The Alinco DX-SR8 amateur radio is a no-nonsense ham radio transceiver for the HF bands
The Alinco DX-SR8 Ham Radio HF Transceiver covers all the amateur radio bands from 160m to 10m and has an output power of 100 watts. (In AM mode, the radio transmits with just 40 watts , and if you prefer low power or QRP work, you can reduce the output to 10 watts or even 1 watt or less of radiated signal.)
There’s nothing fancy about this entry-level amateur radio transceiver. It is a decent and inexpensive workhorse that covers all the licensed ham bands between 1.8 MHz and 29.699 MHz for AM, SSB, CW and FM modes. (FM is normally only used in the top of the 10m band — 29 MHz — where there are a few radio repeaters for licensed hams to use. What is more, the Alinco DX-SR8 can even send the CTCSS codes needed by some FM repeaters.)
T and E models of this radio
There are two models of this radio transceiver, they are the DX-SR8T (sold in North America), and the DX-SR8E (sold in Europe and other non-US and non-EU regions). The T model for the USA includes the 5.3 MHz (60m) amateur band, which uses several fixed channels. The exact frequencies and regulations for 60 meters depend on which country you are in. These channels are shared with other licensed (non-Amateur Radio) users, and hams must give priority to the those users and not hog the channels.
Alinco DX-SR8 with its dynamic microphone
600 channels and a powerful scanner
The Alinco DX-SR8 has a generous 600 storage channels in three memory banks for you to program your most-used and favorite radio frequencies, for ham and other services. You can set alpha-numeric (text names) for the channels, so you know what you are listening to, and the radio also has a host of different and sophisticated ways to scan your programmed channels.
Front-facing loudspeaker
The rig has a small front-facing loudspeaker already built-in to the radio set’s control head. This does not have the sound that a larger speaker would, but it is a very convenient feature for quick or temporary transceiver installations, such as for emcomms, field days and other portable use. The transceiver’s large LCD display has a very large and easy-to-read frequency readout which will please most radio operators, especially those of us who are starting to need eye glasses these days for reading things.
Remote head, if you need it
The DX-SR8 has a completely detachable front panel, which can be used to place the controls, readout, microphone and speaker someplace in front of the operator, with the transceiver body out of the way. It a car you can hide the radio under the seat or in the boot (trunk), or at home you can have the radio underneath the desk if you prefer. To use the head remotely, you will need to buy the optional EDS-17 control cable from Alinco. But some some hams might prefer to save money and build their own cable.
Transmitted audio gets out loud and clear, with most hams happy with the audio quality from the radio’s included dynamic microphone and the built-in speech processor. The DX-SR8 does not have DSP (digital signal processing) but it has several features to combat noisy band conditions and to help with interference from other radio stations that are transmitting close to your working frequency. These features include narrow filtering (bandwidth), a movable IF filter and a noise blanker. You can also make use of the RIT/TXIT control to stay clear of QRM (interference).
There is a pre-amplifier to boost weak signals and an attenuator to reduce very strong stations. Four settings are available for these. The control panel has a completely independent squelch control, audio volume control, RIT and IF shift knobs. There are connection sockets at the back of the radio to interface with Alinco’s EDX-2 long-wire automatic antenna tuner, and also for a linear amplifier if you own one.
The numeric keypad on the radio lets you choose the amateur radio band you want, but you can also use direct keypad entry to dial up the radio frequency you want, anywhere in the shortwave bands.
Back view of the Alinco DX-SR8 ham radio transceiver
Built for morse code buffs
The DX-SR8 already has a built-in electronic keyer, and this radio gives you the choice of side tone pitch to suit your ear. It has full QSK, (meaning it is able to listen to signals between sending morse words or groups, and a choice of auto or semi-automatic break-in, frequency split, built-in narrow filters, and AGC and RF gain.
General-coverage shortwave receiver
Like most modern-day multiband amateur radio transcievers, the Alinco DX-SR8 can listen-in to all of the non-amateur frequencies across the whole shortwave spectrum. This allows you to monitor to many foreign broadcast stations for their information, news and music programs. Typical broadcasters you can find on these SWL bands include the BBC, VOA (Voice of America), Radio Deutche-Welle (Germany), Radio Japan, Radio Australia, China and a host of other stations from Europe, Africa, Asia and South America. It can also pick up many long-distance marine and aeronautical HF channels used by ships at sea or aircraft.
The DX-SR8 includes built-in protection from high SWR, and it has a powerful cooling fan inside to keep things from overheating while you transmit.
Video
Here is the only amateur radio video I could find of a licensed ham using the Alinco DX-SR8 — I hope you understand Spanish better than I do! 
More information:
Alinco’s own page about their DX-SR8 radio
eHam user reviews of the Alinco DX-SR8 transceover
Yahoo Groups user discussions about Alinco DX-SR8
If you have found this article useful, please click the Google +1 button below and recommend it to your ham friends. Thank you.
73 de David, vk2dmh.
Incoming search terms:
- DX-SR8
- alinco dx-sr8e
- Alinco DX-SR8
- battery required to run hf ham radio 100watts
- radio hf alinco
- alinco dx sr8
- alinco dx sr8t
- alinco hf modell alinco dx-sr8e hf
- dx sr8t
- hf raynet radios
No related posts.