I bought one new in 1994. It was $220. A very good radio. Only issue was the power port went bad. I had it repaired once, and it went bad a few years later. I just run it on batteries and it's fine. This radio is fantastic for shortwave listening. A fact some people might not know, on FM, it's mono through the speaker, but stereo through the headphone jack. A long wire antenna works well, but any kind of preamp will overload the input.
Great radio. I bought the Sangean ATS-818 at CCrane years ago and it's still at my bedside. The guys at CCrane said they would do the mod for $20 or for $25, I could buy the technical manual with all the schematics. I took the manual. The manual was 8½x11 nearly ¾ of an inch thick and had everything needed for a radio repair technician. I only bypassed the mute. All in all, I have never been disappointed in it. I've noticed a bit of diminished reception over time but I think that may just be the antenna contact inside. So I'll open it and clean the contact. Maybe add some silver contact paste and be good for another 20 years. This thing is a beast in size. Not as big as a boom-box but the sound that comes out, is worth the little extra space that it takes. It was in the kitchen for about 15 years as my ex's FM radio. So, yes... It has been used a LOT! I paid $220 at CCrane around 20 yrs. ago. Since I live in Fortuna, CA. I get to play with their radios before I buy. I just got their little Skywave SSB, another cool radio from them. I enjoy your reviews. A lot of fun. Thanks!
Thank you Darrell, I just had a second one donated to the channel. Going to mod the one still and leave the other original. I may direct solder leads for the antenna and the battery box. It's a fun radio to tinker with.
I bought mine new 20 plus years ago. Still have it and works great. This was also sold with a cassette recorder but it took up speaker space and the sound suffered. It can be played with the "D" cells only. The double A's are memory only. I opened mine up and installed a 1/8 inch cutout jack for an outside speaker.
The DX-390 was my upgrade from the DX-380 I had bad reception with. Also the DX-390 got me started in listening to ham radio communications and pirate radio broadcasts as well as weather broadcasts on SW. It had great LW-MW-SW-FM reception. I used the DX-390 from 1994 to 1997 and then upgraded from that to the DX-398 and DX-392.
My buddy and I each had one of these. His died sometime ago but mine is still strong. We both took the back off and added a 1/8" cutout jack for an outside speaker. Added a lot to the sound. No cassette. The memo sticker was OEM and was on mine when new. It can be operated without the memory batteries. Just doesn't remember anything from use to use. The handles are known to break. I had to fabricate one from alum. Looks and operates just like the original. The cassette version came with a much smaller speaker and much smaller sound
I have had a DX-390 for many years and I just snagged a nice DX-392 for $39 and the cassette still works! The mods for beep and mute are the same. The 390 has a tad better audio due to the bigger speaker. It's not in the same category as my Eton E1XM but a very capable DX machine.
Just bought one in mint condition. Power adapter arrived today. Radio goes berserk when you plug it in. Works fine on batteries. Also it doesn't completely turn off. Comes back on with no display, just static. Any ideas?
Paid 37 bucks for a near mint ATS-818 last month, on eBay, ppd! Showed "E" for Error. Sold as "For Parts" Pulled all batteries Waited for the clock to fade, resetting the machine. Works perfectly! WAS going to rob it to fix my dead DX-390 Too Nice to do that.. Found a grungy DX-390 that worked. $29 ppd. eBay Swapped logic boards Works fine.. Also have a clean $41 AST-818CS with cassette.. Needed $5 worth of Chinese square drive belts.. 50 assorted, on....... eBay! Perfect! JAZZ Classical SW....
Excellent. An awesome radio, that can be modded for this modern age :) I still plan to build an anti static antenna mod with the back to back diode circuit to ground. Also want to add some kelly green LEDs to the display.
Hey that was nearly 300 dollars in its day,I don't like the pop up antenna, in time the connection inside starts shorting out, I don't understand any way you can do any thing you need to do with out that pop up thing. I had the dx 398, had nice shortwave you connect a wire to something grounded in your house, baseboard heat a sink pipe.
$250 in 1992 Desert Storm time... $150 in 1993.... on sale. Lasted until 2003... Iraq! Have now owned 5, since. 3 runners.. 2 Hanger Queens For Parts.. J.C.
I opened the back cover today and I didn't see any connection between the ext antenna and the PCB? Is that normal? Is completetly deaf on SW. Anybody has an idea?
Do you receive on AM? I have a DX-390 and from what I understand they are very susceptible to frying the front end FET from static discharge to the antenna.
Matthew Hajjar-Betters I’m thinking of aSony that was digital , back in the late 1980’s. You can google: Radio technology: “Phase Lock Loop” (PLL),and get more info. I’m sure. Good question. 📻🙂
i bought the DX-390 on ebay used over a year ago and i just now bought batteries for it and tried it with battery power and i think i got a short or something.. in one place with enough pressure it will come on and play and if i let off that place it will go off.. so i dont know if its worth fixing or looking into..?
It is easy to open, I would take out the screws and take a look. Most likely you have either corrosion on the battery tab that is difficult to see or a bad connection on the battery tab that connects to the PCB by pressure only. That is an easier fix, you just need to bend the tab some to give it tension when the case is closed again.
todderbert The schematic is on the web and I have found And article telling you how to cut the mute wire, but just playing with it, without cutting it I have already gotten my full name within about two seconds it is going to be an amazing spirit box. going to get it done tomorrow. The same article tells you how to change the light to an LED,And how to do a couple other things..Also I plan to make a video and put it up on my channel
todderbert One more thing I’m sorry, I just googled, DX-390 mute wire location,And something about ham radio popped up, it showed a few keywords about the mute wire so I clicked on it,It was right there
I got mine new and the sticker on the rear came with it. Also that radio could be had with a cassette player. It took up too much space and the speaker suffered. Poor sound with the smaller speaker. I still have mine. Great radio but 4 D Cells are getting pricey. Today's technology has surpassed it. Be careful with that handle. They are easy to break. I had to fabricate one out of alum. Fits and operates better than the original.
I bought one new in 1994. It was $220. A very good radio. Only issue was the power port went bad. I had it repaired once, and it went bad a few years later. I just run it on batteries and it's fine. This radio is fantastic for shortwave listening. A fact some people might not know, on FM, it's mono through the speaker, but stereo through the headphone jack.
A long wire antenna works well, but any kind of preamp will overload the input.
Great radio. I bought the Sangean ATS-818 at CCrane years ago and it's still at my bedside. The guys at CCrane said they would do the mod for $20 or for $25, I could buy the technical manual with all the schematics. I took the manual. The manual was 8½x11 nearly ¾ of an inch thick and had everything needed for a radio repair technician. I only bypassed the mute.
All in all, I have never been disappointed in it. I've noticed a bit of diminished reception over time but I think that may just be the antenna contact inside. So I'll open it and clean the contact. Maybe add some silver contact paste and be good for another 20 years.
This thing is a beast in size. Not as big as a boom-box but the sound that comes out, is worth the little extra space that it takes. It was in the kitchen for about 15 years as my ex's FM radio. So, yes... It has been used a LOT!
I paid $220 at CCrane around 20 yrs. ago. Since I live in Fortuna, CA. I get to play with their radios before I buy.
I just got their little Skywave SSB, another cool radio from them.
I enjoy your reviews. A lot of fun. Thanks!
Thank you Darrell, I just had a second one donated to the channel. Going to mod the one still and leave the other original. I may direct solder leads for the antenna and the battery box. It's a fun radio to tinker with.
I have the 390 and cassette recorder 392.
Bought them new 20 yrs ago I think.
Still going strong.
Long wire Awesome.
Love Em.
I bought mine new 20 plus years ago. Still have it and works great. This was also sold with a cassette recorder but it took up speaker space and the sound suffered. It can be played with the "D" cells only. The double A's are memory only. I opened mine up and installed a 1/8 inch cutout jack for an outside speaker.
The DX-390 was my upgrade from the DX-380 I had bad reception with. Also the DX-390 got me started in listening to ham radio communications and pirate radio broadcasts as well as weather broadcasts on SW. It had great LW-MW-SW-FM reception. I used the DX-390 from 1994 to 1997 and then upgraded from that to the DX-398 and DX-392.
I bought one new back in the 90s. Great radio...BTW the memo sticker came standard with these radios.
It acts like it's a little off frequency on FM. I had one of those radios. Great radio!
Its perfectly fine to reduce sensitivity with rf gain to scan, you cant use the noise anyway.
My buddy and I each had one of these. His died sometime ago but mine is still strong. We both took the back off and added a 1/8" cutout jack for an outside speaker. Added a lot to the sound. No cassette. The memo sticker was OEM and was on mine when new. It can be operated without the memory batteries. Just doesn't remember anything from use to use. The handles are known to break. I had to fabricate one from alum. Looks and operates just like the original. The cassette version came with a much smaller speaker and much smaller sound
I got the Siemens RK 765 world band radio. It's the same thing. Comes with Sangean power adapter.
I just bought one of these for $7.00 usd. So far, i like it.
Yes, $7 well spent.
Another good candidate and it has a dial light.
I`ve had the Sangean ATS 818 ACS and it`s the best rig I own. I bought it around 20 years ago I think. I am going to try that muting mod. Thanks
So this radio does have SSB. I might check this out one day. I am always willing to purchase radios with that feature.
I've done very well so far with this radio...I'm still waiting to do some mods to it. Should be fun.
I have had a DX-390 for many years and I just snagged a nice DX-392 for $39 and the cassette still works! The mods for beep and mute are the same. The 390 has a tad better audio due to the bigger speaker. It's not in the same category as my Eton E1XM but a very capable DX machine.
I love this radio, modding it is fun!
Just bought one in mint condition. Power adapter arrived today. Radio goes berserk when you plug it in. Works fine on batteries. Also it doesn't completely turn off. Comes back on with no display, just static. Any ideas?
power adapter is probably switch mode, ie a RF generator. you nred linear PSU.
cheap Chinese LED light bulbs also generate RF.
and VIZIO LCD TVs !!!
That radio is so big it should make a beeping sound when you spin it around 😂Looking forward to the mod video.
The mod was super easy...like any child could do it :) I did take pictures, I'll put them in the video.
Now I'm wondering how it compares with the crane 2e
I had to cut the wire to stop the beep.
Paid 37 bucks for a near mint ATS-818 last month, on eBay, ppd!
Showed "E" for Error.
Sold as "For Parts"
Pulled all batteries
Waited for the clock to fade,
resetting the machine.
Works perfectly!
WAS going to rob it to fix my dead DX-390
Too Nice to do that..
Found a grungy DX-390 that worked.
$29 ppd.
eBay
Swapped logic boards
Works fine..
Also have a clean $41 AST-818CS with cassette..
Needed $5 worth of Chinese square drive belts..
50 assorted, on.......
eBay!
Perfect!
JAZZ
Classical
SW....
Excellent. An awesome radio, that can be modded for this modern age :) I still plan to build an anti static antenna mod with the back to back diode circuit to ground. Also want to add some kelly green LEDs to the display.
The am bandwidth wide-narrow switch is just a filter switch not unlike the wide-narrow bandwidth on the GE super radios
Hey that was nearly 300 dollars in its day,I don't like the pop up antenna, in time the connection inside starts shorting out, I don't understand any way you can do any thing you need to do with out that pop up thing. I had the dx 398, had nice shortwave you connect a wire to something grounded in your house, baseboard heat a sink pipe.
$250 in 1992
Desert Storm time...
$150 in 1993.... on sale.
Lasted until 2003... Iraq!
Have now owned 5, since.
3 runners..
2 Hanger Queens For Parts..
J.C.
That looks like fun.
It is a blast...cheap fun, I love it.
If the batterys are dead say the big ones will the radio not work but still show the display?
That happens. There should be a flashing bar under the clock telling you the batteries are low.
I opened the back cover today and I didn't see any connection between the ext antenna and the PCB? Is that normal? Is completetly deaf on SW. Anybody has an idea?
Do you receive on AM? I have a DX-390 and from what I understand they are very susceptible to frying the front end FET from static discharge to the antenna.
Is this radio bigger than the Sony ICF-2010? Visite QSL do Brasil
Seek doesn’t work on sw. also you can set dial to move 1 MHz at a time and just roll the dial.
I bought a new one in 99 for 239.oo wit the antenna mod.
Does anyone know what year digital tuning radios started coming out, or when they started to become more common?
Matthew Hajjar-Betters
I’m thinking of aSony that was digital , back in the late 1980’s.
You can google:
Radio technology:
“Phase Lock Loop”
(PLL),and get more info. I’m sure.
Good question.
📻🙂
i bought the DX-390 on ebay used over a year ago and i just now bought batteries for it and tried it with battery power and i think i got a short or something.. in one place with enough pressure it will come on and play and if i let off that place it will go off.. so i dont know if its worth fixing or looking into..?
It is easy to open, I would take out the screws and take a look. Most likely you have either corrosion on the battery tab that is difficult to see or a bad connection on the battery tab that connects to the PCB by pressure only. That is an easier fix, you just need to bend the tab some to give it tension when the case is closed again.
thanks much Todd i will tear into my 390 real soon and let ya know if that fixes it :-)
My 390 displays the letter E when turned on, the batteries are ok. What could cause this?
I think that means Error. Not sure how to fix that one.
I just aquierd then dx 390 itshould have a squelch on it would make scanning better
Just got one that looks brand new for three dollars, hope to make it into a Spirit box
Is there info on the web on how to make one of these into a "spirit" box?
todderbert The schematic is on the web and I have found And article telling you how to cut the mute wire, but just playing with it, without cutting it I have already gotten my full name within about two seconds it is going to be an amazing spirit box. going to get it done tomorrow. The same article tells you how to change the light to an LED,And how to do a couple other things..Also I plan to make a video and put it up on my channel
todderbert The antenna is about 12 feet long LOL
todderbert One more thing I’m sorry, I just googled, DX-390 mute wire location,And something about ham radio popped up, it showed a few keywords about the mute wire so I clicked on it,It was right there
I own one...know of any wall transformer that is compatible with this radio?
Any old transformer type wall leach.
6V negative tip 500 ma.
A steal for the money.
Thanks, I took a chance, wasn't sure what I was getting.
Does this have a headphone jack?
Yes, and it's stereo. ruclips.net/video/qqOk7LN3PBw/видео.html
Intro was made in blender, am I right??
I have one in good condition, you can have it.
send me a message on youtube when you get the time.
I got mine new and the sticker on the rear came with it. Also that radio could be had with a cassette player. It took up too much space and the speaker suffered. Poor sound with the smaller speaker. I still have mine. Great radio but 4 D Cells are getting pricey. Today's technology has surpassed it. Be careful with that handle. They are easy to break. I had to fabricate one out of alum. Fits and operates better than the original.