starman wrote in message ...
What about a Drake R8B? Cost $1,495, This one have a lot of flaws too,for example the power supply run very hot,[a remedy is to use an external power supply]
The R8(x) transformer runs warmer than some receivers but in no way hot.
I've never heard of any failure of the transformer or associated AC
power supply components. The R75 doesn't have an internal power
transformer. It uses a wall wart, so it's not a fair comparison.
It run very hot and you know it and in a past post to this group you
attribute the problem to the "international voltages transformer" and
you wrote that you fix the problem using an external power supply.
(R8B) ,bassy sound "virtually requieres a
outboard speaker" [Passport],
'Passport' was making the point that the R8 requires an external speaker
to fully appreciate it's audio quality but it's not mandatory. IMO- If
any receiver needs an external speaker it's the R75. The OEM speaker
sounds more like a cheap CB radio. The R75 sounds much better with an
external speaker but it's still not as good as an R8, particularly for
program listening.
The R75 external speaker it's not mandatory too.But a lot of owners
are satisfied using only an external speaker with it.It's not a nice
experience to try to do hardcore dxing with the R8B bassy sound and
background hiss from the synthesizer circuit.I read your post asking
Pete for help in this issue.
a cheap mechanical encoder used to have an above -average failure rate [Why not an optical one like in the AOR 7030+]
The original R8 had an optical encoder. Drake says they changed it
because it had problems. Tests by myself and some others on this group
seem to indicate that the factory lubricant in the mechanical encoder is
the problem. After cleaning mine and relubing it with a synthetic
grease, it's been completely reliable for almost two years. I don't know
if Drake has made any changes in the OEM encoder lube in recent models.
The AOR-7030 also had problems with it's tuning encoder in the early
models.
There is not excuse for a $1499 receiver having this cheap encoder.Ask
drake for a pro one like the one in the R-75 and AOR 7030+.
,a lot of birdies and background hiss [from the syntetiser board and some Poor shielding and grounding techniques ect ect ect.....
The early R8B (1997) had more birdies than expected for a receiver in
it's price class. The newer ones (since about 2000) have much fewer
birdies. I had a 97' and now have an 01', so I've heard the difference.
2 week ago I read your posting asking Pete help for the problems with
synthesizer board circuit interaction cause by poor shielding and
grounding techniques.
My R75 cost only $450.00 with free DSP included. It have installed 2.4khz,3.3khz,6khz filters,
Those filters are not cheap. Take a look at Universal's website for the
prices.
http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...rxvr/0175.html
The 3.3khz filter cost $7.00 and the 6khz $30.00 [from a company
closeout sale] nice filters with very good skirt shape factor.
sensitivity mod,339 comparator sync mod,Phidelity mod all this mods
for less than $50.00 and not only "work as advertised" but work better
than a R8B [and others expensive receivers] for dxing.
There is no sync' mod for the R75 that makes it work as well as the
sync' on an R8B.
All the R-75 with kiwa Sync det mod owners are very happy with its
sync det performance.The difference is that we do the sideband
selecting by hand not aut [using the 2.4khz filter and the twin PBT.]A
shortwave receiver is not only a receiver with a good Sync det[the
R8B sync det is not a perfect one]but a receiver with good
stability,good skirt shape filters[the discontinued drake R7 have
better filter skirts than the R8B [from passport R8B white papers],1hz
tunning steps like the R-75,some DSP feature,good
sensitivity,oustanding SSB mode [like the [R75],exceptional quiet
circuitry [that the R8B don't have], and the most neglected part a
good MW/SW antenna.
The Icom R75 does not have QC problems I'm aware of. It does have design
problems and is the reason people have the units modified.
All receivers have design problems.
The design of any receiver is a compromise of cost vs. performance. I
prefer to pay more for a receiver that doesn't need many (if any) mod's,
than to pay less up front and then spend more time and money to get it
working acceptably.
But the problem is that you paid more for your used R8B and now you
have an expensive receiver that don't have DSP,only one pre-amp [R-75
two],not tune in 1hz increments,not tune up to 60MHZ,cheap mechanical
encoder with high rate record of failure [you are the best witness
because you had an encoder failure],a lot of background hiss and noise
from the synthesizer circuit and "some birdies" a "Kmart" calculator
keypad and tunning Knob and for some of this flaws NOT MOD AVAILABLE.
BTW- I guess it was just a matter of time before this subject came
around again. I think it's clear who got it going. This will be my only
reply. I don't care who gets the last word.
No me, I'm only reacting to someone who think that cost is synonymous
of performance.Maybe someone who read and believe without question
what Passport say about the R8B "It gets everything right"