Regarding Sony SB920 mods Wm F Kitching's web site has easy to follow details http://www.band2dx.info/sony/sony_sb920.htm .

The SB920 is easy to work on - but use de-soldering braid to remove the solder from the ceramic filters and a cocktail stick to open out the holes after you have pulled the fillter out. Put in SIL sockets for the new ones. And whilst you are at it - add an output for RDS signals - run the connections to a 3.5mm stereo jack socket - as there is a nice size mounting hole for it in the chassis. It all works a treat. You can buy all the bits from e-bay sellers.

There is a nice local tropo enhancement this morning here in the south-east - bringing in some nice low power stations on RDS eg City Music on 103.8, Top Radio Aalter 104.7, Bel RTL on 104.0, Q-Music on 88.6, BNR on 91.5.

David

I've just fitted narrow filters to my recently purchased Sony ST-S311 and also taken off the clock and data signals from the smd RDS Chip to feed RDSSpy via the audio input of a PC soundcard.

I've compared the two receivers below - full service manuals for both can be downloaded from electrotanya.com - which shows in many respects the circuitry is identical or only slightly tweaked.

SB920 - conventional components throughout
ST-S311 - surface mounted capacitors and resistors except for electrolytics and fusible resistors.

SB920 - two aerial inputs
ST-S311 - one aerial input (UK model), two aerial inputs (EU model)

SB920 tuner - big
ST-S311 - tiny and inaccessible but as far as I can tell - apart from the coils it's all surface mounted components. BTW the silver fixing bolt holding the aerial panel to the chassis is soldered to the tuner can - and needs to be unsoldered in order to remove the board for modification - and re-soldered after. I presume it to provide better grounding.

SB920 - no easy access to bandwidth or attenuator and most of the other selection buttons are small and behind a drop down flap
ST-S311 - everything is on the front panel and much easier to access.

SB-920 - the front display panel has a metal shield
S311 - doesn't have a shield.

The IF layout on the S311 is much better in my opinion as all four filters are in a straight line - unlike the SB920 - so might be less likely to suffer leakage(?)

I also spent a little bit of time swopping out ceramic filters.2x150 + 1x110 and 2x150 + 2X110 showed no discernable difference in RDSSpy responsiveness - but going to 1x150+3x110 made it appreciably slower on a marginal station.

So at the moment it's running with 2x150 and 2x110.

Sensitivity? I don't know if I can tell the difference. I've no measuring equipment other than the lump between the ears and I'm also comparing with an SB920 fitted with 3x180 and 1x110. And external noise is the limiting factor anyway. As RDSpy response time is the same I'll be putting the same filter line up that I have in the ST-S311.

The ST-S311 goes for quite reasonable amounts on ebay - and worth a look. My one is probably going to be used as a dedicated M-S receiver plugged into an old desktop PC.

David

Sittingbourne

That makes interesting reading. I don't mind dabbling with a soldering iron (I changed the capacitors on a Thomson SkyHD box PSU not that long ago)- may be worth a try.


Slight enhancements to night- RDS on BleuNord and France Info (94.7 & 105.2) from Lille, something coming in and out in French on 106.5.

BBC Essex on 95.3 up to stereo levels.

106.5 would be France Info from Boulogne. Try for 89.4 (France Musique), 95.5 (France bleu Nord) and 103.3 (France Inter) for other Boulogne frequencies.

Is Lille stable with RDS or fading in & out with RDS on peaks?

[quote=DDaveBB;63855074] Sony SB920 vs ST-S311

I've compared the two receivers below - full service manuals for both can be downloaded from electrotanya.com - which shows in many respects the circuitry is identical or only slightly tweaked.

...

[quote]

I missed two other differences - to do with RDS

The Sony SB920 can display PI codes the ST S311 can't.

The SB920 doesn't hold the Station name when the signal fades - the ST S311 does hold the name.

Lille was stable.

Don't stand much chance with 103.3- that's determinedly London Greek round here.

95.5 is a fairly strong pirate so no chance there either.

Just had a brief burst of E skip on Band 2 with several stations at the bottom of the band. 87.5, 88.3 and 89.4 were all playing Tears For Fears 'Shout'. I suspect this was Italy as DX Sherlock is showing an Es cloud in the right place. As I presently have the Yamaha T-2 tuner hooked up I didn't have access to RDS.

All gone just before 1 pm.

Good reception from Liege at 346 km, Profondeville at 308 km - with full RDS on peaks. German stations from Aachen (388km) and Langenberg (440 km)clear on peaks and with pi code. Even Luxembourg on 100.7 finally gave a pi code (RDS Spy is pretty good)

I'm just working my way through the list of stations on the same sites to snag as many as I can get.!

Follows on, I think from a waether front that was giving heavy rain at 21:30.

For those interested in MW Dx I logged Caribbean Beacon on 1610khz from Anguilla at 5.50 yesterday morning and Rebelde from Cuba on 1620khz as I type this morning.Both confirmed IDs.

I notice there's a small lift here. I am currently listening to BBC Radio 4 on 94.4 from Swingate which is mostly in fully-quieting mono/sometimes noisy stereo with slow fades. Lille is also up, France Musique Boulogne noisy on 89.4 and France Inter fair mono on 92.7 from Neufchâtel-en-Bray. I think this activity is related to the mild moist airflow that is in place at present.

Thanks for this info David as I have bought one today for £2.99+10 postage and I was the only bidder.

I also bought another Sony ST-SE520 yesterday for £5 so the soldering iron is ready and waiting.

Andy

Conditions were rubbish yesterday but still managed to get reception of 538 on 102.7 MHz and Q on 100.7 MHz . All during pouring rain and wind on the Walcott coast. During a strong lift and the right equipment I'd love to know what else could come in at this location. Maybe even Poland.

Conditions have lifted up here this morning with the Lille nationals at good levels, also Boulogne on 89.4 and a couple of other bits from northern France starting to push in.

I have plugged my 5 element antenna in after replacing damaged coaxial cable (it was damaged because it was going through the window) I put a flat piece on so it can go through the window. It works really well for satellite TV, well today I plugged it in to the ST-SB920 and I'm picking up Heart Peterborough on 102.7, it's a bit staticy but it's listenable. I am amazed by that.

Was really sunny this morning with in a hour Its really foggy here now.
Not tired my radio yet though.

A slight enhancement to the South East not much else, nice to see clear blue skies all around though!

Here near Bristol there was a slight lift last night.For the first I'me heard heard R Kent from Swingate battling in between two strong signals on 104.20Mhz.

Yes the BBC nationals from Swingate were up quite nicely last night here as well.

Not a great deal going on today, although I have had the Denon tuner parked on 100.7 and Luxembourg keeps fading up with a weak fluttery signal.

Sutton Coldfield nationals are up into RDS territory. Not a great deal else though.

I was getting listenable signals from Egem in the car just before 17.00 this evening, but no RDS. Anyone else getting anything?

FM signals from France coming in loud and clear between 19.00 and 20.00GMT tonight.Received in Brighton with indoor antenna only. France Musique on 95.6 very strong also France Culture from various transmitters and various frequencies.

Nice enhancement to the South East again tonight, Kiss 106.4 is coming in full RDS!

A heads up for anyone looking for a superb DX tuner:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290867193049

I have a Denon TU-800L and for a conventional design it has to be one of the best stock tuners for DXing you can get. It also has superb audio quality in wide IF mode. No connection to seller.

Might be worth watching this one.

Early days yet but the Hepburn chart for next Tuesday is looking very interesting for DXers in northern England & Scotland:

http://www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo_nwe.html#day6

Hopefully it won't get downgraded...

Is it better than an unmodified st sb920 for selectivity and sensitivity and does the rds stay after the signal has gone. I've noticed with my Sony that the rds disappears immediately after the signal goes. Does it have 2 aerial ports and display PI codes. Sorry probably too many questions there.