VistaCruiser1 asked:
What I'd really like to know is if there's any significant reason to
prefer a DSP-based receiver (e.g. the 756Pro-III) over an analog
receiver (e.g. AOR 7030+) on the basic of receiving performance.
Here's where I perceive DSP receivers to have the advantage:
* Sharper, narrower filters without artifacts (e.g. ringing)
* Easy updates via software download (TenTec supports this, does
Icom?
(I doubt it))
and for analog:
* Higher dynamic range than most DSP receivers
* Lower cost (typically)
* Better audio
_________________________________________
Certainly the filters on the Icom 756 PRO III are just awesome - they
don't come much better than that.
The only filters I ever knew "rang" where on very narrow mechanical
filters such as you would use on CW, that is on analogue radio's.
On the 756Pro3 you will get absolutely no ringing at all, even on the
narrowest CW filter settings, and the number of 756Pro3 users who are
ecstatic about the filter performance on CW are well listed in the
eHam reviews, of which there are hundreds of happy owners. See:
http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/4635
No, the 756Pro3 is not firmware upgradeable, but it is the third
incarnation of this radio and you will see the very many users on eHam
who rave about it.
As for getting a radio with the highest dynamic range, I would say
that this is an overated feature. One of my DX pals had a radio with
93dB of close in performance and I never saw him post logs any better
than anyone else. On the other hand, many of the top DXer's are now
using SDR radio's which have a significantly lower close in
performance, yet they are achieving the most amazing results. The
close in of the 7030 is 82dB vs that of the 756Pro3 being 78dB (as
tested by QST) - you will never notice the difference in practical
use.
As for audio, it was true of the early Icom offerings that their audio
was poor, but the latest batch, including the 756Pro3 are very much
better. In fact if you place the 7030 side by side with the 756Pro3
and play them alternatively through a good outboard speaker, I am
willing to bet you will find the 756 audio better = it's really very
good.
Then we have price: yes, the 756Pro3 is expensive, but I never saw on
any of the eHam reviews anyone claiming it was not value for money. I
have owned mine for three years now and the shock of the high price
has long since worn off after experiencing the pleasure of owning one
of the finest performing and engineered radio's in the world. However,
if price is a major consideration, then consider as an alternative the
Icom 746Pro, which is considerably cheaper at about $1,600 - a very
good buy and the identical engine as that used in the 756Pro3.
Finally, if you are considering an SDR (many serious DXer's have
already moved into these, especially the older SDR-IQ), then the only
show in town at the moment is the Italian Perseus - it will land you
at about $1000 and has some great features with performance to match.
Remember, if you choose the 7030+ you are buying yesterday's
technology, the radio has been on the market for about twelve years
now.
John Plimmer, Montagu, Western Cape Province, South Africa
South 33 d 47 m 32 s, East 20 d 07 m 32 s
RX Icom IC-756 PRO III with MW mods
Drake SW8 & ERGO software
Sony 7600D, GE SRIII, Redsun RP2100
BW XCR 30, Sangean 803A.
GE circa 50's radiogram
Antenna's RF Systems DX 1 Pro Mk II, Datong AD-270
Kiwa MW Loop, PAORDT Roelof mini-whip
http://www.dxing.info/about/dxers/plimmer.dx
On Nov 20, 12:25 am, wrote:
This thread seems to have migrated from a DSP vs. analog discussion to
one of ergonomics of buttons/knobs vs. menus.
What I'd really like to know is if there's any significant reason to
prefer a DSP-based receiver (e.g. the 756Pro-III) over an analog
receiver (e.g. AOR 7030+) on the basic of receiving performance.
Here's where I perceive DSP receivers to have the advantage:
* Sharper, narrower filters without artifacts (e.g. ringing)
* Easy updates via software download (TenTec supports this, does Icom?
(I doubt it))
and for analog:
* Higher dynamic range than most DSP receivers
* Lower cost (typically)
* Better audio
I had a chance to sit down and use a 756Pro-III for a few hours this
weekend, and I must say the spectrum scope is an addictive feature!