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Reviews For: Alinco DX-70TH

Category: Transceivers: HF Amateur HF+6M+VHF+UHF models - non QRP <5W

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Review Summary For : Alinco DX-70TH
Reviews: 141MSRP: 1074.00
Description:
160-6M 100 Watt HF+6 AM/FM/SSB/CW Transceiver
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.alinco.com/usa.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001414.4
N3PM Rating: 2000-12-25
Minor technicalities!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Have had the DX 70 T for a couple of years. Used it mobile (with remote kit) for a while. Good audio reports, not a bad receiver. I didn't have to use the NB, as the car was very "quiet". The first problem was with the small rotary tuning control. It went up 2 on the first click, and down 1 on the next, etc. No problem, just learned to accept it. The only other annoying feature, is having to take the radio apart to adjust the sidetone level, even then, the internal control doesn't go low enough to use with 'phones. I place the overall performance, under my conditions, on par with the TS 50s's in my other mobiles.
WB4DX Rating: 2000-12-08
Mobile satisfaction plain and simple Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Having spent thousands of dollars on ham radios since licensed, I find this radio to be an excellent choice for mobile ops. My radio does not suffer from the NB problems previously stated by other owners, I guess they fixed the problem.
This intention of this radio is to go mobile, so I would not expect an internal keyer, nor would I use a rig mobile cw.
This is a rig YOU will not want to get rid of once purchased, if you do, you will be sorry!
Someone told me that the designer of the TS-50 also designed the DX 70.
My only question is: WHY 6 meters?, 2 meter allmode would be much more appreciated.
VR2XRN Rating: 2000-09-27
Worth to buy! All mode! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
At this price, I can get an all mode HF+6M with SSB/CW filter pre-installed.

It is wonderful.
W0UX Rating: 2000-09-06
Nice Mobile Radio ! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have an Alinco DX-70T installed in my small pick up. I like the way it plays so I won't go into the pro's. Instead, let me tell you what the con's are that I discovered.

1. The Noise Blanker: In one word. SUCKS. When you use it to take out ignition noise, the audio received, whether it be S-3/5 or S-9, is distorted. It is hard and uncomfortable to listen to, if you can tell what is being said.
2. Changing bands: An up/down button(s) would be nicer. This push a button and turn the main dial smacks of the IC-706, which I hated. Too many button pushing routines when I am mobile.
3. Faceplate mounting bracket is a joke. The screws have to be torqued by a gorilla to make taut. Else, the faceplate begins it's downward angle as auto vibrations make it move.
4. Mike is a little flimsy. I worry about it breaking or the wiring breaking due to it's lakc of a beefy strain relief system in the cord connections.
5. Remoting: Too many bulky wires running from the thing. I put mine in a flexible jacket to keep it safe, just in case.


On the air reports are great. I do suffer with vehicle ignition noise which I haven't fixed or found the source yet. When I can actually "HEAR" the station responding, I usually get very nice reports with my hamstick mounted well above the vehicle.

Face it. For the money, $400-500 used, you can't beat it.

W1ZE Rating: 2000-09-05
Best for the price Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have been using the DX-70TH mobile for over two years and have been very pleased with it overall perfornance. The built-in filters are a real plus and have found the receiver dynamic range to be as good as most HF transceivers on the market. However, the DX-70's noise blanker is the worst I have ever experianced in a mobile HF rig. With moderate mobile noise (S2 to S8) and when the NB is engaged audio distortion is bad it makes receiving voice signals almost impossible unless the received signal is S9+. I solved the problem with an after market DSP speaker ($150) that works slick. Now the DX-70TH is an outstanding mobile rig. Another minus is FM reception(10 & 6M) while mobile. FM IF noise limiting in the DX-70TH is poor with ignition noise in excess S8 with the my Toyota P/U masking over FM signals less than S8. However, with the engine off it's FM performance is fine.
The DX-70T or TH is well worth the money and with the addition of an aftermarker DSP speaker the rig is outstanding for HF/6M transceiver for under $740.
N0MVA Rating: 2000-08-15
First Impressions...an excellent radio. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Since I only recieved this radio a few days ago, I can't speak from vast experience. But my first impressions are very positive. Physically, it's a small radio that's well thought out. It's very intuitive, and doesn't rely on abstract microprocessor controls as much as the the 706 or FT-100. But with any small radio, they do have a lot of function button controls. I'm impressed with the reception, especially SWL. It's much cleaner sounding than my FT-840 on AM. The audio wasn't quite as robust on SSB as the 840, but that might have been more a characteristic of the speaker. In comparing the metering in regards to noise level and signal strength with the 840, they were identical. I'll do a follow up review a few months down the road. But I would advise considering this rig along with either the FT-100, the 706, or the TS-50. In fact, it was the positive reviews in this section that made me consider this radio.
N3OO Rating: 2000-07-29
UPDATE.........DX70 th Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've been useing the Alinco DX70TH mobile for well over a year both on ssb and cw......bought a new Icom ic 706 mk2...sold the Icom / keep the Alinco which I liked much better ! Had to send the Alinco back to the factory ( out of warranty) ....was loosing power on higher bands.....was sent out and I rcvd back with in 1 1/2 weeks....fixed fb.....even had a scratch on the outer ring / they replaced it with out me making note of it ! To me that service was super ! Try that with other mfg . One other tid bit for you hams that have this radio.......put a mc 60 mic on it....you will have the finest audio ever to come out of a radio , try it ! I even use the mc 60 mic mobile.......really, this is a great do all rig.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by N3OO on 1999-09-15

Sure do like this little radio..great for mobile use and easy to use. No menus to go into and to confuse. Great on ssb... ssb super tight 1.0 filter is really tight...super on cw with the built in 500 filter....no blowby even with strong signals. Draw backs....no built in keyer...tones for repeater must be selected from underneath . Would I buy this rig again??? YES...this is the best mobile rig I have ever used...ssb or cw!!!!
N0WK Rating: 2000-07-29
Small size Nice radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I traded for this radio about a month ago and hated it. It was small and I was used to large (Ic-751A, FT-One) I did not give the DX70TH a fair chance. Then one day I started playing with it and compaired it to the IC-751A setting side by side. The 70TH heard as well if not a slight bit better over the 751A. Narrow filters made the down in the mud jump out. I couldn't believe for the price what a neat radio I has stumbled across. It may not have all the Bells of the kilo buck rigs, but for the buck it gives you the best bang. I'm going to love this rig mobile. The layout is great for my large fingers.
KB8YUC Rating: 2000-04-24
FB Portable Rig Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I enjoy operating portable and chose this rig over the Knwd TS50S and others. The price of $850 was hard to beat and the built in filters which are optional on the other radios considered, influenced the decision considerably. The rig is compact and with a compact PS is easy to transport. However, as with a previous post (W0OPW 12.17.99) I also have a hearing loss (mine around 1200hz) and sometimes expirence a strange discomfort when using the CW filter. It is tolerable to me, however, I will often use the RIT to change the pitch slightly for easier listening. I operate almost entirely CW and the CW Rev and selectable sidetone (650,750 or 850hz)where also considerations while comparing to the other radios.
WB7FFI Rating: 2000-03-31
I like my DX70T quite a bit........ Time Owned: unknown months.
I have found my DX70T to be quite usable. I have been griping for one of the radio mfgs. to do this for 25 years now. Alinco got it right! I do think the noise blanker could stand some improvement. I set the power out switch to 50 watts 'stead of 100. With a 4BTV I have gotten very good signal reports out of ZL/VK/ and PY to name a few places I've worked on 10M. If the DX77 is as good as the DX70T I'd buy one of those too!