Realistic DX-100 Shortwave General Coverage Receiver.

Picked up this incredibly nice Radio Shack Shortwave radio. It is a great old school radio with all the features and function I need. The case of this is also used for on e of Radio Shacks CB radios, but I can't figure out what one it was. Overall the unit is a good find and I'm sure I'll have it for many years to some.

[@Dallas-Rife-UDX-347-Tennessee]

The two dislikes are from people that were always ashamed to say they “bought it at RadioShack” You just ain’t living right !

[@FarpointFarms]

Not this guy, I always loved the shack!

[@Dallas-Rife-UDX-347-Tennessee]

Farpoint Farms Oh me too man , I miss the good ole days

[@FluxCondenser]

Had one of these as a kid. I obsessed over all the RS catalogs then and I think I asked my parents for it for Christmas. It cost $100 if I recall correctly, and that was a big ask for a 12 or 13 year old in the early 80s for our family. I strung up a 100’ wire antenna in the backyard and performance was pretty darn good. Not high-end gear, but no piece-of-junk, either. I even saved up for the matching headphones. Really got my imagination going listening to broadcasts from around the world and sparked a lifetime love of radios for me. Thanks for the video.

[@FarpointFarms]

There was something special about staying up late with a set of head phones listing to those faint signals as they drifted in and out of range. I was right there with you!

[@scotthoover6689]

I have one of these, and the funny thing is I just found it again. I always remember it being pretty cool, and it would pick up alot of stuff. Glad I'm not the only one who liked it.

[@FarpointFarms]

It's a pretty basic receiver by todays standards, but it works well and looks pretty neat as well!

[@RobPetty622]

This is the. SWL radio I had as a teen. I paid just under $100 back around '82-83. Listened to BBC, Australia, Radio Moscow, and many more exotic stations that sparked my interest in the world. Seeing it again brings back many fond memories. Thanks for the video!

[@SevenFortyOne]

The DX-100 is a great all-round radio. I sold mine recently to free up space for other projects but it worked fine for what it is.

[@DirtyWesley]

People love to bash radioshack for some reason. I have a lot of realistic/radioshack stuff. Love it for cheap.

[@FarpointFarms]

I think it was the "cool" thing to do back in the day, but now folks are catching on to the fact that most of it is really nice stuff.

[@appalachianunderground8474]

I miss RadioShack , I grew up on realistic electronics in the 80s , awesome time to be a kid😎🇺🇸🤙🏻

[@SoutheastWarrenEAS]

I had a garage sale to, obviously, get rid of some stuff. A dude walks up, we get talking about radios and such, he leaves and I think nothing of it. He comes back an our later, hands me one of these, AND 2 books about SW radio and HAM radio, and he legit just said “Here you go, have fun!”, so now I have a great free radio I love using! It was a little dirt, I took it apart and it cleaned up really nicely. Ive been meaning to make a youtube video about it, but Ive been super busy

[@FarpointFarms]

How cool is that- It is pretty cool that he wanted to help share the hobby

[@SoutheastWarrenEAS]

@@FarpointFarms Agreed, he was a really nice guy too. Said he had his own HAM radio setup, but I forgot what his callsign was. He said he’s been into SW radio for 20 or more years

[@Ged-711]

The DX100 was my first decent shortwave receiver bought by my parents for me as a teenager. Cut my teeth on the shortwave bands with it and I still have it today in perfect working order. Mine is the DX100L.

[@h8rraider227]

looks like a mini Realistic Navaho CB radio! NICE!!

[@FarpointFarms]

it does

[@andrewwison4931]

Very cool find Eric. I'd like one for the cabin

[@FarpointFarms]

It's great to roll though the dial late at night and see what the world is up to.

[@lonnieclemens8028]

Thank you for the review Eric. The bad reviews may come from the fact that there aren't as many short wave transmitters in the world nowadays. When I was a teenager in the 1970's. Kids were building short-wave receivers from project kits at home. Back then there were no bad receivers, because the airways were proliferated by thousands of radio stations world-wide. I am shocked to turn on a short wave radio and to hear nothing on the airways. But the internet has changed people's interests. Just an opinion.

[@FarpointFarms]

I agree. Sad to hear so much silence on the airwaves now

[@lonnieclemens8028]

@@FarpointFarms But it would be wise to keep our short wave transmitters and receivers. I carried a cheap pocket size short wave during Operation Desert Storm. My unit was in the desert in the middle east. It was our source of information from the world. We used to listen to Radio Moscow and the BBC for news. Believe it or not. Radio Moscow put out a pretty good news broadcast without the expected propaganda.

[@theclassycorn9344]

I picked up a dx-300 a few years back. Cleaned it up put in a few new parts and have had a blast ever since! Great radio, great video thanks!

[@FarpointFarms]

Cool! Loving my little DX100 so far.

[@robertmitchum2972]

I have the Radio Shack DX-394 which is a digital display receiver. It more than did the job for HF listening. I loved the days of Radio Shack and there catalogs! Was in there three/ four times a week, and spent lots of money there as well in my youth.

[@FarpointFarms]

Oh man! Loved the catalogs. I still have several. I's scour the pages and dream of the ultimate setup. Huge C band dish in the yard. Massive TV antenna on the roof, and giant antenna tower with CB and HAM antenna setups in the yard. Dream big!

[@robertmitchum2972]

Oh Yeah: I remember saving up my grass cutting money to buy the three element CB Yagi antenna and there cheep rotator. Back in the day when everything at Radio Shack had a catalog number.... Calling all the local Shacks, asking them if they have catalog number 2387-41, and hoping they did! Running down to pick up your Radio Shack gold before somebody else beat you to it.... I finally got my three element CB beam on the air...... And a week later a wind storm took it down........ That was the day I learned about the Shakespeare Big Stick! Fiberglass Good!

[@marshallblythe7240]

It’s too bad shortwave users have abandoned it in droves. 30 years ago listening used to be a fascinating hobby. Nowadays it’s the aural equivalent of watching paint dry.

[@FarpointFarms]

Night time around here is still interesting. Some "Voice of XXXX" broadcasts from Commie countries that are interesting, and a lot of random stuff, but you are right, rarely do we get the level of stuff that we had even 10 years ago.

[@starman8623]

Hey Eric, I have had one of these for 20 years, bought it at a flea market for $10! Still works, had a DX200 as a kid in the70’s... that lead me into CB! Hope all is well in your neck of the woods 73 Anthony

[@MarkyShaw]

Heck yea man. I just started getting in to SW and picked up one of those $25 Retekess radios. It's a ton of fun picking up stations on that thing. I've heard that it's good to scan the low frequencies like 4-7 MHz in the morning, and then work your way up to the higher frequencies as the day progresses. Love that radio. I wanna try a loop antenna! Thanks for sharing man!

[@FarpointFarms]

I have a simple long wire antenna strung up around the inside of my house and it works pretty good. It's on my list of things to do to make a loop antenna, maybe 4 feet around and put it up outside, but I haven't gotten there yet. SW is still really fun to play with, lots of strange stuff still broadcasting from overseas.

[@bro.weaver1282]

Time to crank up some screaming Brother Scare(Stair), and Gene Scott!

[@FarpointFarms]

Gene was one of a kind! "GET ON THAT PHONE!"

[@Maine307]

I just picked up one , ( 30$ ) from the family of an old ham radio guy, it still has a clean and well maintained owners manual, in great condition. trying to figure out how to use it here in Maine Woods.. it a solid clean unit. and i thank you for your video!! cheers !!

[@hillbillyhorticultureselki7899]

Very close to a TRC 440. Love anything Radio Shack.

[@FarpointFarms]

That's the one I was thinking of! They must have shared a case.

[@cw4arz]

The DX-100 was the low end entry level communications receiver. Nice to collect . Cheap to buy on Ebay . Low sensitivity, some tunre backlash. Not easy to tune ssb. I think they were single conversion. The DX-200 and DX-300 were much much better receivers

[@kennedymcgovern5413]

Getting started. Just bought my first SSB radio to use as a base unit. I have a 29LX in the Jeep...but, of course, it does not have SSB. Base unit had to have it. Here is what I found, in my search: I can't seem to find the guys and deals that Eric finds. Of course, I am writing this in 2020 when, in order to go to a flea market you need a CBR/NBC rubber suit. So, using the internet, people aren't near as friendly. For example: I found an old Cobra 140. A guy in Oregon had it. Cosmetically, the thing was beat to crap, but it had SSB and the guy said everything worked. He was advertising it for $135.00 PLUS $15.00 shipping. But he had the "best offer" button on his ad. I thought "surely, he doesn't think he's getting a buck 50 for that old POS radio." So I offered him $85.00, which would come to a hundo with the shipping. He turned me down! His best offer on that thing was a buck 25...or, after shipping...a buck 40. And it wasn't just him. ALL of the old, beater SSB radios were priced similarly. I went over to Amazon and picked up a brand spanking new Bearcat 980SSB. Product PLUS tax was a buck 39, with free shipping. I did not plan to buy a brand new unit, but if brand new is a dollar less than an old beater...the only added feature on the old ones is age. Of course, then Amazon wanted 45 bucks for a power converter, which is ridiculous. So now that search, and the antenna search begin.

[@stridermt2k]

Great find! I did a search for this radio out of nostalgia. This was my first "real" shortwave radio back in 1980. I remember it working well, but having some drift. I had modded mine with a coax connector. If I had an opportunity to pick one up cheap I would certainly do so, but I'd cap the thing (kits on eBay)

[@DarenWicks]

Yes, that's what I remember with mine. It was my first modern SW radio and it was a great starter radio. The negative issue I had was the drift. A few years later I saved up my allowance and bought a Panasonic RF-3100. Now THAT was a nice radio!

[@jeffking4176]

Growing up, I lived within a short bike ride of an “Allied “/ Radio Shack store , so a lot of my stuff came from them. I had a Navaho CB base station. ( this was back when you had to have a license for CB. I’ve seen a couple of those radios. I believe that radio is only “Single Conversion “, and perhaps THAT is why they don’t like them. We are at a low point [ in the 11 year cycle], for radio listening. Hopefully soon, conditions will improve. Nice radio ❗️And ,can’t beat the price ❗️ I’d love to have one of them. 📻🙂

[@cinnamontoast9999]

I just got one of these, no clue what I’m doing, complete beginner to this, but I’m having fun messing around with it, very cool

[@FarpointFarms]

playing around is half the fun- enjoy

[@heathwhittle4514]

Sorry you missed the Waynesville Ham Fest again this year. Lots of great 11 meter buys! I bought tons of different stuff. Maybe next year! Thanks for the video! 73, Heath N4TWT

[@stevemccoy8138]

Hi Eric, I have never seen this radio before, Looks brand new. I am always looking for radios at yard and estate sales, very rarely find any. I'll keep looking for a Tram D201. Thanks 🎙️

[@FarpointFarms]

About the time you give up, you'll find the mother load! Keep looking.

[@keathrhymer5449]

my dx100 is old obviously but in mint condition and as a ham i still use it to listen around . wouldnt trade it for anything as a sw receiver

[@FarpointFarms]

I have a soft spot for the DX100. My first SSB shortwave as well.

[@Youtubeforcedmetochangemyname]

It looks alot like the base cb my dad had when I was young

[@agoraphobicadam1171]

Nice receiver.

[@Dallas-Rife-UDX-347-Tennessee]

Sweet find brother !! I’m a sucker for anything that says realistic on it myself . Looks similar to the Navajo and Cherokee CB base stations , that I’m assuming was part of Realistic/Tandy Corporation ?? Hope you find some time to talk some skip on the Ranger soon , it’s picked up a lot lately. Good to see you on the air , I pray you have a blessed week ahead . Until next time , 73’s from Middle Tn 💪🏼🇺🇸 Looking forward to another midnight cafe ! I think that’s the name of it 🤔

[@FarpointFarms]

This week coming up, I'll be working on a car to flip so I'll be in the garage most of the day. You know that RCI will be on and scanning and everytime I hear a voice my butt will be in the chair calling CQ! Hmmm. Now that I think about it, I might not get much done on the car this week if the skip is rolling!!

[@Dallas-Rife-UDX-347-Tennessee]

Farpoint Farms Enjoy it man , that’s why I gifted it to you , I knew you would use it , I hated to see it setting in a box in my closet going to waste , I just don’t have the time or place to get set up . I’m working on that , I’ve recently been pre approved to purchase a house again , so I have some appointments with my realtor today . Found a place I like with a large garage , it’s in kind of a fancy schmancy neighborhood, one acre lots , so I hope the neighbors will enjoy my 40 foot Rhoan tower that’s going up if I end up purchasing lol

[@submarineradioman5535]

It looks like a REAL RADIO!!!

[@davidg4081]

Nice radio Eric,I'm back home in New Hampshire. Hope all is well.

[@FarpointFarms]

Back in NH? Glad to hear you made it. Enjoy the cool summer, looks like you got out of NC just in time my Mom says its been brutal down there.

[@davidg4081]

It is , thanks.

[@glk001]

Pros for this receiver isn't a long list for sure...It works...Cons are much more...It's more like a toy than it is a serious receiver...Back lash on the string tuner and SSB will drift terribly...There's a mod that can be done to stabilize them, but I put mine away long ago... Pots feel good, but knobs are so small...I've one and I'm good with that, so many other better receivers and I've most the DX series of table top receivers...Best to me being the Dx-150b with the 394 next in line...But any decent receiver for HF work is fine by me...

[@ericzerkle8486]

I have one that belonged to my late uncle. He got it as a gift around the early 1980s. It works ok but it is kinda cheesy.

[@FarpointFarms]

Cheesy is OK, it is about the memories that matter

[@chrissteene]

I found that at night SW gets hopping at night

[@FarpointFarms]

Here too. I should have waited to film this, but I was in the middle of other work and decided to go ahead and film it.

[@greggaieck4808]

Farpoint Farms your Realistic Dx 1000 shortwave general coverage reciver is cool I had the same Realistic Dx 1000 shortwave general coverage reciver 1980s the string broke I could not tuen round the bands I wish I stail have it my hobbys are painting pictures and lisining to shortwave and ssb iam thinking about getting my ham license I have 4 shortwave receivers iam thinking about getting sangean ATS 90 9x 2 Mw lw fm air SW ssb 6 bands receiver or the Tecsun Pl 660 mw lw fm air SW ssb 6 bands receiver

[@danvanlandingham3854]

I bought one sometime back off of ebay.I hate the sound of that small speaker;i'd like to replace it with a better one.What is the diameter of the speaker?It looks to be no more than 2.5 to 3.00".

[@FarpointFarms]

I really don't know. Sorry!

[@TheDudeVT]

Looks like a Navaho RadioShack radio

[@TheDudeVT]

I want one of these! Could come in handy one day!

[@eddiedowning2571]

I just got one dx200 realistic for a good price new condition everything working

[@markbailey1423]

Overcommer I believe is in South Carolina

[@FarpointFarms]

that is good to know!

[@Dmiller7239]

Hello Eric, I recently bought a DX-100. Have had no luck in finding a user manual. Have you come across one?

[@laheart1957]

How does DX100 compare to Radio shack Realistic DX 160?

[@FarpointFarms]

The 160 has better receive and better sound quality

[@butterbean4195]

got a chance to get one of these for 25$ i think ill get it seems cool.

[@FarpointFarms]

Get it!

[@alzeNL]

love it, 'christian radio.... - now run by his 3rd or his 4th wife' lol :)

[@FarpointFarms]

Old Gene Scott was a one of a kind. That is for sure!

[@Alessioalessio-qv1ff]

Ah thanks I saw one online but he wants 80 euro

[@FarpointFarms]

Keep looking!

[@petevannuys5642]

❤😊 interference with white noise in most likely noisy ~

[@FarpointFarms]

OK

[@markbailey1423]

Can I use a99 anttana on this

[@garycowger9579]

The S-Meter I see does not work nice radio though I had one years ago

[@FarpointFarms]

Sadly, yes. Still, its a decent radio for areas with little interference.

[@policeofficer65]

Number Stations?

[@FarpointFarms]

At night I hear at least 2 of them still clicking off numbers.

[@alicewhitelhpw7517]

Can't get any good stations on shortwave

[@georgewatson6622]

You can if you have a good antenna.and make sure you have a good ground.

[@OneNewMan]

made in Taiwan, eh? the "good' China.