The Hitachi is the only portable Worldspace receiver that is CE marked for sale in the EU (Hitachi Worldspace Receiver)

Member Name: adstone

Product:	Hitachi Worldspace Receiver
Date:	03/06/01 (1399 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: clear digital reception, flexible antenna, variety of power sources

Disadvantages: the mains plug connects to a socket on the back of the set which means that the set can?t lie flat on the window sill etc., the manual up-down tuning on the vhf band is very slow, although direct entry of frequencies is possible., the length of cable attached to the satellite antenna is annoyingly short and the extension lead is rather too long and unsightly for most circumstances

The Hitachi is the only portable Worldspace receiver that is CE marked for sale in the EU. Rather larger (deeper) and heavier than most world band radios such as the Roberts R861, but otherwise it looks just like an ordinary portable. Besides reception on the Worldspace band the set also receives on FM, MW and SW and 10 preset stations can be programmed on each band. The set can be powered from mains, 4 D cell batteries, or 12v.

Good strong signals from the Afristar Beam 1 in the SW of England, although the footprint seems to cover all of the UK. There are currently 36 audio stations QRV on Afristar Beam 1 including WRN, CNN, Bloomberg plus numerous music channels, and also two data services (check www.worldspace.com for latest and to subscribe to the newsletter). My favourites are BOB and VOYAGER, both American based playing alternative rock and pop with very little advertising. The transmissions carry station identification data which is displayed on the front LCD screen. Interface to a PC is possible through the data connector.

A clear line of sight to the satellite is required (approx. SSE from the UK), although even curtains will attenuate the signal too much for reception. The detachable antenna can easily be adjusted for direction and azimuth, and indeed it isn?t practicable to use the antenna mounted on the set.

minus points - just three niggly points that would otherwise have mad it a great set:
1. the mains plug connects to a socket on the back of the set which means that the set can?t lie flat on the window sill etc.
2. the manual up-down tuning on the vhf band is very slow, although direct entry of frequencies is possible.
3. the length of cable attached to the satellite antenna is annoyingly short and the extension lead is rather too long and unsightly for most circumstances; however with a couple of F-connectors and the right coax the DIYer should be able to make a small extension cable to suit.

Overall
this is a handy set providing clear digital reception of stations not normally heard via any other media.

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