Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Alinco DX-70TH

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

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
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
FORMER_WA_4RX_ROB Rating: 2000-03-31
Portable potency Time Owned: unknown months.
What a fantastic radio!!! I just received a used one of these radios and, without even cracking the manual, hooked up and operated the radio in 5 minutes flat! My first contact was with a VK station with a 5-5 report on 20 meters.
The filters are already set (unlike competitors that require expensive optional installations) for SSB and CW and work extremely well--not to mention the IF shift for QRM.
I expected AM reception to be shotty to say the least. To my surprise, AM stations on shortwave and standard 530khz-1600 khz came in very clear with robust audio. And, the LCD display is bright, uncluttered and easy to read.
Even though the VFO knob is not dimpled it still has ridges around the side that make it easy to tune, too--unlike the FT 100 where you can barely get your pinkey finger in the dimple!
The other amazing factor is it's size! It's even smaller and lighter than the ICOM 706 line of radios yet still has a great sturdy construction to it. And, it even retains all Hf and 6 meter performance with full 100 watts! You can't beat that!

The only gripe I would have would be the function button that Alinco can't seem to get away from. Each press of the function button executes one other function only. So, if you want to change two controls that require the function button you must press the function button once and do the first control; then, press it again and do the next task.
But, this is very picky on my part and in no way detracts from this radio's fine performance!
My main intention with this radio is for an upcoming Dxpedition. I have full confidence, now, that this will work out just fine and it won't require an additonal luggage bag to get it there! I like that a lot!
Alinco has really outdone themselves on this fine HF radio, in my opinion. I think Alinco should really be looked at a little closer for hams in the market for a new Hf or VHF/UHF radio. I've owned and still do own some Alinco radios and really can't complain!
If Alinco keeps this up they'll, undoubtedly, create a niche for themselves in the amateur radio market.

By all means.. consider this radio. It's a winner!
WB1DBY Rating: 2000-03-31
Reliable, easy to use mobile HF rig Time Owned: unknown months.
I have been using the DX-70TH for nearly 3 years. The last 1½ year mobile in my Subaru. It is easy to use, easy to remember the commands and gets good signal reports all the time. If I can hear them, I can work them. I use it with a Outbacker Perth Plus mobile antenna installed on my Subaru Forester. I've also used it as a base rig attched to my tribander or on vacation with a wire antenna 6 feet off the ground. CW or Phone, nice radio.

The only complaints would be the desire for backlit buttons, automatic or easier to set repeater offsets for 10 meters and a dial lock that also locks the mobile buttons (up/down) as well as the tuning dial. Otherwise I've been very happy with it. It may lack the bells and whistles of other rigs, but it makes up for them with simplicity, reliablility and performance.
WA1PIX Rating: 2000-03-19
Great SSB narrow receive filter. Time Owned: unknown months.
This is a great HF rig and it's a shame that more hams don't consider it. It comes factory-equipped with a very effective narrow SSB receive filter, which is to me it's most striking feature and makes it a pleasure to operate. I had the DX-70T (low power on 6-meters) and since I don't operate on 6, it's lower price made it a great buy. True, for about $400 more you can get a similar-sized HF rig that will also work on VHF and UHF. If this wasn't the case, the DX-70T might just be a top seller. I was warned before purchase that it's noise blanker might be somewhat ineffective. In use, the noise blanker simply was not there on certain bands yet performed moderately well on others. I have heard that Alinco offers repairs on this fault on a case-by-case basis. The noise blanker problem is no reason to count this rig out. As a mobile HF rig, it performs better than you might expect for the price. I made many satisfying contacts with it and would recommend it. If the rig ever starts selling down in the $500 range, expect them to proliferate like locusts.
HP1HEW Rating: 2000-02-15
dollar by dollar the best!! Time Owned: unknown months.
Have used the 70 and 77 for 3 years now, rtake it everywhere, no problems!!!super for the price!!All bands!!
KB8DNS Rating: 2000-02-13
Had mine for 5 yrs, Great rig! Time Owned: unknown months.
Bought mine in 1995 when they first were released, sent it in for free cable upgrade and NB mods. Has always worked fine on the bands and I managed to "marry" it to an Icom AH2 auto tuner. I changed the molex conector to the smaller one on back of the 70TH.
I paid a BIG price for this one as it was newly released, about 1200 dollars but I think it was worth it and now they are a bargan!
I'm also a shortwave listener and UTE buff, works fine as a shortwave rig.
K4PI Rating: 2000-02-05
For the price it does good. Time Owned: unknown months.
I have used this radio mobile for the last 3 years. It has not given me any problems but lacks just a couple of things I would have liked. Someone mentioned in earlier comment that the CW filter was 500 HZ, but from what I can tell it is 1 KZ. They use the narrow SSB filter for CW. It is broad as a barn door. I do almost 95 % CW and it leaves a lot to be desired. I wish they had given the option to change filters easily. The internal keyer would have been nice but I can work around that. The size is about what right for me. Some of the new mobile radios have gone too small to get your hands on. Anything smaller than this one is too small for me. Overall for the price it does ok.
KC0BCL Rating: 2000-01-08
good first rig Time Owned: unknown months.
Sticker shock kept me off the HF bands for a long time after I got licensed. When I saw these on sale, I decided to take a chance on one. Well, I got on the air and no one knew I wasn't running a thousand dollar rig! Pro: price, ease of controls, size, on-the-air reports, narrow filter at no extra cost. Con: noise blanker not effective in my situation; keyer would be nice for cw buffs.
W1SWH Rating: 1999-12-27
great all-purpose small HF rig Time Owned: unknown months.
The Alinco DX-70T/TH is an excellent small rig, especially for mobile use. Its only true drawbacks are that it doesn't have a built-in keyer, and the 6m tones are hard to adjust, but, otherwise, it performs very well under most any conditions. You don't need a degree to learn the menus; it's easy to adjust while driving and the TX/RX audio is very good. I use mine with a Mel Woody screwdriver on an 88 Honda Civic and most people don't believe I'm mobile. It doesn't have the bells and whistles of, say, an FT100 or a 706, but you won't bust the curb trying to use it, either.
W0OPW Rating: 1999-12-17
It was worse than the IC725 I wanted to replace Time Owned: unknown months.
I only owned the DX70th for less than a week as I returned it to Burghardts for used FT900 instead.
I placed the 70th next to my old IC725 and using antenna switch, rotated between the 2 rigs. For some rason, the 70th had an smeter noise level of s7, the 725 was s3. The perceived siganl I was listening to had the same audio ouput for both rigs. My conclusion was that the 70th had a serious noise problem. Using the narrow cw filter hurt my ears! I have severe hearing loss and I've never experienced anything like what happened when using the narrow filter. It was like having my head inside a vice. It was a very strange uncomfortable feeling and was unusable to me. My FT900 with narrow filter does not do that to me.
W6AUF Rating: 1999-10-06
Great little radio. Time Owned: unknown months.
I have been using it for a month now and comparing it to an Icom 737A and 720A, receiving is as good, power output is not as great but drives the linear to legal limits.