I-Love-LA,

Why not stick with something you already know and build-on-that !
- - - Since you have a RL Drake R8 Receiver :
Consider "Up-Grading" to the 'newer' RL Drake R8B Receiver ?
http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...rxvr/0082.html

The {Third Generation} RL Drake R8B Receiver -"B" Model Image-
http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...vr/0082lrg.gif

Drake R8B Receiver -Specifications-
http://www.universal-radio.com/catal.../0082spec.html

Drake R8B Receiver -Rear Panel Diagram-
http://www.universal-radio.com/catal.../0082rear.html

Drake R8B Receiver -Options & Accessories-
http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...r/0082ops.html

The {Second Generation} RL Drake R8A -"A" Model Info-
http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...mrxvr/r8a.html
http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...r/r8aspec.html
http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...a.html#options

The Original {First Generation} RL Drake R8 -Original Model Info-
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/commrxvr/r8.html
http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...vr/r8spec.html
http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...8.html#options
http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...vr/r8rear.html

MONEY - Selling or trading-in the Drake R8 for a JRC NRD-545
should be very close to the cost of doing the same for a Drake R8B
-and- the Drake R8B is a real improvement over the original RG8

Plus - Even a Pre-Owned {Used} Drake R8B Receiver is New-to-You !

Check-Out the RL Drake R8 / R8A / R8B Shortwave Receiver
Owner-User Groups on Yahoo !
DRAKE R8 = http://groups.yahoo.com/group/draker8/
-also- The Drake R8B Group
DRAKE R8B = http://groups.yahoo.com/group/draker8b/

Also check-out the Japan Radio Co. NRD-545 Receiver
Owner-User Groups on Yahoo !
JRC NRD-545 = http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NRD-545/

Japan Radio Co. [JRC] NRD-545 DSP Shortwave Receiver -Info-
NRD-545 = http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...rxvr/1545.html
FRONT = http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...vr/1545lrg.jpg
COLOR LCD =
http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...r/1545lcd.html
INTERIOR =
http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...r/1545int.html

JRC - NRD-545 DSP Shortwave Receiver -Specifications-
http://www.universal-radio.com/catal.../1545spec.html

JRC - NRD-545 DSP Shortwave Receiver -Options & Accessories-
http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...r/1545ops.html
http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...5.html#options
http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...r/1545acc.html

JRC - NRD-545 DSP Shortwave Receiver -Read Panel Diagram-
http://www.universal-radio.com/catal.../1545rear.html


Consider-the-Possibilities : Life It's About Choices !
Choices - Those Bitter-Sweet Monments in Life ~ RHF