Thanks for the review. Most people think this radio is cheap and not a solid build. Your review is a fair comparison of the pros an cons. I am a new ham and I was hesitant to buy but may pull the trigger now.
I bought one of these. I have a Ten Tec Orion 1 and TT Omni 7 a TT Jupiter and a Kenwood 480HX This is a great no frills radio and works great as a shortwave receiver with a good external speaker it sounds great on AM SW. The icing is when you pair it with the Alinco EDX2 remote antenna tuner and at least 42 feet of wire and ground. It tunes 10 - 160 meters tuned in a few seconds. Add more wire and it’s becomes more effective on the lower bands. Runs of of 13.8 volts so throw it and a short ground rod and at least 15 foot of ground wire and 43 foot minimum wire with egg insulator and rope on one end and you have a nice campsite HF setup. I love mine and it does the task I ask of it wonderfully. This is not a bells and whistle rig. I recommend the EM 114 desk mic or a MC 60 Kenwood mic as they are wired the same. Great back up and portable HF setup. Shortwave sounds great on this rig with a good external speaker. I got mine for $500 delivered. 73’s
I've never owned a Ten Tec, but heard they are excellent. I've owned the Kenwood 480, it's a great radio. Thanks for the information on your experiences with the Alinco, I'm sure my viewers will appreciate it, and thanks for watching!
Only suggestion I can make regarding this rig is that you set the RF gain to -10db. The reception is much better there. Sorry, one more thing. Putting some white paint on those notches on the knobs might make life a little easier. You'll see the settings better. You'll need a small brush or a piece of paper, a steady hand and some tissue to wipe off the mistakes..
I have the DX-SR9T and I cannot see a marked difference between the two. Great review. I have it connected to a Kenwood SP-820 external speaker and a Heathkit HD-1418 Active Audio Filter. The audio filter does make a great difference, otherwise filters are available through the SDR software. Thanks for your review. 73 de N2JKW.
I realize this is an older video, but I often do searches on models when I'm looking for reviews, so I'll just comment briefly. Now that the Icom 7300 is showing up on the used Market at like 700 to 750 dollars it has driven the price of used equipment down to extraordinary really low prices. I just bought a Yaesu ft-950 in mint condition that was very lightly used for $650 shipped from California to Ohio. Granted, it's now about 5 years old, but the receiver is Rock Solid. The the front end is more solid then the Icom 7300. So for $650 I got a radio with full Digital Signal processing, a rock solid front end, and what is considered a contesting rig. This radio might make sense on the used Market at at $350 or so, but I wouldn't pay the new price on one or a price on anything similar if it's been replaced with a newer model that just has the same basic features. 73 N8PEF
Congrats on finding those nice radios. Yes the prices has come down nicely. One of my main shack radios is a Kenwood TS-590S I got mint condition and not very old on ebay for under $800 shipped.
Looking for a first HF radio after i get my general here in the near future, i have an older Yaesu ft 747 that i got for parts value and got it working, but it is deffinitly a bit tired, it is nice to have something to play around with though. This Alinco is deffinitly at the top of my list though for my main HF radio once i can afford it, just want something thats a good deal and will do all the basic stuff i want for the time being, mainly phone and maybe some sound card digital modes.
Keep the 747. I sold mine and I regret it. Just spend the money to fix it. They don't make radios like that anymore. Also, it can be opened up so it will work on 30m and 60m. Remove the face plate, cut the brown wire. Reset it by setting the dial to 123456 and turning the radio off and back on. The Gen light will came on. You can now use it on all frequencies.
in the menu you can change the push to buttons to 1Kc for the LED i put 510ohm resister in to dim the green RX and Red TX to help the speaker i took the head unit apart and cut the sunken spaces out to let more sound out. the slits they give you in the head unit are way to small to let any good sound out.. i had to remove every thing even the speaker.. i all so did a comparison to to this radio and my Kenwood TS-2000 after the mods i did to the speaker it sounds good
Good review on the is radio. I have the DX-R8T/E receiver and selectivity and sensistivity is outstanding. If the transceiver version's receiver is the same, it's a plus! I noticed that you taped over the receiver's LED which can be turned off from the menu in the receiver and I am assuming it should be the same for the transceiver. I have seen reviews on UA-cam that were comparisons to the Icom 718 versus the Alinco and after using the receiver version, I think I would choose the Alinco over the Icom. The receiver appears to be using the same case minus the PA circuits and the receiver is built like a tank. The big minus is the location of the programming buttons. They are hard to reach and small in size and they should have been offset which would increase the radio's physical size. The VFO's knob is loose on these radios and the shaft on them should have been made of metal instead of plastic which has made them with a "wobbly" VFO. I found to get around the frequency changes in the VFO since it scales too low in the shift is to punch the "Mode" switch to "AM" which will give you more of a shift in frequency when the VFO is moved. You then switch back to the proper mode of USB or LSB for the band. The frequency can be changed and stored in memory along with the modes in memory which is faster for band changes. One thing I noticed with most of the equipment today, why do the manufacturers think that the user needs 600 stored frequency memories? A storage of twenty would still be overkill! I can see why a lot of the older Hams are staying with the older tube/hybrid rigs! Thanks for the review, don't underestimate this rig.
+Robert Reed Yes if a person paid the retail price but I found one on Ebay for a lot less and the receiver is well built, superb sensitivity, good rejection and I suspect, uses the same receiver minus the PA. I wouldn't hesitate to buy the new transceiver. I've had the receiver for over 8 months now and it works real good. Thanks for the reply.
ezl the receiver have the ability to put collins filter because the board have the markings and holes for installation of collins mechanical filter and the transceiver does not have the way to upgrade the good murals filters for the collins filters
I know you posted this video three years ago. I wonder if you could answer a couple of questions about the DX-SR8. First, do you know what menu item number 24 is? It isn’t covered in the manual. It gives you six choices (S-IF-RT, S-RT-IF, IF-S-RT, IF-RT-S, RT-S-IF & RT-IF-S) What is that? Second, have you been able to set up the computer interface and do the firmware update? I’ve purchased two different ERW-7 cables, I set the com port, adjusted the baud rate and I tried used two different computes (both running Windows 10). I haven’t been able to get them to connect. I tried contacting Alinco and their agents in the US without success. Do you know the answer to these questions? Thanks & 73 George
Hi George, thanks for watching.. I sold the radio a few years ago, so can't answer the computer hookup question. However, the undocumented menu 24 are settings for your transmitted audio characteristics.. I think the menu choice S-IF-RT is supposed to sound the best with the stock microphone.
You might want to read the Eham reviews of the SR9T before you drop the cash, that radio's SDR capability is only good for receive. It does not transmit in SDR mode. Only good from the front end. and the optional Collins mechanical filters are no longer available for it or the SR8T. The radios have no DSP, and the only included if filter is a narrow for CW only. Alinco Never did get their SDR software to work properly with this. Because of the SDR limitations of the SR9T it does not justify the cost difference to go from the SR8T. Also there is no Cat control with either of these transceivers. Unless you buy an adapter off of Ebay but even that one you have to manually set the frequency at the radio.
Thanks for the 411, I was considering buying one, and I think I will. It's just a big cheaper than the older DX70. (I guess it's time to retire my older rig Icom IC701).
Hello, I have a DXSR9T is a very Good radio and work well and is almost the same like DXSR8 But I want to ask you about the dial knob, I think is a little lose of tighten...and in this video a think I see the same wen you make movement to find frecuency... could you tell me if that is normal???
I know this is an old post but in reply, I have the SR8 and yes the tuning knob feels very loose. Wobbles up and down. It's about the only thing on this radio that scares me. 73's N4ZDX
these radios are bad, they will lock up when using a straight key, the am modulation is only 25 percent. it's ok on ssb, it's only good for the no code ham.
Very Underrated HF radio and has freqs expansion range capability.
Perfect for an IF tap to an SDR! You get a great receiver and an pretty good transmitter for only $600-700!
Thanks for the review. Most people think this radio is cheap and not a solid build. Your review is a fair comparison of the pros an cons. I am a new ham and I was hesitant to buy but may pull the trigger now.
it is solidly built good rx. For the money you cannot go far wrong
I bought one of these.
I have a Ten Tec Orion 1 and TT Omni 7 a TT Jupiter and a Kenwood 480HX
This is a great no frills radio and works great as a shortwave receiver with a good external speaker it sounds great on AM SW.
The icing is when you pair it with the
Alinco EDX2 remote antenna tuner and at least 42 feet of wire and ground.
It tunes 10 - 160 meters tuned in a few seconds.
Add more wire and it’s becomes more effective on the lower bands.
Runs of of 13.8 volts so throw it and a short ground rod and at least 15 foot of ground wire and 43 foot minimum wire with egg insulator and rope on one end and you have a nice campsite HF setup.
I love mine and it does the task I ask of it wonderfully.
This is not a bells and whistle rig.
I recommend the EM 114 desk mic or a
MC 60 Kenwood mic as they are wired the same.
Great back up and portable HF setup.
Shortwave sounds great on this rig with a good external speaker.
I got mine for $500 delivered.
73’s
I've never owned a Ten Tec, but heard they are excellent. I've owned the Kenwood 480, it's a great radio.
Thanks for the information on your experiences with the Alinco, I'm sure my viewers will appreciate it, and thanks for watching!
Only suggestion I can make regarding this rig is that you set the RF gain to -10db. The reception is much better there. Sorry, one more thing. Putting some white paint on those notches on the knobs might make life a little easier. You'll see the settings better. You'll need a small brush or a piece of paper, a steady hand and some tissue to wipe off the mistakes..
I have the DX-SR9T and I cannot see a marked difference between the two. Great review. I have it connected to a Kenwood SP-820 external speaker and a Heathkit HD-1418 Active Audio Filter. The audio filter does make a great difference, otherwise filters are available through the SDR software. Thanks for your review. 73 de N2JKW.
I realize this is an older video, but I often do searches on models when I'm looking for reviews, so I'll just comment briefly. Now that the Icom 7300 is showing up on the used Market at like 700 to 750 dollars it has driven the price of used equipment down to extraordinary really low prices. I just bought a Yaesu ft-950 in mint condition that was very lightly used for $650 shipped from California to Ohio. Granted, it's now about 5 years old, but the receiver is Rock Solid. The the front end is more solid then the Icom 7300. So for $650 I got a radio with full Digital Signal processing, a rock solid front end, and what is considered a contesting rig. This radio might make sense on the used Market at at $350 or so, but I wouldn't pay the new price on one or a price on anything similar if it's been replaced with a newer model that just has the same basic features. 73 N8PEF
Congrats on finding those nice radios. Yes the prices has come down nicely. One of my main shack radios is a Kenwood TS-590S I got mint condition and not very old on ebay for under $800 shipped.
Looking for a first HF radio after i get my general here in the near future, i have an older Yaesu ft 747 that i got for parts value and got it working, but it is deffinitly a bit tired, it is nice to have something to play around with though. This Alinco is deffinitly at the top of my list though for my main HF radio once i can afford it, just want something thats a good deal and will do all the basic stuff i want for the time being, mainly phone and maybe some sound card digital modes.
Keep the 747. I sold mine and I regret it. Just spend the money to fix it. They don't make radios like that anymore. Also, it can be opened up so it will work on 30m and 60m. Remove the face plate, cut the brown wire. Reset it by setting the dial to 123456 and turning the radio off and back on. The Gen light will came on. You can now use it on all frequencies.
I know it’s an old video but it’s still a great run down.
Thank you!
Same it doesn't light up in the dark, the buttons if Ur a night time listening
in the menu you can change the push to buttons to 1Kc
for the LED i put 510ohm resister in to dim the green RX and Red TX
to help the speaker i took the head unit apart and cut the sunken spaces out to let more sound out. the slits they give you in the head unit are way to small to let any good sound out.. i had to remove every thing even the speaker..
i all so did a comparison to to this radio and my Kenwood TS-2000 after the mods i did to the speaker it sounds good
Also no Cat control, but a nice radio
You can buy a board that allows 2 filters. One each for CW and SSB.
So, a little noisy on rec, how is it on tx across the bands? I'm thinking as a mobile, however, I'm looking at the Ft-857D as well. hmmm!!!
Good review on the is radio. I have the DX-R8T/E receiver and selectivity and sensistivity is
outstanding. If the transceiver version's receiver is the same, it's a plus! I noticed that
you taped over the receiver's LED which can be turned off from the menu in the receiver and
I am assuming it should be the same for the transceiver. I have seen reviews on UA-cam that
were comparisons to the Icom 718 versus the Alinco and after using the receiver version, I
think I would choose the Alinco over the Icom. The receiver appears to be using the same case
minus the PA circuits and the receiver is built like a tank. The big minus is the location of
the programming buttons. They are hard to reach and small in size and they should have been
offset which would increase the radio's physical size. The VFO's knob is loose on these radios
and the shaft on them should have been made of metal instead of plastic which has made them
with a "wobbly" VFO.
I found to get around the frequency changes in the VFO since it scales too low in the shift is
to punch the "Mode" switch to "AM" which will give you more of a shift in frequency when the
VFO is moved. You then switch back to the proper mode of USB or LSB for the band.
The frequency can be changed and stored in memory along with the modes in memory which is faster
for band changes. One thing I noticed with most of the equipment today, why do the manufacturers
think that the user needs 600 stored frequency memories? A storage of twenty would still be
overkill!
I can see why a lot of the older Hams are staying with the older tube/hybrid rigs!
Thanks for the review, don't underestimate this rig.
+Dennis Petersen I was looking at the receiver but for 30 dollars more you get the transceiver so can't see justifying the price of the receiver
+Robert Reed Yes if a person paid the retail price but I found one on Ebay for a lot less and the receiver is well
built, superb sensitivity, good rejection and I suspect, uses the same receiver minus the PA. I wouldn't hesitate to
buy the new transceiver. I've had the receiver for over 8 months now and it works real good. Thanks for the reply.
ezl the receiver have the ability to put collins filter because the board have the markings and holes for installation of collins mechanical filter and the transceiver does not have the way to upgrade the good murals filters for the collins filters
Just got me one from doing great 10 /11 meter radio plus standard ham freq. Mike
I know you posted this video three years ago. I wonder if you could answer a couple of questions about the DX-SR8.
First, do you know what menu item number 24 is? It isn’t covered in the manual. It gives you six choices (S-IF-RT, S-RT-IF, IF-S-RT, IF-RT-S, RT-S-IF & RT-IF-S) What is that?
Second, have you been able to set up the computer interface and do the firmware update? I’ve purchased two different ERW-7 cables, I set the com port, adjusted the baud rate and I tried used two different computes (both running Windows 10). I haven’t been able to get them to connect.
I tried contacting Alinco and their agents in the US without success. Do you know the answer to these questions?
Thanks & 73
George
Hi George, thanks for watching.. I sold the radio a few years ago, so can't answer the computer hookup question. However, the undocumented menu 24 are settings for your transmitted audio characteristics.. I think the menu choice S-IF-RT is supposed to sound the best with the stock microphone.
Good review. Thanks. I am shopping for one of these. Wish we could have heard it on one station briefly.
The Sr9t is SDR. Under 700.00. Hoping to grab one by Christmas!
You might want to read the Eham reviews of the SR9T before you drop the cash, that radio's SDR capability is only good for receive. It does not transmit in SDR mode. Only good from the front end. and the optional Collins mechanical filters are no longer available for it or the SR8T. The radios have no DSP, and the only included if filter is a narrow for CW only. Alinco Never did get their SDR software to work properly with this. Because of the SDR limitations of the SR9T it does not justify the cost difference to go from the SR8T. Also there is no Cat control with either of these transceivers. Unless you buy an adapter off of Ebay but even that one you have to manually set the frequency at the radio.
Thanks for the 411, I was considering buying one, and I think I will. It's just a big cheaper than the older DX70. (I guess it's time to retire my older rig Icom IC701).
the DX70 has 6m though. the newer alincos do not. big shame.
I have one its a very good radio.
Hello, I have a DXSR9T is a very Good radio and work well and is almost the same like DXSR8 But I want to ask you about the dial knob, I think is a little lose of tighten...and in this video a think I see the same wen you make movement to find frecuency... could you tell me if that is normal???
I know this is an old post but in reply, I have the SR8 and yes the tuning knob feels very loose. Wobbles up and down. It's about the only thing on this radio that scares me. 73's N4ZDX
what’s the difference if any is there on the SR8 vs SR8T
No difference.. the SR8 is sold as the SR8T in N. America, and and the SR8E in Europe.. thanks for watching!
HF only, or does it also do 2 meter and 440?
Hi... it is HF only, 160 - 10 meters
what was the years the dx-sr8 was made?
Hi… from late 2009 to about 2013 and then the DX-SR8T from 2013 to 2020
@@hamradiocomms ok thank u
PSK31 on this radio since it doesn't have DSP ? .... is DSP important for PSK31?
LJH08Ralith I'm not sure, I haven't used PSK31 yet.
LJH08Ralith no
Wish I'd never sold all my Alinco radios.
does it put out a full 100 watts on 60 meters?
No 50W
Charles Goede yes
I don't see anyone using this radio on cw, how does it perform?
Don Bulloch hi... sorry I’m not a CW operator so I don’t know how well it works on CW mode
Don Bulloch does very well on CW
no you don't need DSP for PSK31.
Can you show the programming please only one on site that is realy bad.... Slow show.. Thanks
I would show you but I don't have the radio anymore. I like trying new radios so this one was sold to fund another. Thanks for watching.
Has.this radio held up
Yes.. held up nicely had no issues with it.
My fan on my alinco.sr8t.comes on often when I'm in a.qso. Is this normal ?
Ken Price. yes, that’s normal, the fan keeps the final amplifiers cool.
@@hamradiocomms but only.after.5 10 minutes.I'm to a.qso. I've had Kenwood .com harsh and the fans never kicked on like this
@@hamradiocomms yaesu and icoms. Not harsh lol typo
If I buy a new radio this will be it ve1qfa
these radios are bad, they will lock up when using a straight key, the am modulation is only 25 percent. it's ok on ssb, it's only good for the no code ham.
Dan Kil I've never had one problem using a straight key.
And as of 2021 they don't make it anymore! Poop💩