Tuesday, Apr 29, 2008 at 18:43
Hi Phil
For listening to broadcast stations on the short wave, medium wave (AM) and FM bands I think you’ll find this radio performs as
well as much more expensive models.
VKS737 transmits on “single side band”; a system used mainly for communications rather than public broadcasts, it requires the receiver to be more complex and have much higher quality components than an “ordinary” radio.
I conducted some SSB tests today and compared the Degen to my $1000 Yaesu FT857D Amateur radio.
The Degen performed, surprisingly,
well using its telescopic antenna but signal (as
well as noise) increased significantly when I attached the, supplied, 10m long wire antenna.
It’s “fine tuning” control is a bit coarse for SSB but usable.
Frequency stability was very good.
The Degen was no match for the Yaesu on weak signals but performed quite adequately on signals of medium strength and above – in fact it overloaded on some strong local signals.
It has a narrow band filter which will help in noisy conditions.
In short: don’t expect it to perform as
well as your Amateur set or Codan/Barrett on VKS737 but it will provide a usable signal on SSB and is excellent on AM/FM. For $80 I suggest it’s worth a go.
Mike Harding
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