Realistic DX 160. This Vintage Shortwave Has Lots Of Potential, and Looks so cool, but...

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Realistic DX 160. This Vintage Shortwave Has Lots Of Potential, and Looks so cool, but...

Рет қаралды 10,886

Күн бұрын

I picked this unit up at Hamfest earlier in the year, and filmed, but never edited the video until now. The Realistic DX-160 was a Shortwave radio that mimicked the Home stereo look of the era.
It was very well equipped with SSB, CW, and AM modes, and had all the features and functions that any radio of that era could have come packed with.
I bought it in hopes of setting it up in our bed room so I could fall asleep to the sweet sounds of SSB transmissions from overseas as they drifted in and out of the night sky.
Sadly, the unit wasn't working well enough to do that. It has some issues and only seemed to work on one or two of the bands. I passed it along to a friend and he still hasn't had the time to tinker with it to bring it back to life.
It's still a wonderful part of Radio Shack History and I wanted to share it with all of you as well!
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Пікірлер: 149

@bpmc9935 2 жыл бұрын

The DX-160 was my first "real" SW receiver. I got one as a Christmas present in 1978 as a teemager. Just the look of the face of the radio brings back lots of great memories of late night listening sessions.

@vcv6560 2 жыл бұрын

Its predecessor, the DX-150 was my dream of childhood while in the meantime I built the Science Fair Globe Patrol kit (age 12); I can understand your enthusiasm and connection to those memories.

@brunoprimas1483 2 жыл бұрын

$70 with box and manual, external speaker, and the unit was recapped. You got a GREAT deal.

@FarpointFarms 2 жыл бұрын

you just have to be patient sometimes for the really good deals.

@brunoprimas1483 2 жыл бұрын

@@FarpointFarms I found mine for $30, but only the unit, no speaker. I recapped it mysef, as well as added a nice 4" Pioneer speaker inside the bottom of the unit, firing down. Works well!

@keathrhymer5449 2 жыл бұрын

I have my old DX100 perfect condition works like a charm still even as a ham I still listen around on it wouldnt trade it for anything. Glad to see others appreciate the radioshack radios

@Canarywharfdebz 2 жыл бұрын

I grew up with the DX160 best receiver I ever had! Amazing memories of the eighties. I am in the UK and tempted to purchase a 2nd hand model again. 73

@FarpointFarms 2 жыл бұрын

It sure looks like a classic!

@RJDA.Dakota 2 жыл бұрын

I used to have one of these receivers. I had it connected to a random wire antenna of about 30 meters in my backyard. It worked out really well but like anything analogue it would drift off frequency at first for about 15 or so minutes. It helped introduce me to shortwave radio listening and was a good radio no doubt. I now have a Tecsun PL 330 and 880. Tech has sure changed a great deal.

@tocosauce1158 Жыл бұрын

Drifting is fun 😃

@davidgraczyk3469 2 жыл бұрын

Did audio mods on mine that I found online which radically improved the sound of the receiver. Highly recommend these. Makes it sound rich and like a much more expensive radio.

@2148aa 2 жыл бұрын

When radio was fun.

@mauricester 6 ай бұрын

can't believe you got this for 70 bucks,, I still have mine I got from the now gone (in Canada) Radio Shack,, still in the orgianl Box, , Manual,, and a book of all the stations and frequencys at that time,, I think I paid somthing like 150 to 170 dollars back in the day saved up for a year and my parents helped out with the last 20 or 30 bucks,, I had mono headphones , cause you can hear better than with the speaker... Had two coper wire Antenas over 100 ft long to two different poles in my rural yard,, Living in Saskatchewan, Canada,, and the cold winter nights you could get stations from all over the world clear as a bell,, I even times and nights, set,, for some of my favorite programs I listened too of course the next year they came woth the next model the DX-300,, with a digital frequence counter,, so no more listening to what fequence they were broadcasting on to figure where they were on the dail,, and of couse frantically writing down the dialoge of the program so you could write them and get a QC card but still that was a good time in the mid `70s

@FarpointFarms 6 ай бұрын

It was a steal of a deal on it. I had been waiting for one for a long time. It was nice of your parents to help out, $150 back then was a ton of money to save

@Big824John 2 жыл бұрын

Eric, people can say what they want to about Radio Shack communication gear. I have owned/currently own some of their CB gear that is just awesome. I noticed that you have a Realistic Power Mike in the background. I still have that mike myself. It may not be a D104 or a Turner, but this mike is no slouch in the CB desk mike world. I love mine and it just kicks butt! Their SWR tester is top notch too! Great video on this shortwave radio.

@unit_10 2 жыл бұрын

I should have not sold all my solid metal external speakers. They now are $70+ on ebay in alright shape. Great vid!!!

@tomsteuverkb8dxn132 2 жыл бұрын

I still have my DX-160 and it works perfectly. Still use it because I believe the speaker sounds very good. Always loved that radio. I also have the DX-400.

@vcv6560 2 жыл бұрын

After graduating college (and some real money in my pocket) I bought a DX-400 which I still have.

@davidvogler 2 жыл бұрын

I had one as a kid and loved it. This was a champ that always performed. Brings back memories. From the looks of this video that unit is in outstanding condition. Very impressive!

@Alan-Dawson 11 ай бұрын

After being on the CB radio late 80's the DX-160B was my first SW radio, I've had loads since but have to say newer is never better!

@FarpointFarms 11 ай бұрын

The newer radios do have a certain appeal but I do like some of the older ones. For me they sound good and bring back some great memories

@reginaldshannon4220 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome looking radio sounds brilliant . You got a bargain there . Best of luck with it . Best 73's from Dublin Ireland

@pontiacreddz4021 2 жыл бұрын

I have and still use nightly the DX160 I purchased in 1975 sold a Kawasaki dirt bike to get it. I think these are the best looking fun to play with analog radios ever

@mikehernandez264 9 ай бұрын

🎉thanks for sharing this information Colorado Silverback777 Stay Healthy keep stacking. I just got the same setup .

@FarpointFarms 9 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching

@tomslikk2130 2 жыл бұрын

I have a DX-160 That I picked up it is the second one I've had.. I had 1 in the 80's when I was in the military. I love these radio's.

@mattcurtis3019 2 жыл бұрын

I Had the Aor 70/30 excellent filters listening In between phone calls with one slight turn brilliant model 🇬🇧

@garysoutham8746 2 жыл бұрын

My DX160 works great on all bands even AM up here in Canada. I am a subscriber to you. Great video. Thanks for sharing

@lonnieclemens8028 Жыл бұрын

A friend has a DX-160 for sale. I might purchase it. Thank you for sharing this video.

@FarpointFarms Жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching- it is a great radio

@baneverything5580 2 жыл бұрын

I had Radio Shack scanners from the 1970s that still worked that I gave away that used crystals. I have a Radio Shack tabletop scanner from the 1980s and a handheld I bought in 1993 that still work. The tabletop has the best weather radio of any receiver I own. I bought a lot of their shortwave receivers and products.

@robertfoster6070 2 жыл бұрын

Try tuning around the bands at night. The propagation changes and you should receive MW and some sw bands from a greater distance. Secondly, if you get Co-channel interference on MW try building a directional 40" loop aerial which is highly directional.

@johnblanton9845 2 жыл бұрын

I got a 160 a few yrs ago at a hamfest , cool vintage radio , loads of fun pulling in those dx signals Never have been able to find the original speaker , but does work with most others

@mitchdickson254 2 жыл бұрын

Your getting there!!!! If that antenna is a vertically polarized CB antenna, that is part of the static problem. You got to hook that thing to a 80 or 40 meter Ham antenna horizonally polarized. That will make her humm like a 10 penny nail, hit at an angling blow with a greasy ball pen hammer ;) Now save up some more pennies and hunt up a Drake!!!! I got one, love it! But that is a volkswagon. The Drake is the Caddillac.

@Dallas-Rife-UDX-347-Tennessee 2 жыл бұрын

That’s so mint !! And nice . Great find

@FarpointFarms 2 жыл бұрын

It sure is! You just to keep your eye out as you never know what you might find

@jasonpurvis9057 Жыл бұрын

I just picked up one supper excited 70.00

@davydp 2 жыл бұрын

I got one from auction in 98 or 99 when still in high school still have it now

@twirlygirly 4 ай бұрын

I had the external speaker, but I mounted an internal speaker in mine. I'm not sure why they did not build and ship it with an internal speaker. To upsell you on the external one. Profit I guess. Hook up a long wire, wait for night, and get busy. Like all analog radios its kinda drifty off signal, so eventually you'll want a PLL phase locked loop receiver. Maybe. You'll probably realize first though, shortwave is dead and has been for decades, and receiving your signals 100% error free over the internet is a much better way to go. You get to chose and pick what content you want to listen to too. Radio pioneered the way. Now it's repurposed for digital communication and moving packets around the world.

@FarpointFarms 4 ай бұрын

Yes, shortwave isn't what it used to be, but I still love scanning the bands at night.

@davidsradioroom9678 2 жыл бұрын

That was a great radio in its day.

@FarpointFarms 2 жыл бұрын

It still is a good radio, it was top of the line and still performs well today.

@tocosauce1158 Жыл бұрын

@@FarpointFarms 👍

@HNXMedia 2 жыл бұрын

A little complex for a "bedside radio," but she makes a sexy shop, den or office radio for sure.

@FarpointFarms 2 жыл бұрын

good point on the other places to put it

@dankoenig5938 2 жыл бұрын

I just got one about 1 month ago. Wanted one for along time. $110. and no speaker, box, or paperwork. In nice shape they are a nice vintage radio for sure.

@michaelp9707 2 жыл бұрын

Just can't beat the quality in the Electronics world of Japanese made electronics from the 1980,s and some 90's.Stuff I had acquired used way past it's Prime was still phenomenal quality.

@keithd.glasgow809 2 жыл бұрын

The standby connection is for using it with a transmitter. You place the receiver in standby while transmitting in order to avoid overloading the front end

@hatchetjackphillips 2 жыл бұрын

That’s pretty cool! Realistic made some really good stuff back in the day! I’ve yet to find a stereo receiver I like better than the STA-2000 they made back in the 70’s. My brother bought it brand new and gave it to me about 25 years ago.

@FarpointFarms 2 жыл бұрын

Agreed, they made some very high quality stuff back in the day.

@mmpiforall5913 2 жыл бұрын

Fun fact: When the DX 160 is plugged into 120V AC and it is turned 'off' at the front panel, the line transformer and rectifiers are still powered up! With the power switch on, the filter caps, regulator and the rest of the radio is now connected! To avoid baking the trans & rectifiers, use a power bar and turn it all off! (check the schematic!)

@OffGridAussiePrepper 2 жыл бұрын

I am so jealous, we have nothing like this available in AU, and it is in mint condition and u got it for a real bargain as its also made in Japan and thats GOLD right there. I WANT IT!

@FarpointFarms 2 жыл бұрын

Too bad there is nothing equivalent to it there.

@journeman77 10 ай бұрын

Got mine in the office.

@FarpointFarms 10 ай бұрын

I hope you use it alot

@migi5374 2 жыл бұрын

RadioShack knew how to build some quality working entertainment.

@FarpointFarms 2 жыл бұрын

They sure did!

@twoheart7813 2 жыл бұрын

M first radio shack receiver was a Globe Patrol kit, had a blast building and using it as a kid. Being regenerative it received both AM & SSB. A few years later I bought a brand new DX-160. It was an upgrade, a very handsome radio, fun to use but I wasn't very impressed with its performance. numerous Images of strong stations was my main gripe, picking up multiple radio havana signals where they shouldn't be as an example, but is a single conversion so to be expected. Bought a Sony ICF-2002 not long after & the ol DX-160 was set aside to serve as a nostalgic rarely used piece.

@handsomeclem208 Жыл бұрын

One big gripe that I had with the 160's Bandspread that was solved on the later DX-200 was the scales were calibrated only for the Ham bands and not for the then-current International Broadcasting bands, which you had to rely on Bandspread charts inside the manual, which could get cumbersome......

@FarpointFarms Жыл бұрын

Good to know!

@matthewdavies2057 2 жыл бұрын

I remember when that thing hit the market. Nobody could afford one.

@alvinramsey9372 2 жыл бұрын

Really nice. Love to be able to find one of those for myself. Just for the days we're at just want to listen.

@etiennebolduc838 10 ай бұрын

I just bought an old house and found this in perfect condition with the manul and a very weird antenna.

@FarpointFarms 10 ай бұрын

What a great score!

@robertwebb5586 2 жыл бұрын

I still have mine with The speaker, I love it.

@JulioRad954 2 жыл бұрын

Nice find !

@FarpointFarms 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@dovidholybrother7320 2 жыл бұрын

Neat unit

@StepOneSurvival 2 жыл бұрын

Just found your channel and I Appreciate the radio information you put out, I need all the advice I can get.

@FarpointFarms 2 жыл бұрын

Glad you found me! You have a pretty cool channel as well.

@mattcurtis3019 2 жыл бұрын

Wow i love the old radio 🇬🇧 30+

@FarpointFarms 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, I really am liking it as well

@user-ef3nu1eh7z 2 ай бұрын

I had one of those great reciever

@FarpointFarms 2 ай бұрын

I was so sad to find this one in Ok but not perfect condition.

@user-ef3nu1eh7z 2 ай бұрын

@@FarpointFarms I would take that long as operational always wanted to compare to 20 11 mtr signs as on my base maybe put switch in for better receive I got mine cause repeat warranty issues on top line rad shack digital programmed scanner base big scanner they transfer it back in for credit on account picked up the rcvr an antenna a 23 channel radio and misc electronics it was over 650$ as a sale but was in shop ,more than house

@mikeburgan7675 2 жыл бұрын

Always cool////Old radios

@FarpointFarms 2 жыл бұрын

nostalgia for many.

@dwighthitchens9838 2 жыл бұрын

WOW very cool radio! Thanks for the video

@FarpointFarms 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

@coctailer 2 жыл бұрын

This is my dream radio. You got a screaming deal on it! :-)

@FarpointFarms 2 жыл бұрын

I have learned to be patient and sometimes you can find a deal. I was looking for years before finding this one.

@jmanranger7271 2 жыл бұрын

Great sounding 📻

@k2cjbradio 2 жыл бұрын

You got a great deal Eric! I’ve been watching Fleabay for one and they’re over $125 there! Have fun! 73 de Chris K2CJB

@clifffoltz651 2 жыл бұрын

Another cool video from Farpoint farms !

@FarpointFarms 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the continued support.

@madmax2069 2 жыл бұрын

The size and design of the frame from the rear view makes me think of a tube radio, I know it's a solid state radio. I wonder if they just didn't reuse the frame from an older radio that used tubes. 7:28 ugh the Stair virus, infecting every shortwave station. I don't understand how stations want to air his recordings after the crap he's done.

@wesoblander3648 2 жыл бұрын

That's a pretty one, Eric. I have always liked the 70s stereo styling.Such lines are hard to find in today's world.

@fonze1969 2 жыл бұрын

you need to shop at your goodwill i see this stuff every time i go to one

@FarpointFarms 2 жыл бұрын

your goodwills must be better than mine

@fonze1969 2 жыл бұрын

@@FarpointFarms my friend picked up 3 older cb radios and a rci 2950 all for 13.00 here in upstate ny i was in Kansas at fort riley with my son and found a signal generator but dint get it because dint have anymore room in car he was dropping off close and stuff but wish i had the room that was n November11/3/21

@mikelove4638 2 жыл бұрын

Bought a galaxy dx44 he cb radio using tram antenna compare to Wilson little will does a good job reach out around 16 miles thank you.

@choppergirl 4 ай бұрын

I had the external speaker, but I mounted an internal speaker in mine. I'm not sure why they did not build and ship it with an internal speaker. To upsell you on the external one. Profit I guess.

@FarpointFarms 4 ай бұрын

It could be profit or hindsight. Some ideas seem great until they are executed and the faults come out.

@chadjb72 2 жыл бұрын

I have this radio too. I love it, but I am not sure how to hook up the antenna correctly. Maybe your manual has it in there.

@madmaxprepping8036 2 жыл бұрын

Breaker breaker!!

@richardmillican7733 2 жыл бұрын

Expensive radios here in the uk too. Whenever I see realistic radios for sale at "car boot sales" (flea markets) I snap em up. That radio would command north of $250 here in the UK. Hey, how about looking at radio scanners in your radio videos? That'd be interesting.

@64samsky 2 жыл бұрын

Nice pickup!

@FarpointFarms 2 жыл бұрын

I think so too!

@waynedoomad2573 2 жыл бұрын

Great

@Nissan350z33 2 жыл бұрын

G'day from Australia Eric, I've only just noticed that you have got a bent little finger on your right hand.. I have the exact same finger as you, same right hand. Mine was a deep cut and sliced the tendon.. Cheers mate

@FarpointFarms 2 жыл бұрын

Mine was from attempting to lay new vinyl flooring ages ago. Cut the tendon and it never healed properly.

@Nissan350z33 2 жыл бұрын

@@FarpointFarms I did mine in 1995.. Struth it hurt! The tendon is now in the palm of my hand.

@edwardhogsed3027 2 жыл бұрын

Have you had any experience with a RadioShack DX 200 if so what are your thoughts?Thanks a lot!

@handsomeclem208 2 жыл бұрын

One noticeable advantage the DX-200 had over the DX-160 was the 200's Bandspread was also calibrated for the then-authorized International Shortwave Broadcasting bands along with the Ham bands while the 160 had only the Ham bands calibrated, meaning the user had to rely on the ISWBC charts inside the 160's manual.....

@ronleblanc9832 2 жыл бұрын

Buddy of mine had one of tese wey back i wound up with a realistic 306 ? With digital read out worked really good and now i have the big grundig whitch was in co with drake the satalite 800 dont use it much now but would not part with it fun to use

@ronleblanc9832 2 жыл бұрын

Dx-302

@mikemay7134 2 жыл бұрын

I watch a lot of your CB radio videos usually very early in the morning before I go to work I was noticing in some of your videos you have a little green car is that Bond any chance one of the old Stompers? Mike Jacksonville Florida

@FarpointFarms 2 жыл бұрын

Great catch! Yes, that is a Stomper of a VW Rabbit that I've had for many years. Sadly it fell from a shelf and no longer works, but you nailed it! Stompers where SOOOO Cool back when I was a kid.

@bobbader4789 2 жыл бұрын

Wow what a bargain!

@kevincoady6571 2 жыл бұрын

Hi there great site! Can you tell me what kind of replacement bulb would go with the DX160?

@tahoma6889 2 жыл бұрын

I have one, and the matching VHF receiver.

@FarpointFarms 2 жыл бұрын

cool that you have the matching receiver.

@gsnfan 2 жыл бұрын

Not a bad price for second hand.

@FarpointFarms 2 жыл бұрын

But, it didn't work right. It's OK on some bands, but def of AM

@mixxndj 2 жыл бұрын

I had one.. my dad bought it for me at an auction… wish I would have kept it.

@FarpointFarms 2 жыл бұрын

hind sight sometimes, there have been a few things that I got rid of that I regret from the first day.

@brunoprimas1483 2 жыл бұрын

Give the manual a look. You use the bandspread with the red stars near the 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter bands to scan through for amateur radio. Once you figure out how it works, it's pretty usable. Also, you need to use the bandspread dial pretty much to fine tuned in ANY broadcast, as you'll go right over lower and even some higher-powered ones using just the main tuning dial.

@FarpointFarms 2 жыл бұрын

thanks for the tips

@mten8965 2 жыл бұрын

What is the best CB radio on the cheapside new?

@hallieboy 2 жыл бұрын

While I truly appreciate your interest in this classic receiver, and the effort it takes to make a video about it, there are so many errors! Second antenna? Standby/Record switch? 7 meter band?

@Thomas-dz4eg 2 жыл бұрын

Fluorescent lights will interfere with AM

@WilliamLopez-ys2gs Жыл бұрын

Just got one of these out of my brother's garage. What kind of antenna would I use. I have a few cb car mounts would that work?

@FarpointFarms Жыл бұрын

While a cb antenna will work, your best bet would be a simple piece of wire. It's called a long wire antenna, and the longer the better!

@WilliamLopez-ys2gs Жыл бұрын

@@FarpointFarms thank you so much. Love your channel keep up the great work.

@appalachianunderground8474 2 жыл бұрын

I have one of these , I love it ! I added a NASA decal to the speaker to give it the squalk box look from the Apollo program. I vote Realistic. ✝️🇺🇸🤙🏻🅰️

@60gregma 2 жыл бұрын

The Apollo program never used these. They were a mock-up for the movie Apollo 13. In reality the squawk boxes people (family and mission control) had in their homes were Western Electric 4A speaker phones. Very similar to the ones we see in the series Charlie's Angels. There are vintage photos lying around the web showing this.

@appalachianunderground8474 2 жыл бұрын

@@60gregma I realize that but I still enjoy the nasa / look of the speaker , I’m a Telephone company employee.. I have a collection of outdated equipment including some of the old Western Electric Bell System speakers, really cool also , I said Apollo in theory lol 😂 . Thanks for the heads up ✝️🇺🇸🤙🏻🅰️

@bobbynewton4555 2 жыл бұрын

You should check out 5.085 it's a station out of Tennessee

@FarpointFarms 2 жыл бұрын

I will have to look for that one, thanks for the suggestion.

@bleirdo_dude 2 жыл бұрын

You're complaining you paid $70 for it?

@benedit71 2 жыл бұрын

Decent radio but it does drift, I used to listen to shortwave and also caught cordless phone conversations which I think were around 1.7 mhz.

@ctscantechnologist 2 жыл бұрын

I have an IC-7300 to listen to SW which is far superior, but I admire the DX-160 for its nostalgia. Wonder if any services are out there to align such radios?

@dovidholybrother7320 2 жыл бұрын

Shouldn't the bandspread have a light?

@joannem3568 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Eric, I just bought one of these, $94 dollars cash out da door. No manual or box , but original speaker. I'm a total newbie. So any information on how to use this unit would be most appreciated. I'm trying to find a manual. I'm doing a slow roll to hopefully taking my technician license in the fall. I'm learning

@FarpointFarms 2 жыл бұрын

Very cool! That is a good deal.

@dovidholybrother7320 2 жыл бұрын

would have been good if you attached an antenna wire

@lukebray2192 2 жыл бұрын

Does anyone know where I can get the tuning gears for a realistic dx 302?

@HAMRADIOJOE4178 2 жыл бұрын

THATS A GREAT PRICE

@laheart1957 Жыл бұрын

That wasn’t voice of china, or voice of Korea. That broadcast was in Hindi- a native language of India.

@FarpointFarms Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the great information.

@GilBatesLovesyou 2 жыл бұрын

That doesn't sound like Chinese, it sounds like Hindi/some other Indian language. There's what seem to be an Indian religious group (I think Christian) on SW most of the day/night usually around that 7mhz band, whereas CRI broadcasts aren't rare but are harder to get and usually are mostly music. The ones from China you can get occasionally, but the only one that comes in crazy strong is the CRI broadcast from Cuba which is usually in Cantonese, not Mandarin.

@billysamuels3586 2 ай бұрын

I bought one just like it and it didn't work and I threw it in the garbage

@FarpointFarms 2 ай бұрын

These are getting to be very old now. Hard to find a good one.

@dovidholybrother7320 2 жыл бұрын

not record, but receive/standby

@mixxndj 2 жыл бұрын

The light is burned out.. it should light up

@FarpointFarms 2 жыл бұрын

I will have to take a closer look at that, have not had much free time to play with it much

@noncounterproductive4596 2 жыл бұрын

The worst thing about the DX-160 is the sound. Terrible sound. If you bypass the internal amplifier and use a different speaker it can sound good. Selectivity is also not great.

@tocosauce1158 Жыл бұрын

Yeah, but it's about the nostalgia man. My first shortwave receiver back in 1979. Cheers to us radio heads!