REALISTIC DX-150, DX-150A, DX-150B, DX-200, DX-300, DX-302 SW COMMUNICATION RECEIVERS.

In the 1960-1983 period Radio Shack introduced the DX series of SW Single Conversion Communication Receivers (except for the DX-300 & 302 Triple Conversion and "Wadley Loop" tuning system) manufactured by General Research of Electronics (GRE) of Chiba, Japan and marketed them in the United States by Radio Shack (Tandy Corporation) Below are the most popular. General Research of Electronics (GRE) also produced many Lafayette Electronics Receivers, Knight, Kenwood, Halicrafters etc.

DX-75

DX-150

DX-150 (In 1967-69) Solid State - 30 semiconductors,  general coverage single-conversion analog superhet (535 kHz to 30 MHz ) communications receiver, w/built in speaker, solid aluminum panel, lettering engraved with solid aluminum knobs. Over the next few years, this line underwent several improvements

DX-150A

DX-120 STAR PATROL

The DX-150A (1969-72) - 4 FET CIRCUIT ("FET front-end" ) w/built in speaker, ventilation slots, solid aluminum panel, lettering engraved and painted black on sides with black plastic/aluminum covered knobs. The DX-120 Star Patrol (1970-1971) was sold as a lower priced/less featured receiver also made by General Research of Electronics (GRE) of Chiba, Japan.

DX-150B

DX-150B - Five FETs, mechanical filter. External speaker included, internal speaker removed, no ventilation slots, solid aluminum panel with lettering silk screened and painted black on sides with  black plastic/aluminum covered knobs.

DX-160

In 1975 the DX-160 was introduced with the most noticeable change being the addition of a
LW band (150-400 kHZ) and one integrated circuit. External speaker included, internal speaker removed, no ventilation slots, solid aluminum panel with lettering silk screened and painted black on sides with black plastic/aluminum covered knobs.
 
   

            DX-300                         Yaesu FRG-7   

In 1980-1982 the DX-300 was a dramatically changed cabinet with 37 transistors (10 of which are field-effect type), a Large-Scale-Integration IC frequency counter, 3 integrated circuits, 25 diodes, 5 seven-segment LED displays and six LEDs.  Main Features are: Quartz controlled frequency synthesizer; Continuous frequency coverage from 10 kHz to 30 MHz; Large digital frequency display; Triple conversion circuity; Six element ceramic filter provides outstanding selectivity (freedom from adjacent channel interference); Dual MOS Field-effect transistor in the critical mixer stage (freedom from cross-modulation and undesirable RF distortion); All-silicon solid-state circuitry for maximum circuit efficiency with minimum noise; Audio power IC provides high intelligibility sound; AC or DC (neg. ground) operation; AC fail auto/switch-over for a no interruption of sound. Internal speaker. Plastic front panel and metal frame. The radio's theory of operation is based on the principle of the Wadley Loop tuner (developed by Trevor Wadley in the 1960s), and was one of the first radios marketed by Tandy Corporation to have a digital frequency display. The DX-302 succeeded and improved upon the similar Realistic DX-300. These receivers were a digital look alike of the Yaesu FRG-7. The DX-300-302 was very popular with the digital display at a time when analog ruled.

   

           DX-200                 Kenwood QR-666

In 1981-1983 the DX-200 was an analog single conversion receiver and the last (GRE) DX receiver Made in Japan with a similar cabinet to the DX-300 and 302. Internal speaker, Plastic front panel and metal frame. The copycat double conversion receivers by Kenwood (QR-666 Shown) and the Kenwood R-300 were also made by (GRE).

I have The DX-150A and a DX-200 and logged many a hour on the DX-150A with a shoe box full of QSL report cards from the late 60s early seventies and RECOMMEND any of these low cost receivers compared to todays portables. A DX-150-160-200 can fetch over $100.00+ on ebay if in mint condition. A DX-300-302 will cost you more. Forget what Hams say, I am an Electrical Mechanical Engineer and remember photos of Radio Shack Realistic DX-150 next to Drakes, Collins etc. in old 1960s-70s radio magazines. In fact when ebay was new there were many Hams looking for these Realistic DX receivers with more mods then you find around today!

***************NOTE**************

You can buy some nifty VFO knobs from ebay seller colgems for the DX-200, DX300 and DX-302 etc. I Got Them.

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