Anything even better than TECSUN ?

[FMEnjoyer]

My TECSUN small radios put in a superb service especially like the PL-610 model, they are more expensive than they used to be a bit anyway.

Anything out there on par or better, they are superb at hearing stations that other stations have no chance of pulling in.

With a bit of antenna extending, I add about 30cms wire on top of the fitted and supplied extendable, getting in the right room and antenna gymnastics I can hear stations well out of my catchment area and plenty of low community signals and a few pirates.

Anyone else singing their praises ? love mine.

[Krakatoa]

All the rage now is the Qodosen SR-286
Allegedly because of the chip TEF-6686, which is at least on FM the best ever seen to reach the market.
On other bands, I don't know. Maybe your Tecsun is already quite good on SW and these TEF chip offerings don't go any further to justify the acquisition.

[yellowbeard]

I been looking into those TEF-6686 radios, the bloke "Ringway Manchester" has a good video on yootube where he fucks off up a hill outside Stockport and sits INSIDE his car tuning FM. The sensitivity and selectivity looks astonishing, nothing he tunes seems whispery or fringe - €60 Euro delivered from ebay. He didn't show the AM on it, but it has an external antenna socket so I imagine it'd be alright or you can make it good. I have an ancient Sony ICF-7600D since last century, it's good for in a rucksack but it is a bit deaf, the TEF radio is about the size of the keyboard on the Sony.

[teckniqs]

All the rage now is the Qodosen SR-286
Allegedly because of the chip TEF-6686, which is at least on FM the best ever seen to reach the market.
On other bands, I don't know. Maybe your Tecsun is already quite good on SW and these TEF chip offerings don't go any further to justify the acquisition.

I have the DX-286 which is the newer model and it's one of the best piece of radio equipment things I ever bought in my whole life.
Reception on FM compared to Tecsun is much better in every way even with using antenna only half the length!

[FMEnjoyer]

Thanks that is interesting I will look into it and maybe treat myself when I am flush.

[Albert H]

Small problem with the TEF-6686 on shortwave - it's very prone to image reception. The designers seem to have sacrificed image rejection for increased sensitivity. That said, it's a cracking chip for Band II.

Overall, the Tecsun still wins when it comes to shortwave and MW reception (though the smaller ones have poor ferrite rod aerials for the lower frequencies).

Incidentally, my ICF-7600D was deaf when the front end transistor died. A quick soldering job, (and the addition of a couple of protection diodes) restored its sensitivity. It's still my go-to portable, after all these years. The "scan" facility isn't stellar, but otherwise it's a brilliant receiver. It's usually the one that gets put in my hand luggage when going abroad.

I did make one other modification to it: I added a recharging circuit and NiMH batteries, with a voltage multiplier to derive the full supply voltage as the batteries discharge. It will recharge from my mobile phone charger (through a USB to 2.5mm barrel plug adaptor), so the modification has saved me a fortune in batteries over the years!

[FMEnjoyer]

The Geeknest Ringway radio is about £60 on Aliexpress. The Qodosen SR-286 is £62.00 - I find that a little bit expensive given they are Chinese radios. Maybe I expect too much, I bought my Tecsuns for £29.00 delivered, thought that was maybe 8 years ago.

I will stay with the Tecsun, sorry I got the number incorrect PL-310ET and the original 310. They are amazing for the price.

If and when they break I will consider the other ones including the DX-286, I have 3 Tecsuns ! One in a fixed position with a long 2.3m antenna up the wall for in bed listening. Pull in stations from afar and a load of noise from neighbours... ughhh ! Luckily they break over the noise.

And others for kitchen and moving around.

In about 97 I bought a Sony ICF7600 GR for £129.00 on that big electronics shop Road in London... I think it still works fine but cannot match Tecsun on FM, not even close..... but does better on MW. And better sound quality... I used to listen to all the European big broadcasters on MW that and loved R10 Guld.

I also use rechargeable batts in my radios.

[tvtv]

Get yourself a Tef headless and control it with fmdx web server if you mainly want band 2, handy being able to use your iPad in any room or out and about.