I am not sure how much Drake wants for their optical encoders, but you can
use either an Oak-Grisby or a Grayhill optical encoder. These are Quadrature
encoders that have four pins.............these are Channel A, Channel B, V+,
and ground. Universal hookup.................about 30 dollars USD.
I have gotten to play with the R8 and it is a nice receiver. The R75 is also
a winner, but it gets better after you do those mods. The only mod that I
have done to my R75 was to remove that MW attenuator. After that, it's a
great MW receiver. Now, if they would only do something about that "large
front mounted speaker". Another thing about the R75..........it would be
good to regulate that wall wart down to 15 volts, using a 7815 positive
regulator. Dave Zantos (N9EWO) just informed me tonight that there have been
internal regulator failures with the R75. I haven't used mine enough to
notice how hot the receiver actually does run.

Pete

"Lucky" wrote in message
...

"jimg" wrote in message
...
any opinions about which to buy for dx...
a 1992 drake r8 or a 2004 icom r-75 w dsp but without kiwa mods.

thnx
jimg
Oregon
USA

Get the R-75 with DSP. The old Drake's encoders go bad after a while. I
have read about several people having to send them in to Drake for new
ones. Now, while the R8 does have a optical encoder as opposed to the
later models mechcanical, those go bad too.

If you're into SSB and DXing, get the R-75. If you program listen mostly,
get the Drake. But I have no problem doing BCB on the R-75.

Remember, the R-75 has Twin PBT and filters you mix and match plus DSP and
it's newer. Can't be beat for the money.

Good luck.

Lucky