From: gsk@idx.com
Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave
Subject: Re: Casio PR100: cheap digital-tuned SW radio
Date: 11 Dec 92 15:18:30 GMT
Organization: IDX Corporation, S. Burlington, VT

In article <CRAMER.92Dec10105135@clem.Eng.Sun.COM>, cramer@Eng.Sun.COM (Sam Cramer) writes:
> A recent "J&R Music World" (800-221-8180) catalog lists the Casio PR100
> AM/FM/Shortwave radio for $39.95.  The blurb in the catalog states:
> ...
> So, what do you say, gang?  Do we have a DAK-beater here?  I assume that
> the reliability of this Casio product will be a bit higher than that of the
> DAK 101s, which seem to be prone to failure. I'm tempted just to order one
> and see how it is, but I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who has
> played with it (or has seen a review).
> 
> Sam
-- Sam... I saw a review on FIDO-NET.. I include it for your pleasure!

------------  From FIDO-NET:
 Area:    Shortwave
  Msg:    #975
 Date:    12-02-92 07:07 (Public) 
 From:    Brian Carling            
 To:      All                      
 Subject: Casio PR-100             
 -----------------------
On the recommendation of another user on this conference, I ordered a
CASIO PR-100 receiver last week. It arrived yesterday from J&R Music
World Co. The purchase price is $39.95 (amazing eh?)
The radio is a small portable (about double the size of a SONY SW-20)

Frequency coverage:
It covers standard AM & FM bands plus SW1 and SW2.
On the SW1 band, you get 2.3 - 6.2 MHz with some gaps between what the
engineers chose to be the standard broadcast bands. Coverage is quite
adequate though for any kid of SWBC listening.
SW2 gives you 7.1 - 21.75 (or so) MHz, and again, they omit everything
in between the SWBC bands. One serious omission here is that it skips
from 7300 right up to 9400 which means you can't even listen to all
those many stations that use 7300 - 7550 kHz !

Features and Overall performance:
Surprisingly good features. The radio has a multifunction LCD digital
display, alarm clock, 20 presets (5 for each of the four bands, low
battery indicator, UP/DOWN tuning buttons, earphone jack, volume
control.
There is no rotary tuning control, but the radio will scan if you
hold down one of the UP or DOWN buttons for two seconds and release it.
The radio runs on 4 AA batteries, and has a built in telescopic whip
antenna which can rotate (an important plus that is not provided by
most receivers in this class.) The antenna is only about 12-18" long,
but brings in stations much better than one would expect. There is no
connector for an external antenna, but of course one can always be
clipped to the base of the whip antenna.

Performance is better than expected for the money. Tuning is
accomplished in 5kHz steps with readout turning the little '5' on
and off to let you know the last digit (tolerable!)
I was amaazed at the sensitivity of this receiver. In most circumstances
it does just as well as my SONY ICF-2010, and the sensitivity is quite
adequate for the average casual SWBC listening situation. I could listen
to a variety of stations in the 6Mhz range with good sensitivity.
The selectivity is not quite as good as might be hoped for, with there
being a tiny amount of adjacent channel interference, but the
selectivity is actually BETTER than my SONY 2010 with the stock AM
wide filter! I could hear just a little bit of heterodyne whistle when
listening 5 kHz away from a strong station, but it was not annoying.
In most circumstances there was no interference.
No headphone is supplied with the PR-100 but they do provide a booklet
of the "Shortwave Guide" variety. The little radio has a great sounding
speaker relative to its purchase price, and makes it the premier value
in the bottom end market. I bought mine for a holiday gift to a
relative, so hence I don't get to keep it, but it was a lot of fun
trying it out, and I hope others will enjoy theirs too. I believe this
will be a good shortwave receiver for a beginner, and that they will
noy get a bad impression of our hobby from using the PR-100.
However, I would like one of these for my own portable use!

Casio has a real winner here. The radio is made in China, which probably
explains its bargain price. We wish J&R and Casio well in this venture,
and trust that there will soon be a PR-100 in every house!

 * SLMR 2.1a * Is that the "Kremlin Chimes" I hear, or the GONG SHOW?

--- Maximus/2 2.01wb
 * Origin: _The_Attic_ (1:109/423)

============  Also a followup:
 Area:    Shortwave
  Msg:    #805
 Date:    12-03-92 19:55 (Public) 
 From:    James Rosenzweig         
 To:      All                      
 Subject: CASIO PR-100 BARGAIN     

Just an addition to Brian Carlings well written review of 
the Casio PR-100. Contrary to his note, the set WILL tune 
between all bands from 2.3 to 21.75 with the ONY gap being 
6.2--7.1. To tune between bands you must tap the slew 
buttons to tune manually as it will only scan within the 
bands. Anyone else have experience with this set?
--- TBBS v2.1/NM
 * Origin: Black Box II N.Y. 718-966-7651 4 Lines 9600 v32 1.2gig (1:2603/303)

=============  Also..

I don't have the original, but there was another followup that said that their
set was not as good as Brian said, but was still impressed. He had found it
at Lechemere in the Boston area for about $10 more...

Hope this satisfied your curiosity!

				-- George --

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- George Kaczowka   IDX Corp  Marlboro, MA  - gsk@idx.com  -
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