Realistic DX160 Shortwave Ham Band AM CW SSB Receiver Demo

Demo of a nice clean Realistic DX160 receiver. I tested it using my WaveTek 3006, then an on the air test. Very stable receiver and fun to use.

[@Pyridox]

I still have my DX-160. I bought it around 1975/76 with money I made cutting lawns, worked by butt off to get it. I received a lot of station QSL cards, it was a very sensitive rig and the bandspread helped a lot. I had a 50' long wire antenna when I used it back then. I plugged it in about a year or so ago and it played ok, probably needs the controls cleaned and re-capped.

[@d-labelectronics]

Thanks guys. Glad you liked the demo. I enjoy bringing life back to these old receivers

[@allisonsarsfield]

Hi i just rediscovered my D160.. my father was a ham for years until his death @45 VE5ZZ...I spent hours with him and @10 -11 started the courses..it was a bit much .. lol i was interested in other things too.. I learned Morse Code and was able to copy 3-4 min.. remember a few things ... I moved away from Sask to Vancouver and got the receiver to listen for my Dad.. we used to phone patch.. SHORTY MAC a burnaby guy close by.. SO many fond memories.. These videos will help me recall more.. of how it works.. when im ready to delve into it.. perhaps sell it I dunno..its working fine.. just ♡ it for now.. THANK YOU SO MUCH !

[@stormchsr101]

ive been a shortwave lover since 1968. so much to listen to back in the day. i fired up my dx 302 today an there literally isnt a thing other than noise. at night, things are a slight bit better but shortwave has dwindled to like 5 percent of what it was before. progress is good but in this case its sad!

[@mauricester]

just saw your post here,,, and now it's 2024,, I still have my old DX-160,, I wonder if it's even worth pulling it out of the box and setting up again,, I have heard many people sayng the airwaves are pretty dead these days,, man I used to even have a schedule of shows I would listen to on my short wave..... from England,, Holland, South Africa,, Austrailia,, and yeah even USA ,,and the Shortwave of CBC,, in my country , I used to listen the my Radio more than I watched TV,, ( well we only had one channel),, Makes me sad to hear this old form of communication is dying away .....

[@mikelee8520]

I used to have one, I regret selling it, one of the best Shortwave receiver out, very stable never had a problem with it.

[@ronalddaub7965]

I have one it got me into listening to single side band and I want to buy a 200 model and keep this one

[@ronalddaub7965]

They sure have a lot of slugs for tuning

[@KB2OXR]

My dad bought me one of those when I was a teen , When I got my novice ticket , I used it with a Heathkit DX-60b and HG10 VFO , that was my first ham station . That was a GREAT RX .Befor I got my ham ticket , I spent countless hours sitting in front of that radio .

[@dirkayala5812]

Just picked this thing up,(for really my 1st shortwave to play with). Super stoked, Thanks for yet Another Great resource!:)

[@miker8379]

Looks nice. Ran one alongside a bleeding indian Cb base in the 70’s. Fed them both with a T. Standby micro switch in the desk mic.

[@raymondkb2nzo788]

I just picked up my dx 160 on Ebay just love it have had lots of receivers need a outside antenna.

[@leeanderson1354]

I would recommend anyone with one of these to recap all the electrolytic with new ones. i use a #64 carbide drill to re-drill the holes after pulling out the old caps to make it easier to install the new ones. I use a dremel for drilling but be careful the small drills are brittle and i broke a few. Use a good lower heat pointed soldering gun and fine high quality 60/40 rosin core .032 diameter solder. Take you time and have patients, you'll need it. LOL. P.S. watch the polarity on the caps when installing the new. If you accidentally install a new cap in reverse polarity it will heat , rupture and blow, go poof. LOL> The pc boards are marked to show polarity.

[@richc8253]

The band switch is "noisy" on my unit and must need a cleaning. What do you recommend for cleaning that switch? Thanks!!

[@Kennynva]

"cornbread and gravy" I like the chuckle at 4:53..........

[@joeschizoid7762]

I had to auction off my DX-160 in 2010 along with a bunch of other stuff when I relocated to Argentina with just a backpack. I wonder if it's still out there. It has my last name etched in to it. I've got a little portable Japanese SW radio that works pretty well, but I miss those old desktop units.

[@springvalegreatfalls8107]

Great video I am wonder what kind an antenna that u r using . Will be nice to see a video of it . Thank u

[@TREEHUGGAH1]

just got a dx160 for Christmas,it isnt putting out full power.it was an ebay find.and a bad example sadly.i got a dx150a at a hamfest last summer that works great. nice rig there good luck w/it. happy new year and 73,KB3YJO

[@craftsman123456]

Man mine is as you described a drift monster is there anything you can do to stop that

[@handsomeclem208]

One area where the DX-200 has a distinct advantage over the DX-160 is that the 200's bandspread is also calibrated for the then authorized International Shortwave Broadcasting bands, while you had to rely on the bandspread charts in the 160's owners manual, which can be cumbersome.......

[@irnmdn99]

anybody know what type of antenna you can hook up to this unit?

[@leeanderson1354]

I use a fan antenna that is a dipole with separate wires cut for the 160 , 80,40, and 20 meter bands. the dipoles all are in parallel and connect at the same feed point at the apex of the dipole. The different dipoles are just fanned one below the other by a few feet. The 50 ohm coax coming down to connect to the receiver. I added a coax connector to the back of my receiver but i think you should be able to just use the old antenna connects with the rig.

[@ronalddaub7965]

That's probably why mine is most effective on 40 m single side band and the others are minimal I need to make an antenna like yours

[@teashea1]

I take it that you are in Nebraska (from the broadcast sport talk) - I am from Lincoln KV0KV

[@carinahurkmans2731]

My 160 dx have drifting on the ssb , when he is cold - in warm condition not so mutch ...i wanna ask is that fixid (repaire) sorry for my language....all the best - and thx for answer....

[@rhampton1914]

I just got one yesterday from electrician...Flawless and super clean..i wish i understood these megahertz terms..i can't hardly get anything...maybe one or 2..i don't have an antenna...any suggestions in the meatime?

[@d-labelectronics]

Hello, as a quick SW antenna, simply connect a spool of hook up wire. If you can string it out, that would be better, however just the spool will do fine for testing.

[@hamrad88]

Great review and very clean DX-160. Thanks for sharing. Tom (hamrad88)

[@Radionut]

Not putting out full power? This is a receiver not a transmitter. Do you mean it has low volume?

[@joaodamascenoufc]

Terry good morning. What antenna was used in this test? Long wire dipole? Thanks...!

[@d-labelectronics]

João Damasceno Hello, I was running a 40 meter dipole for the demo

[@johntmcguirejr8526]

Hi Terry, great review. I have DX-160 and it's a great receiver for the day and price range. I have done most of the upgrades and recaped the receiver. My only and last problem is it's needs a alignment. Can " YOU"help me out with this. It's not a problem if you need a bottle of alignment fluid. LOL. Thx for all your hard work. Thx John

[@canacka1]

"And here's the famous CB band,...................................ha ha ha."

[@TREEHUGGAH1]

yup and happy new year 73,KB3AUM former KB3YJO

[@Homer19521]

Going to Chelsea this year (2022)?

[@TheHossHobart]

Mine drifts a lot. I have heard about the audio on these being "tinny" I solved that by stuffing two wash cloths into the speaker box to give it more bass.

[@d-labelectronics]

Drift can be caused by bad ground connections on the PCB's Make sure the screws are tight

[@KevinMillard68]

cool

[@radius8283]

For $90 working condition is it worth it?

[@bobclarie]

Very Nice . . . . '73 Bob

[@thedancingalien7766]

I want one

[@EricLDC]

And now i want one 😂

[@zoliradio]

Dear Terry,very good your DX 160!!! Congratulation from Hungary, HG2UW, Zoli. I have, soo, but I have a little problem, Can You help me?

[@d-labelectronics]

Thank you, I'd be glad to help. What is the problem?

[@paulrose6359]

I have owned 3 of these over the years and just picked one up at a local swap for 40 bucks with the matching speaker and owners manual. In my opinion these are junk, only good for an am radio and they are not very good for that, awful audio and drift. That colorful dial is the home of terrible backlash and heaven knows where you are on that dial. It's deaf above 15mhz, (Or so). The one in this video is working better than I have ever seen or heard ?? Looks kinda kool but IMO just stay away, just plain Radio Shack garbage.

[@edbouman5013]

If you say they are junk, why would you buy another one after owning so many? All radio Shack equipment is not jusnk, I still have my STA-2080 Stereo receiver that I bought back in 1978, and it plays and sounds as good as many of the top brand names and better than most of the garbage they produce today!

[@radius8283]

Who would buy 3 radios and call it junk? Hahahahaha. You probably need some alignment more than the radio

[@n0xctbob401]

@@radius8283 I agree😁

[@tocosauce1158]

@@n0xctbob401 Yup!

[@tocosauce1158]

Hey look, it's Paul Rose the troll, folks! You still kicking Paul...