Radio
Boy
Ocean Boy 330 - 1992 - 1993
I bought this radio
via eBay in December 2001. Doesn't switch to USA standard 10kHz spacing
on MW, hence its non-availability there. Despite this, for the price, about
£40 new (equivalent of US$60), a good buy, pretty sensitive &
good audio. Reintroduced the Ocean Boy name after a 10 year absence, this
model was featured in the 1993 catalogue. It was
replaced by the Ocean Boy 340, which is similar inside, but has more distinctive
styling. Which you prefer is a matter of taste. (Note: the Ocean Boy 400/500/510
is a completely different range of radios).
Having both the OB330
& 340, it is obvious that a little "cost-cutting" took place with the
introduction of the 340. It has only a mechanical on/off switch, where
the 330 had an electronic one. Not a significant step down operationally,
but not as "sophisticated". The 340 also lost the wrist strap, and the
switches on the right hand side don't move as nicely.
Specification:
Styling:
Control panel
& LCD on right side, with black metal mesh speaker grille on left.
Kick stand on rear. Not as stylish as the OB340, to my eyes, but nice nonetheless.
Country of manufacture: Peoples
Republic of China.
Size: 110mm high x 194mm
wide x 42mm deep.
Weight (excluding batteries):
0.48 kg.
Power supply:
Internal; 4 x AA cells,
6V (radio) & 2 x AAA, 3V (clock & station memories).
External; 6V DC
Battery meter: No
Tuning method: Digital
PLL synthesizer
Tuning options: Manual
slew keys. Auto-search. Presets.
Wavebands:
FM: 87.5-108 mHz, tuning
steps 50 kHz.
LW 153-281 kHz, tuning steps
1kHz, mode: AM
MW 531-1602 kHz, tuning
steps 9kHz, mode: AM
SW 5900-15500 kHz, tuning
steps 5kHz, mode: AM
IF's:
FM; 10.7 MHz
AM; 450kHz (Single conversion).
Station memories:
Yes, 5 per waveband,
plus last station memory on each waveband.
Tuning meter: No
Local/DX switch: Yes
Aerials: Ferrite rod for
LW & MW, Telescopic for FM & SW
Dial illumination: Yes,
push and hold.
Mono selector: N/A, no
stereo facility.
Sockets:
Inputs; 6v DC
input, 5.5 mm barrel plug.
Outputs; 3.5mm
headphone socket (stereo wired for mono)
Output power: 400mW
Tone control: treble switch.
Clock/Timer:
Yes. 1 x 24 hour clock,
(shares display with frequency, using toggle key when set switched on,
permanently displayed when off).
60 minute sleep timer.
120 minute auto turn
on, with station change facility.
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