"Mark S. Holden" wrote in message
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Michael wrote:
"Mark S. Holden" wrote in message
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I'd feel better about the R75 if the factory incorporated the sync mod
into future production.
That would never happen.
There is some hope. They did fix a design flaw in the PCR-1000.
Icom doesn't consider/admit the sync to be flawed. Interesting though, that
2004 Passport did use a modded R-75 in their review :-)
The standard filter for sideband is narrow for my tastes at 2.1khz. The
Drake is slightly better at 2.3.
Wider filters can give improved fidelity, although if they don't have
steep enough skirts, you won't like them. My Harris RF-550 and AOR 7030+
have 3.2khz filters. They sound beautiful without adjacent channel
problems. Don't know the shape factor on
the Harris filter, but the 7030 one is 1.33. (It's a crystal filter,
made for the Racal 6790/gm)
Icom does sell a 2.8khz filter for $140 and a 3.3khz filter for $160.
It's not practical to change filters on the Drake.
Yes.. For program listening, the optional 2.8 and 3.3 would be ideal. It
isn't needed I dont think, but if you were an audio quality oriented
listener, you could shell out some loot for a new filter. And... there
is always a compromise with filter values. I dont think you need any
additional filters on the R-75 to get audio that could be regarded as
quite good.
The improved fidelity of a wider, but steeper filter can be appreciated in
ham or utility listening too. When you have good dynamic range, and good
fidelity, you don't get as much listener fatigue.
But an R75 with the Kiwa mods and an extra filter will cost more than
Lucky bid on the Harris. The advantage is he could do it in stages.
He won't need an additional filter...
But he might want it. Realistically, almost all of us buy whatever we buy
for enjoyment.
Once again, we come back to money/budget. On a budget, it probably isn't
best cost to buy an optional filter for the R-75 when the stock filters are
adequate. If budget was not an important option, Id say get the R-75 and
the R8b and all the extras that you can squeeze into them. And while your
at it, may be a WJ-8711A too. And toss in a few tube sets for kicks.
If I'm dealing with a reputable person, I'm not afraid of used radios.
How used ??? Hours of usage takes its toll on any machine. The most
honest fellow in the world would still be selling a used item with a
diminished life time left before some kind of failure takes place. Not
to mention, the satisfaction and excitement you get by taking a brand new
item out of a box :-)
Most of my radios have been military or commercial marine radios. I
imagine they've been on 24/7 for a decade or longer before I bought them.
Granted, they start out with better build quality, and they're well
maintained, but they've been very reliable.
It's not uncommon to find a used consumer radio that got limited use.
Perhaps they never got around to putting up an antenna that allowed the
hobby to live up to their expectations.
For me, the excitement doesn't start until I fire it up and start tuning
things in.
Usage is the reason for having a radio, but there is still something to be
said about getting a new item that has never been owned or used, unless of
course, you are talking about classic/antique items. No question, you can
get a used radio in great shape with plenty of miles left on it. If you had
a choice though, would you prefer a new unit or a used one if the price was
the same ??? You see ??? A brand new item is better :-) I'm not trying to
say that having something new is the be all and end all of benefits. I'm
just saying that it is one extra added benefit to buying the R-75 new vs.
getting a used R8a.
Also... The whole crux for buying a new R-75 is that it is a tremendous
value for what you pay. It is acceptable as a program listening radio,
can be improved quite a bit for little money and no risk. Add to that,
IMHO, it also happens to be the best ssb/utility/dx'ing radio you can buy
until you get into radios that cost literally three to four times as much
money.
If you limit yourself to new radios, perhaps.
No question, you can scrounge up a very capable used radio for less or
equal the money. But, going back to the original post. What is better,
used R8a or R-75. I say new R-75 for all the reasons listed above. Also..
how many radios, even any used radios that you can get for say... $400 to
$600 are that much better then the R-75 ???
You can't go wrong with a new R-75 if your goal is to buy a tabletop
receiver to use for program listening and ham and utility and DX'ing.
That is why it is so popular. Yes, other radios are better for some
things then others, but the R-75 is clearly a great value.
If I want to get a radio that is markedly better for program listening
then the R-75, I need to get an R8b or a Sat 800. The R8b is still not
an advance on the R-75 for DX'ing or utility and it cost way more. The
Sat 800 is a sw boom box and forget about utility or DX'ing as you could
do with the R-75
If I want to get a markedly better DX'ing radio then the R-75, you need
to think about 32 bit DSP transceivers, also for way more money.
Some time, you might want to check out a 20-25 year old Harris or Watkins
Johnson, or a Standard, or Mackay. They won't have as many convenience
features, or knobs to twiddle, but they were designed to provide a useful
signal under rough conditions, and they perform quite well.
I've always wanted to get myself an older radio. I have a Westinghouse
H-104 AM/SW tube radio from the 1940's and I love it. I have a recently
reconed speaker in it as well as all new caps. It is the most amazingly
warm sounding radio I have ever heard. I'd love to get myself an old tube
set that was specifically meant for sw. I see lots of old military sets on
e-bay, but I have no idea of what is what with those things. I dont even
know if you can plug them into a wall :-) The more recent sets like the
ones you mentioned above are also interesting. Still.. I have no idea what
is what about those radios. I wouldn't even know what might need to be done
to one if I decided to purchase it. I'd probably wind up buying a lemon.
Michael
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