Specifications
General DX-SR9 ALL MODELS

 

Operating mode – J3E (USB, LSB), A3E (AM), AIA (CW), F3E (FM)

Number of memory channels – 600 channels simplex

Antenna impedance – 50 ohms unbalanced

Frequency stability – plus or minus 1ppm

Power requirement 13.8 V DC plus or minus 15% (11.7 to 15.8 V)

Ground method – Negative ground

Current drain – Receive 1.0A(max.) 0.7A(Sque1ched)
Transmit 20A

Operating temperature -10°C to 60°C (+14°F to +140°F)

Rated Duty Cycle – 30s TX on, 240s Tx off.

Dimensions – (With projections)
240(W) X 100(h) X 293(d) mm
(9.45’’(W) X 3.94”(h) X 11.54”(d))

Weight – Approx. 4.1 kg (9 pounds)

Transmitter

Power output – SSB, CW, FM – 100W (Hi) Approx. 10W (LOW) Approx. 1W (S-LOW)
AM – 40W (Hi) Approx. 4W (LOW) Approx. 0.4W (S—LOW)

Modulation system
SSB – Balanced modulation
AM – Low power modulation
FM – Reactance modulation

Spurious emissions – Less than -50 dB (Less than -45 dB in 30m band)
Carrier suppression – More than 40 dB

Unwanted sideband – More than 50 dB (1kHz)

Maximum FM deviation – plus or minus 2.5 kHz

Receiver

Receiver type – Double conversion superheterodyne

Sensitivity
SSB (0.15 to 1.8 MHZ) 0 dBu (1 uV)
CW (1.8 to 30 MHZ) -12 dBu (0.25 uV)
AM (0.15 to 1.8 MHZ) +20 dBu (10 uV)
(1.8 to 30 MHZ) +6 dBu (2 uV)
FM (28 to 30 MHz) -6 dBu (0.5 uV)

Intermediate frequency – 1st 71.75 MHZ 2nd 455 kHz

Selectivity
SSB, CW, AM (narrow) – 2.4 kHz/-6dB 4.5 kHz/-60dB
AM, FM – 6kHz/-6dB 18kHz/-60dB

Spurious and image rejection ratio- More than 70 dB
Audio output power – More than 2.0 W (8 ohms 10% THD)
RIT variable range plus or minus 1.2 kHz

DX-SR9
Microphone impedance – 2 kilo ohms
Transmit Frequency coverage – 1.6 MHz – 29.99999 MHZ
Receiver Frequency coverage 30 kHz – 34.99999 MHz

DX-SR9T                                                                                        DX-SR9E
Microphone impedance 300 Ohms 300 Ohms
Transmit Frequency Coverage
160m band (1.8M) 1.80000 – 1.99999MHz                            1.80000 – 1.99999 MHz
80m band (3.5M) 3.50000 – 3.99999 MHz                            3.50000 – 3.99999 MHz
60m band (5.3M) 5.25000 – 5.45000 MHz
40m band (7M)    7.00000 – 7.29999 MHz                             6.90000-7.49999 MHz
30m band (10M) 10.10000 -10.14999 MHz                           9.90000-10.49999 MHz
20m band (14M) 14.00000- 14.34999 MHz                       13.9000O-14.49999 MHz
17m band (18M) 18.06800- 18.16799 MHz                         17.90000-18.49999 MHz
15m band (21M) 21.00000- 21.44999 MHz                        20.90000-21.49999 MHz
12m band (24M) 24.89000- 24.98999 MHz                      24.40000-25.09999 MHz
10m band (28M) 28.00000- 29.69999 MHz                     28.00000-29.99999 MHz

Receiver Coverage 135kHz – 29.99999 MHz                      135kHz – 29.99999 MHz

NOTE: All specifications are subject to change without notice or obligation.

24 thoughts on “Alinco DX-SR9 Hybrid SDR Transceiver Review”
  1. Excellent review! Nice to see a semi-major manufacturer embracing the improvements SDR offers and including it in their rigs.

  2. Thanks a lot for the review and the Omnirig.ini. It works well with SDR-Radio.
    Is there any (more or less official) list of the Alinco commands?

    73, Uwe

    1. Check the Alinco Forum on this site. There is a list of DX-SR8 commands that seem to be pretty much compatible with the DX-SR9

  3. If only it included 6 meters this would be a slam dunk. I think the KX3 still has the edge, even at 90 watts less power.

  4. Just curious which brands of usb adapters worked and which didn’t. I just ordered a sabrent 7.1 usb card with line in, stereo mic input, etc..

    1. Actually one of the problem devices was the Sabrient SND8. The inputs were reversed. Even though they could be switched in the software for it, the setting wouldn’t always work correctly. The easy work around was to just swap the input cables around. The best performer by far was the Soundblaster SBX external box.

      1. Thanks for the heads up, I will keep that in mind when it comes in. I just got it because it was economical and I am impatient, lol. I will also check on the soundblaster box, I noticed in the videos of the Tokyo Ham Fair that they were running the soundblaster unit.

  5. When you say swap the cables around, do you mean use a stereo to mono splitter and use the stereo mic input?

    1. It would just me a matter of connecting the Left output to the Right input and the Right output to the Left input by using an adapter or by rewiring a 3.55 stereo cable so the inputs would be reversed.

  6. Sorry to keep making requests, but could you possibly post a youtube video of the SDR in action in a real receive/transmit environment? Counting down the days until my soundcard gets here lol

  7. I replaced my first faulty ERW-7 cable and now I have everything working in SDR mode thanks to the information here on this review and in the comments. I run SDR exclusively with this rig, and it works ok. Interesting note is that the I/Q imbalance is symmetrical in my unit, gain dropoff is severe and noticeable at both ends of the panadapter/waterfall. Annoying, yes but much easier to live with when symmetrical. Here is a YT video of the SDR in action:

    http://youtu.be/uaHAQCEwQck

    73 de AE5YJ

  8. Hi there just set my dx-dr9e radio up with the erw-7 cable along with two 3.5mm audio cable one into line in and one into speaker output.Is there a certain mic I require for use on my pc ? 3.5mm into mic juck or would a usb version work I have tried a basic electric mic but when I key I get a high pitched squeal I then get a notification up on screen saying out of range using a cheap electret mic pluged into my mic jack on pc.Also is there another similar software which will work with the alnico? apart from kgtrx ? thx

  9. Quick update radio with kgtx working well apart from the tx side when I click on tx I get a nasty squeal and a message saying out of range

    1. From what I understand the mic jack requires a mono plug and a dynamic mic. An electret mic cannot be used as a direct substitute for a dynamic mic without making some wiring or circuitry changes. The electret mic uses phantom power like a condenser mic and if you plug it into a jack that’s intended for a dynamic mic you’ll have a squealing problem or worse.
      Just plug in a simple, unbalanced dynamic mic and you should be good to go. That is, unless the voltage from the electret mic has caused some damage…but I think damage is unlikely with a low voltage electret. Good luck!
      Dub, k4dub

  10. How on earth you program memory channels? If you do what manual says it seems that frequency doesn’t save. Really seem to be overly complicated.

    Mainly now we talk cb-frequencies(receive/transmit same frequency)Mars-mod done to unit.

  11. Mentioned soon after introduction of the DX-SR9T Transceiver was the availability of an optional plug-in “filter board” (Part# EJ-59U) that is still available from ALINCO/REMTRONIX–but has not been mentioned in “factory literature” for well over the last year (2015 & 16). This “filter board” allows the substitution of up to three Eight-Pole COLLINS Mechanical Filters in place of the “stock” Four-Pole MURATA Ceramic Filters. Though not bad to begin with–the improvement in Selectivity is remarkable!! Refer to KZ4B’s comments regarding the DX-SR9T under EHAM.net for much more detail regarding this valuable option.

  12. What a great review, actually it made me purchasing the transceiver. And what can I say? I’m very impressed, what Alinco offers with the DX-SR9, especially considering the relatively low price compared to other TRXs that dont’t offer as many functions, for example FM and the SDR option.

    What I like about the Alinco is the clear and simple design.
    I even don’t mind the three solid power output levels. Where’s the problem? You get a high, low and super-low setting with the possibility to fine-adjust everything on the circuit-board or to limit the high setting to 50 W by soldering a jumper. Working digital modes I set to the “high” level and adjust the output power with the sound level of the PC.

    Ok, what annoys me a bit are the many multifunction buttons at the front, but tell me a similar device that doesn’t have them.

    The KG-TRX software works relatively well but I had to update the TRX to a newer or special firmware to make it work correctly. Otherwise there always was a offset in the waterfall when I changed between LSB/USB/CW mode. I reported to the Alinco online customer service which could help me immediately.

    The Software itself is very basic and clear, what I like very much, because with more options it would tend to be overloaded I guess. Everything works including TX and CW TX.
    The 48 khz is wide enough for me. Ok, there is this signal ghosting but it can be reduced by a high quality soundcard.

    Would I recommend the Alinco? Yes!

    vy 73 DF1FN

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