This is a wonderful machine. I have a hole bunch of communication receivers and this one is one of the best (Kenwood, Realistic dx200, yaeshu and more ) After I changed R2 to 4k5 ohm and made a digital frequency display and done the alligment job. Super selective and sensitive. Installed a notch/cw filter for perfect cw and ssb sound.
Just found one in a goodwill for $19.00 dollars in like new conditions I didn’t know what type of radio or what shortwave radio was Until now I’m gonna have to get some tutorials and how to use this 😀
Hi Tom, boy this takes me back a few years. I had a dx-160 back in the 70;s , I loved it was a great radio. love to find one again. keep up your awesome good work, thanks
What memories this brings back.....my very first SW radio was a glow in the dark Hallicrafters, this was my second radio, I had the matching speaker and clocked thousands of hours on this rig, later in the 80's I upgraded to the DX302, which was nice but I don't think it received as good as this one! I currently own two SW radios, a portable DX-390 and a DX-394, my radios have been boxed up for 8 years or so...after watching your channel and others, I really, really starting missing them, so yesterday I dug the DX-394 and my Pro-2020 out, I just now need to put up some aerials.... I too like you, like tons of buttons, knobs, switches and lights....I dont care if its just to turn the light off, I want allot!! I wonder if most radio / electronic geeks are like that! :) I go into a store or the auction, thats the first thing I do...play with the knobs...not just one, but all of them!! :)
One thing you might want to point out is that the owners manual for the DX-160 has bandspread charts for the then authorized International Shortwave Broadcasting Bands, which came in handy. The later model DX-200's bandspread was also calibrated for the ISWBC Bands as well as the Ham Bands.....
I just bought a DX-160. I’m trying to isolate where the signal is attenuating in the front end between the antenna terminals and the antenna trimmer. It’s a feature and not a bug. I love troubleshooting and repairing.
I had one of these when I was in my teens. It was a nice upgrade from my Knight Star Roamer. It was a good receiver but lacked real dial accuracy, but still, going to solid state and the mosfets in the front end was a huge improvement.
I have the same radio. My dad bought the radio for me when I was around 14 or 15 years old. I used to have a 50 foot long wire antenna that went from a mast on the corner of the house, to a large diameter tree (using a pulley & weight) on the opposite corner of the yard (insulators on each end). The pulley prevented the wire from snapping if the tree swayed in high wind conditions. I used that for several years back when I was into SWL. One of dial lights burned out, I plan on replacing them with wide angle LED's. I need to find a service manual for the DX-160.
Tom, FYI, I checked the online (printable) service manual for the 160 and found its not hard at all, no O scope needed just a RF signal generator (on ebay well under 100$) and maybe a digital radio. Iv had a 160 for a number of years (one of the last of production by the SN) and got it out and dusted it off because of your vid, now I'm looking forward to aligning it (I'm a accuracy nut). Love your vids, keep up the good work.
hamrad88 Beware of one thing. There was second edition of the service manual that actually gave the wrong procedure for aligning band E. Keep in mind that images for band E are supposed to be 910 kHz ABOVE the actual signal. The service manual incorrectly states that images for bands A through D are above the signal frequency, and below the signal frequency on band E.
Older video-Still helpful!...Thanks I've been wanting to get into my first entry-level for bout 6+months now & one of these came up locally here, so I picked it up for $30. Really enjoying the learning process and you taking time to share here was Great! Mine did not come with the speaker either so I'm going to get a 1/4" jack to bare wire and use a small speaker I have here like you,(Using headphones at moment). I think until I figure out how to improve on my antennae situation I will be limited but I do have a question for you, Is it necessary to run a wire to the Ground in back, if even for just learning/ messing round purposes?....Thanks Again!
The ground wire is necessary if you use coax to keep the rf noise out of the radio. It is also used with dipole antennas. If you use just a piece of single wire for the antenna then a ground may not be necessary but will help.
@@hamrad88 Good to know, kinda thought so as yes, just a wire for now. Just played with it some more here for earlier morning signals as you talked about and I did get quite a few more in. Think next step is to start extending my wire until I can look into the dipole.
There was also a 2 way radio police band just above 30 MHz and was referred to as “shortwave”. The 1600 to 1700 KHz range was where you heard the famous, “Calling all cars,” because the police car radios in the 30’s, 40’s and into the 50’s were receive only.
Nice video Tom. I have the same radio - since my teen years. I am still waiting for my Grundig Sat 750. What is your opinion when comparing the two. I'm hoping the Grundig/Eton will be an upgrade over the DX-160.
Toms radio room your Dx 160 RADIO Shack shortwave 5bands Receiver is cool iam thinking about getting the Tecsun s8800 mw lw fm streo SW ssb 5 bands receiver
Toms radio room I have Eton Elite Executive with mw lw fm streo Air SW ssb 6 bands receiver Air band is low and ssb does not work with the fine tuning and when you tuen round the shortwave dands it mutes
Yes, shortwave radios receive on the HF band, 2 to 30 MHz. International broadcast are in this band as well as weather and military communications. Lastly, amateur radio operators use this band for long distance communications.
Hi...nice video...I have a question...on the back is a plug where the dc power hooks up....will this radio work on AC without this plug...? I am looking at buying one..and it dont have one...and he says it is checked out and works good(right) ....
hi tom try this audio mod, put a .22 cap across the 2 hot wires on the af gain not earth. up comes bass and mid as the audio is like a bad mushy phone, mod 2 another .22 cap on audio chip input through a 1 meg pot and dial out the noise and the audio is very nice. i have 40 over of noise ,,,, cell phone tower it dials out the crud and ssb i can hear dx stations up the tone wipe out of dx station . try it it works , 73 s john
This is a wonderful machine. I have a hole bunch of communication receivers and this one is one of the best (Kenwood, Realistic dx200, yaeshu and more ) After I changed R2 to 4k5 ohm and made a digital frequency display and done the alligment job. Super selective and sensitive. Installed a notch/cw filter for perfect cw and ssb sound.
Just found one in a goodwill for $19.00 dollars in like new conditions I didn’t know what type of radio or what shortwave radio was Until now I’m gonna have to get some tutorials and how to use this 😀
Awesome. Thanks for sharing and have a great day.
Just picked up a dx 160 today, really like your videos, very educational.
Thanks and have a great day.
Just bought one on eBay still in the box. Been lusting for one since '76. Fun times headed my way.
Great catch. Keep us posted on your new radio.
Hi Tom, boy this takes me back a few years. I had a dx-160 back in the 70;s , I loved it was a great radio. love to find one again. keep up your awesome good work, thanks
Vengo Bongo Thank you.
What memories this brings back.....my very first SW radio was a glow in the dark Hallicrafters, this was my second radio, I had the matching speaker and clocked thousands of hours on this rig, later in the 80's I upgraded to the DX302, which was nice but I don't think it received as good as this one!
I currently own two SW radios, a portable DX-390 and a DX-394, my radios have been boxed up for 8 years or so...after watching your channel and others, I really, really starting missing them, so yesterday I dug the DX-394 and my Pro-2020 out, I just now need to put up some aerials....
I too like you, like tons of buttons, knobs, switches and lights....I dont care if its just to turn the light off, I want allot!! I wonder if most radio / electronic geeks are like that! :) I go into a store or the auction, thats the first thing I do...play with the knobs...not just one, but all of them!! :)
I like lots of knobs and meters or in other words I love to do the tuning myself.
Tom
One thing you might want to point out is that the owners manual for the DX-160 has bandspread charts for the then authorized International Shortwave Broadcasting Bands, which came in handy. The later model DX-200's bandspread was also calibrated for the ISWBC Bands as well as the Ham Bands.....
Thanks
I had one of these in the 70's and enjoyed listening to a variety of things on HF. I could even hear Air Force one transmissions believe it or not.
Thanks for your comments.
I just bought a DX-160. I’m trying to isolate where the signal is attenuating in the front end between the antenna terminals and the antenna trimmer. It’s a feature and not a bug. I love troubleshooting and repairing.
I had one of these when I was in my teens. It was a nice upgrade from my Knight Star Roamer. It was a good receiver but lacked real dial accuracy, but still, going to solid state and the mosfets in the front end was a huge improvement.
Thanks for your comments.
I have the same radio. My dad bought the radio for me when I was around 14 or 15 years old. I used to have a 50 foot long wire antenna that went from a mast on the corner of the house, to a large diameter tree (using a pulley & weight) on the opposite corner of the yard (insulators on each end). The pulley prevented the wire from snapping if the tree swayed in high wind conditions. I used that for several years back when I was into SWL. One of dial lights burned out, I plan on replacing them with wide angle LED's. I need to find a service manual for the DX-160.
Pete Ciallella I think you can find a service manual on the internet.
Thanks, yes I googled DX-160 and found the service manual.
www.manualslib.com/manual/744452/Realistic-Dx-160.html
Super.
Tom, FYI, I checked the online (printable) service manual for the 160 and found its not hard at all, no O scope needed just a RF signal generator (on ebay well under 100$) and maybe a digital radio. Iv had a 160 for a number of years (one of the last of production by the SN) and got it out and dusted it off because of your vid, now I'm looking forward to aligning it (I'm a accuracy nut). Love your vids, keep up the good work.
Thanks for the info. I will look into it.
Tom
hamrad88
Beware of one thing. There was second edition of the service manual that actually gave the wrong procedure for aligning band E. Keep in mind that images for band E are supposed to be 910 kHz ABOVE the actual signal. The service manual incorrectly states that images for bands A through D are above the signal frequency, and below the signal frequency on band E.
One technique with SSB is to leave the audio at max and use the RF gain as a volume control.
+lochinvar00465 Thanks for the suggestion.
Older video-Still helpful!...Thanks
I've been wanting to get into my first entry-level for bout 6+months now & one of these came up locally here, so I picked it up for $30.
Really enjoying the learning process and you taking time to share here was Great!
Mine did not come with the speaker either so I'm going to get a 1/4" jack to bare wire and use a small speaker I have here like you,(Using headphones at moment).
I think until I figure out how to improve on my antennae situation I will be limited but I do have a question for you,
Is it necessary to run a wire to the Ground in back, if even for just learning/ messing round purposes?....Thanks Again!
The ground wire is necessary if you use coax to keep the rf noise out of the radio. It is also used with dipole antennas. If you use just a piece of single wire for the antenna then a ground may not be necessary but will help.
@@hamrad88 Good to know, kinda thought so as yes, just a wire for now. Just played with it some more here for earlier morning signals as you talked about and I did get quite a few more in. Think next step is to start extending my wire until I can look into the dipole.
The police band used to be just above the broadcast band, about 1600-1700 KHZ.
Thanks
There was also a 2 way radio police band just above 30 MHz and was referred to as “shortwave”. The 1600 to 1700 KHz range was where you heard the famous, “Calling all cars,” because the police car radios in the 30’s, 40’s and into the 50’s were receive only.
Thanks for sharing your DEMO video of the DX-160.
You are very welcome. Thanks for your comments.
Tom
Tom's radio room show iam thinking about getting my ham license ♥️
Tom's radio room show Iam thinking about getting the RADIO SHACK REALISTIC DX 160 SHORTWAVE DESKTOP RECEIVER
Nice receiver, the 150 and 160's have a commanding presence which just makes you want to adjust those dials IMHO, no direct entry operation...
Thanks for your comments.
Tom
Nice video Tom. I have the same radio - since my teen years.
I am still waiting for my Grundig Sat 750. What is your opinion when comparing the two. I'm hoping the Grundig/Eton will be an upgrade over the DX-160.
The 750 will be a major upgrade in my opinion.
Tom
Toms radio room your Dx 160 RADIO Shack shortwave 5bands Receiver is cool iam thinking about getting the Tecsun s8800 mw lw fm streo SW ssb 5 bands receiver
I don't know if they were doing it back then but Radio China now rents time on another station's transmitter in Florida.
Interesting. Thanks
VERY nice radio
Thank you.
Tom
Toms radio room I have Eton Elite Executive with mw lw fm streo Air SW ssb 6 bands receiver Air band is low and ssb does not work with the fine tuning and when you tuen round the shortwave dands it mutes
Hi, Are these shortwave radios where you pick up foreign countries? I was not sure if these were just cb or police and weather, air. Thanks
Yes, shortwave radios receive on the HF band, 2 to 30 MHz. International broadcast are in this band as well as weather and military communications. Lastly, amateur radio operators use this band for long distance communications.
@@hamrad88 Thank you very much.
I love these radios.i have a 150 and a 160.an several other realistic radios.Sir did you ever hear any airbad on these radios?
Haven't tired the air band yet?
Tom
I tried mine but didn't receive anything.I need to spend more time perhaps.just wondered if you had any luck.
73.
I will give it a try and let you know.
Tom
Tom's radio room show your RADIO SHACK REALISTIC DX 160 SHORTWAVE DESKTOP RECEIVER IS COOL
Hi...nice video...I have a question...on the back is a plug where the dc power hooks up....will this radio work on AC without this plug...? I am looking at buying one..and it dont have one...and he says it is checked out and works good(right) ....
Yes, those connections are for a 12 VDC input (use in vehicle??). Buyer beware when buying used equipment.
I like that radio, I want to buy one.
+James whitfield There are a number of them on Ebay but be very careful buying from Ebay.
man that thing is drifty
Drifting makes it more fun 🙂
I had the DX160, I so wish I never got rid of it a big mistake on my part.
I had a DX160 and loaned it out and never got it back because the person died and widow trashed it.
Tom
Well what can you say to that.
How is the sw reception compared to a modern portable, do you receive furthur signals with the dx160?
In general, I would say the newer radios are more sensitive but that can be bad too as they can pick up a lot of RFI nearby.
How is the ssb on this
Little touchie to tune.
i have 3, all work, working one my forth, needs new caps
Markinpuff Awesome.
Tom
hi tom try this audio mod, put a .22 cap across the 2 hot wires on the af gain not earth. up comes bass and mid as the audio is like a bad mushy phone, mod 2 another .22 cap on audio chip input through a 1 meg pot and dial out the noise and the audio is very nice. i have 40 over of noise ,,,, cell phone tower it dials out the crud and ssb i can hear dx stations up the tone wipe out of dx station . try it it works , 73 s john
freak55beat Thanks, I will check it out.
Tom
cheers jon
that station is AM
Markinpuff Thanks