e.g., XHDATA AN-80, in the right location (e.g., high and clear) does wonders. Here is my best day-time MW reception: ua-cam.com/video/RrzL1cmctyQ/v-deo.html And my best FM reception with just a wire up a tree: ua-cam.com/video/zB0jFiFzFcQ/v-deo.html
@@richardmerriam7044 An update. When outside and away from houses and buildings with their many RF sources, the External setting and the whip work marvelously on MW
Nice. Even just clearer line of sight will help. I'm a fan of the external antenna in every case. Been getting good reception with my reel ant in the back yard with the DX-286.
@@RSears I bought mine direct from CCrane and had a problem with the first one. They exchanged it with no questions asked. Superb service. The second unit is perfect.
I didn't think mine was a production fault. Could have been. Obviously difficult to say more than "mine didn't live up to expectation" when dealing with a sample size of one.
I got the TEF 6686 radio from China today and WOW on FM. AM I will try it out later. But not quite ready to use the AN-200 loop with it as I believe it needs a balun, which just left Toronto today. But excited to try the 6686 based radio this weekend.
Nice. FM is its strong suit, I think. AM with a loop is great. I haven't found the best antenna for SW. At least, I think the reel antenna is just okay.
Don't know how scientific it is but the SR-286 RSSI numbers are considerably higher than the PL880. For example .. 580 is about 73 on the 286 and 53 on the 880.
Yes indeed. I have my doubts about whether we are dealing with apples to apples, despite the common units. I don't know if Qodosen has any documentation on where they take their readings. Couldn't find any. Here's a comment from a design engineer on the chip Tecsun used in 2015: "The RSSI (dBµ) readings are referred to the pins of the chip, which are the inputs to the LNA. In the Tecsun radios operating in the MW band, this is also the voltage across the loopstick. In SW bands, the Tecsun ULRs use a preamp/LNA on the circuit board between the whip antenna and the Si4734. In that case, the RSSI readings reflect the signal at the output of Tecsun's external LNA." radio-timetraveller.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-ultralight-db-mystery-s-meters-and.html
@@RSears .. I did an RSSI project with an Arduino for a radio scanner. Using a signal generator I calibrated it. But yes I am not sure we can compare between manufacturers. Interestingly .. in the radio scanner world they are the same. Why ? Because people are like .. 5 bars on one radio has to be better than 3 bars on another. Thus the manufacturers make sure they are the same as bars means sales.
Calibration is without a doubt a concern, but I suspect there is also an issue concerning what is being measured or where the readings are taken from. It is funny to hear the arguments for bars vs RSSI. If both these radios had bars, they would still read differently.
Nice catches. I can hear CHED almost every evening here in Northern Utah. I love my SR-286 as well. Thanks for the scan
You are welcome. I can get KSL, KANN, and KWLO in Utah. Though KANN (N/S) battles some nights with KMOX (E/W) in St. Louis.
excellent
glad you liked it
Just got it today and am pretty impressed . One possibly dumb question--- Can the telescopic antenna be useful for MW when it is set on External Antenna? If so,I have never heard of a radio that does that. I haven't yet seen much difference with the telescopic on External. Also ,do I have it right that the Antenna Amp is only effective when the unit is set to External Antenna?
Somewhat of a complex question. I believe that when you switch the antenna to ANT EXT that it does connect the telescopic antenna, if there is nothing in the ANT jack. I just tried it again and extending the whip makes a ~35+/-dBu difference in reception. Now, whether this is "useful," i.e., better reception is a question only your EFI and QRM will decide. I do not find it better reception than the internal ferrite antenna. Now, I think this is the same with my PL-330, so if you have one, you could compare and contrast. As to whether the amp is in the EXT ANT and whip loop, I'm not sure. As I don't find the whip on ANT EXT better than the ferrite on ANT INT, I don't have much to say on that. I don't know the wiring of the unit. Trying a longer wire in the ANT jack will bring the best reception IMO. A simple roll-up antenna, e.g., XHDATA AN-80, in the right location (e.g., high and clear) does wonders. Here is my best day-time MW reception: ua-cam.com/video/RrzL1cmctyQ/v-deo.html And my best FM reception with just a wire up a tree: ua-cam.com/video/zB0jFiFzFcQ/v-deo.html
The 20 db amp can only be used when in EXT ANT mode. I have the DX286 and have tried that.
@@richardmerriam7044 An update. When outside and away from houses and buildings with their many RF sources, the External setting and the whip work marvelously on MW
Nice. Even just clearer line of sight will help. I'm a fan of the external antenna in every case. Been getting good reception with my reel ant in the back yard with the DX-286.
I've found the DX 286 and the CCrane EP Pro to be about equal on MW.
That's interesting. I returned my EP Pro. I was so disappointed in its performance.
@@RSears I bought mine direct from CCrane and had a problem with the first one. They exchanged it with no questions asked. Superb service. The second unit is perfect.
I didn't think mine was a production fault. Could have been. Obviously difficult to say more than "mine didn't live up to expectation" when dealing with a sample size of one.
I got the TEF 6686 radio from China today and WOW on FM. AM I will try it out later. But not quite ready to use the AN-200 loop with it as I believe it needs a balun, which just left Toronto today. But excited to try the 6686 based radio this weekend.
Nice. FM is its strong suit, I think. AM with a loop is great. I haven't found the best antenna for SW. At least, I think the reel antenna is just okay.
@@RSears .. I can get Red Deer on FM from Edmonton indoors (pretty much ground level) using the stock telescopic on my 6686 radio. Impressive.
Yup. That's my experience. I can get Calgary even. And on good days Stettler and with the right location Rocky Mountain.
@@RSears .. the 286 is on the way. Maybe 2 more days. I can see lots of testing and comparisons in my near future.
Wow
Glad you like it.
@@RSears I bought the new version Qodosen DX-286 but it's long journey to Egypt and will take sometime to arrive.
I hope it opens up a wider world for you when it arrives.
Don't know how scientific it is but the SR-286 RSSI numbers are considerably higher than the PL880. For example .. 580 is about 73 on the 286 and 53 on the 880.
Yes indeed. I have my doubts about whether we are dealing with apples to apples, despite the common units. I don't know if Qodosen has any documentation on where they take their readings. Couldn't find any.
Here's a comment from a design engineer on the chip Tecsun used in 2015: "The RSSI (dBµ) readings are referred to the pins of the chip, which are the inputs to the LNA. In the Tecsun radios operating in the MW band, this is also the voltage across the loopstick. In SW bands, the Tecsun ULRs use a preamp/LNA on the circuit board between the whip antenna and the Si4734. In that case, the RSSI readings reflect the signal at the output of Tecsun's external LNA." radio-timetraveller.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-ultralight-db-mystery-s-meters-and.html
@@RSears .. I did an RSSI project with an Arduino for a radio scanner. Using a signal generator I calibrated it. But yes I am not sure we can compare between manufacturers. Interestingly .. in the radio scanner world they are the same. Why ? Because people are like .. 5 bars on one radio has to be better than 3 bars on another. Thus the manufacturers make sure they are the same as bars means sales.
Calibration is without a doubt a concern, but I suspect there is also an issue concerning what is being measured or where the readings are taken from. It is funny to hear the arguments for bars vs RSSI. If both these radios had bars, they would still read differently.
Thank you. ;-)
You're welcome!
Are there NO other audio chips that can match the, "TE66686:..? There may some that are even better than these...?
I think I read that there were others. It is fun.