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Reviews For: Sangean ATS909\Radio Shack DX 398

Category: Receivers: General Coverage

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Review Summary For : Sangean ATS909\Radio Shack DX 398
Reviews: 72MSRP: 250 399 cdn DX 398
Description:
Travel Portable Communications Receiver
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.sangean.com/rmulti1.htm
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00724.1
KC2FPR Rating: 2002-10-23
Outstanding Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Out Standing radio. Faithful companion for over four years. You wouldn't be disappointed.
KC0GVT Rating: 2002-10-20
Awesome ! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Got it for $99 !!(RS DX-398) Its on sale now and they are vanishing fast - get them before they go.
FM sounds decent. SW performance check this - pulled in All INDIA Radio on 11620 at 17:20 CST with the internal antenna inside my apartment ! Cant wait to check it out with an external antenna.


2TEETHDOWN Rating: 2002-09-02
Better than Sony!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought the Sanjean version of this radio and I'm happy i did!!! I own both the Sony 2010 and the 7600 and neither sound as good as the Sanjean. The Rebliability of Sony is pitiful!! I have had the 2010 serviced every year i have owned it. The 7600 isnt much better. People bring up the point about Synchronous Detection. Sony always adds tons of features to their products that dont work. SD is one of these bogus features.
K2XH Rating: 2002-07-31
good deal Time Owned: more than 12 months.
this little radio is a nice travel or swl rig get one on sale and you won"t go wrong. On the down side what"s with Radio shacks 90 day warranty, come on!, how about a year like everone elese.
ARDXC-ED Rating: 2002-02-10
Fantastic Time Owned: more than 12 months.
There's not much more that can be said that hasn't already been said in the reviews here. The lack of synchronous detection is the main point,but I also miss the resolution of <1kHz frequency measurement. But what the hell, it's a portable.

Having said that, the ATS909 is the best value for money the XYL ever spent on me! Dave Moisan, N1KGH has a great 909 tech site, http://www1.shore.net/~dmoisan/faqs/sangean/909tech.html#extant

The ATS909 users board has the mod for bypassing the MW attenuation by connecting an external aerial wire. Get that Beverage attached to the 909!
http://pub58.ezboard.com/fshortwaveandmediumwavelistenersforumfrm2.showMessage?topicID=5.topic
KD6JUH Rating: 2001-11-28
Outstanding portable! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have owned MANY radios over the last 40 years (including Sony's 2010 and SW77) and find this radio to be an excellent performer. What a surprise for such a small and inexpensive radio. I have done side-by-side comparisons with my Yaesu FT-817 and a friend's Grundig YB400 and, considering the cost (I got mine for $149), it is an outstanding buy. Most reviews rate the YB400 to have better audio - I think my 909 is better, although I only have access to one YB400 for comparison. I suspect that the wide variety of reviews seen on sites like this are due to several factors: 1) Product variation, inevitable in a device of this cost/complexity, 2) Lack of standardized testing conditions, 3) Variations in the expectations of the testers, and 4) Hidden agendas with the reviewers. All of these are to be expected. My suggestion: go down to your local RS and give one of these puppies a "test drive" yourself! If you like it, buy it. Simple as that. 73 to all.
JOEKKER Rating: 2001-11-12
Get one now while the price is right Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Having read the 5 star review at Radio Netherlands's site and in the WRTV handbook some time ago I decided if they liked it so much before at $250 they (and I) would jump at the chance to own one for the current close out $149.99 at Radio Shack. OK, I ordered one and it came in a few days later. First the short points IMO. The ergonomics are so-so in my opinion and the very short battery life (10 hours max with new alkalines) and just barely decent sound from the onboard 3" speaker.
Too the good, this receiver is hot on FM and with a good antenna configuration rivals the twice as expensive Sony 2010 (the only portable I've had in comparison) on the shortwave and ham bands. But with minimal effort and half an hour and thanks to helpful folks and their websites I performed some mods to enable greatness from this inexpensive portable radio. My compliments to Rick and http://members.aol.com/~rickw999/398_909M.txt. His site dos'nt mention the sensitivity mod (pull a surface mount resistor) but the info's around.
Now it's hot as can be on MW as well and with the detent and mute factors removed I'm spinning and grinning.
N1XTV Rating: 2001-10-25
Better than I thought Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just went into a Radio Snacks on my lunch break a couple of days ago and was surprised to see that the DX-398 was still on sale for $149.95, given that radioshack.com says the most recent sale is over. I bought it mainly to use at work, which is located in a fairly industrial area with many high-voltage power lines surrounding the location.

My office is in a concrete block building with nine computers and several ceiling fans, along with other noisemakers like dimmer switches. So I was surprised when I called up my favorites like RCI, BBC, Radio Nederland, Radio Turkey WWVH and CHU with strong, fade and noise-free signals!

I own a Ten-Tec RX-320, SONY ICF-2010, and Radio Shack DX-392 and DX-399 radios as well (don't rule out this solidly-built little performer...I saw the 399 on clearance at the same Radio Shack for $62.00 and it's as sensitive as any other radio I own!). Although the DX-398 is a bit "plasticky" and lacks the heft of the 2010 and the 392 and 399, I think it's a great value at $149. It was the dark grey finished radio.

Believe it or not, this radio had not been purchased and returned. Absolutely pristine. I always check Radio Shack products for this because a clerk once told me "No sir, this radio is brand new"...but inside the box was the credit card purchase receipt from the previous owner!

Universal Radio offers the Sangean 909 for $240, and though it comes with the wind-up antenna and AC adapter, it's the new "titanium" finish. In my experience with the DX-399, the up and down tune buttons are starting to lose their finish after just over a year...will the titanium finish of the 909 do the same??

Many have reported on the relative lack of sensitivity when compared with the 2010 or the 7600. That was my real concern before I bought the rig, but I have been very pleasantly surprised at its sensitivity on SW, MW and LW. FM seems about right as well, and the DX-398's tone is acceptible...not as muffles as my DX-392.

To sum up...if you're looking for AM Sync, the 7600GR is the way to go if you want more memories than the 2010. But the DX-398 is a great performer and offers over 300 memories. Don't plan on using the R-D-S feature (although it is available on a couple of stations here in Tampa). Solidly recommended!
WB9YCJ Rating: 2001-10-06
$149 going to FT-817 Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've reviewed and owned dozens of SW portables through the years. Still prefer the clumsy Sony's Pro-80, 2010 (Kiwa), and ESPECIALLY the ICF-7700. The Sangean 909 I used suffered from much hiss in the audio and insensitivity in SW bands with the built in whip. I understand they are on sale for $149 now, and I will check this model again. As a Ham however, for portable SWL purposes I suspect my $149 is better invested in a FT-817.

Long Live Shortwave Listening !
(digital or otherwise).
KE4VNB Rating: 2001-09-30
What more is needed for the price !! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just bought and can't ask for more radio. It needs some more gain but for general ears this will work. If you need more than this buy a Boat lead weight that you can't take with you. The options are good and it is not a strip doun MODEL like RS likes to do to them.
Need a longer timer for the light. (I' ll work on that one and let you know). I will try to improve on the recieve if I don't have any thing else to do ! I am truly satisfied? with it and only making comments on the other notes some people left...
Craig.....