S 2200x Internal v External Antenna

[@dxace1]

To briefly respond to comments -- yes, the meter is still set back far into the cabinet, a criticism of the original design going back to 2008. Also, the meter takes about one second or a bit more to respond to switching between INT and EXT.

[@moshezaharia4666]

Thanks Dan for the video. As for the meter, it looks like it does'n respond to signal level changes smoothly but in steps, big steps, a "digital" meter instead of "analog" meter. Best wishes, Moshe.

[@dxace1]

Meter takes about one second or a bit more to respond to switching between INT and EXT.

[@Kw1161]

Dan thanks for the AGC comparisons between internal and external antennas. I don’t think it would have been thought of as table top set back around 20 years ago. It would been thought of as a nice huge portable radio. 73! Have a great day!

It would've been classified as a "portatop" - yes, that was a real thing 30 years ago.

[@Kw1161]

I used to own a Drake SW8 and forgot what Larry M. Called it in his “Passport to Radio” review. 73!

[@STR82DVD]

You and Gilles are both racing to get this review out. Brilliant!! 73

[@dxace1]

Hah hah . . . well I had ample lead time having learned of this months ago😀

[@STR82DVD]

@@dxace1 😊

Unless I'm missing something here, I don't hear much - if any - difference between the internal antenna and the externa. Close-up of the S-meter doesn't appear to show any real difference, either.

[@dxace1]

You are correct, though S-Meter would I think be showing more of a difference if the longwire were longer. But you are right, at least for this test, it was hard to see the difference and the delay in meter registering the switch was about a second or so.

[@dayleedwards3521]

When background noise increases more than the wanted signal when a longer aerial is connected suggests a lack of front end dynamic range, and or filtering. There seems to be many birdies in the tuning range, a major one at 20 mHz. It is impossible to really test a radio this way without a range of test equipment. The radio itself, as with most modern offerings exceeds the performance that most will need., they are all very good.

[@NSNorfolk]

He phased the radio telescopic antenna with the aluminum umbrella pole behind it. 🙂 Also, thank you for this whole series of S-2200x videos. Radio won't be available for sale (according to the ANON-CO www site) until September. Interesting S/N ratio improvement with the internal antenna on your WWV and other SWBC demos. I'll 2nd the meter comments below. It's movement reminds me of the Smiths tachometer in my dad's '53 MG.

[@dxace1]

Phasing? Jeez, well yes it is on our table on our deck, but honestly not much impact on this test.😁

[@woom3]

Think ill stick to my old Yaesu FRG-100 back from 1992

[@tonymagnier9846]

You're needle S meter seems to be working a lot better than the sample Gilles got.

[@dxace1]

Interesting I will take a look at his video

[@GG-td8mt]

if you actually unplug the external antenna instead of trusting the switch, would you notice a difference?

[@Homer19521]

Is there a way to force the backlighting on the display & meter? That would be helpful to this viewer. There was a recent CME.

[@geez-hd6dn]

Be interesting to compare the internal whip to the MLA30+ antenna.

[@Scotscan]

That sounds like it's syncing up with the fading products of the signal, not so good. Be curious to see how it would compare to a Sony.

[@o00scorpion00o]

It won't compare to any sony + even the pure analogue Tecsun PL-660 / 680 especially on SSB and using ECSS which sounds much more natural and no warbly audio or bass cut off. For SW listening and DX'ing the 660/680 are, in my opinion, the best radios for SW you can still buy today and a shame they didn't improve the analogue design and put that into the S-2200x but DSP saves money by minimising component count. I use the Bonito MA305 which is a superb DX antenna and superb on LW/MW, I use H155 coax, that and the PL-680 make a very fine receiving station.

[@nathanpetrovski7525]

​@@o00scorpion00oI wish more manufacturers would use analogue circuitry instead of just shoving that DSP chip inside. It would be nice to have a bit more variety. The sync detector on all the radios that use that DSP chip is terrible. I would be happy to pay a bit more for a radio if it had decent analogue circuitry or some better DSP.

[@o00scorpion00o]

@@nathanpetrovski7525 The problem is that the DSP chip saves money because there are less components and there is also money to be saved through production, there are coils and inductors in analogue radios that need to be tuned which costs money through extra labour but with DSP it greatly or often eliminates this extra component count but they still sell the radio at the same price ! DSP means lazy , cheap design ! If they could solve the issue on SSB it would be fine but Silicon labs obviously have no intention of this. SYNC on the pl-680 isn't perfect, it's better on the PL-660 but both 660/680 using ECSS sound far better and more natural on SSB making them superb SW dx'ing radios than anything DSP. I just don't know why manufacturers don't switch to SDR if they hate analogue so much.

[@la5984]

Just curious how much was it if you do mind

[@rkmklz7562]

Does this radio have VHF up to 163mhz.....I been wanting one that is good on all bands.....

[@dxace1]

AIR band only to 136 mHz, no coverage beyond

"good on all bands...". Lotsa luck!

[@rkmklz7562]

I don't know....i still like my sonys for AM Medium Wave DX..... Shortwave.... still gets interference....in my place...I have to take my radio for Shortwave

[@rkmklz7562]

That radio doesn't sound right on 20mhz....it is a mixing problem

[@martinryan5069]

Have feeling that radio is not up to much 40 years of short wave listener had the best and worst of radios that radio is going to cost over 500 dollars buy an icom r75 you'll be glad you did

[@kenbaird7067]

Not particularly impressed. My PL880 sounds better, stronger reception. Also, Tecsun Australia has the S2200x for $AU650. A lot of money when an AirSpy HF+ D is only $AU200 + free SDR# giving a much better receiver.