On Thu, 02 Dec 2004 23:32:06 -0500, RivaScoot
wrote:

On Wed, 01 Dec 2004 19:56:53 -0800, tommyknocker
wrote:

Ed Maikranz wrote:

Ok I need a new receiver. Just sold my Grundig 800 which was ok but
want something different.
I have about $400 what should I look for?
Ed

Look for a used tabletop. You can get a 1980s vintage tabletop with
digital readout and all the other goodies for a decent price. There's a
site where hams buy and sell equipment, I think it's qrz.com or qsz.com
or something like that, you'll probably get a much better deal on there
than you will on ebay. You could probably get a Yaesu or a Kenwood for
under $400, since those companies no longer make tabletop SW receivers
their products have sort of an orphan status, which means their prices
are lower.

Just curious about something.

Is a receiver that uses 20 or 25-year old technology still up to snuff
for shortwave today.
Other than synchronous detection (and a product detector can do just
about everything a synchronous detector can do, but requires more
effort), , DSP and ease of use issues, the performance has been
limited by Atmospheric noise since probably the mid 1950's. Some of
the relatively old Tube radios like the Collins S-Line, A-line, Drake
2 series, 4 series, and some of the Hammerlunds like the HQ180, are
really at the performance limits for HF reception. They didn't have
digital readouts, but once they warmed up, most were rock solid, and
often had selectivity curves that stand up quite well even today. A 2B
with a 2BQ could manage a 100hz Bandwidth without much trouble. The
shape factor on the Collins Mechanical Filters (now called SAW
filters) are about as good as it gets.


I'm not passing any value judgements, I'm simply curious.

Thanks,


RivaScoot








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