On Dec 26, 6:44*pm, Bill Baka wrote:
D. Peter Maus wrote:
On 12/26/09 04:50 , D. Peter Maus wrote:

R-8(x) is not exactly a portable. Exceptional receiver but you'll need
some antenna, and a power supply. Intuitive controls. A bit heavy for
bike trips. Superb audio.

My conclusion too.



SW-8 is portable, and performs very well. Internal batteries, if you'd
like. But not terribly sensitive on the internal whip. That can be
improved, somewhat, by a trip to Drake. But still requires some antenna.
FM and Air band included. Superb audio, as well. Fits well in a car.
Easy to read display. Intuitive controls. Also a bit heavy for bike
trips.

It is one of 3 finalists. SW-8, AOR AR7030, and one of the Lowes, either
an AOR3030 or AOR7030. Beyond that I can go down to the general purpose
portables, nice for *old* people to take on a cruise ship but not for
me, the eternal teenager and user/abuser of equipment. The Mountain bike
weighs about 48 pounds, I weigh 40 pounds over my athletic peak, and a
heavy radio would be the least of my problems.



AOR AR7030+...pricey. Can run you a kilobuck on the used market.
Compact. Stands toe to toe with the R8(x) in performance. Excellent
audio. The nested menu o/s not really for driving.

I don't even try to tune the radio when I am moving. CD's, cassettes and
other accident causers are not in my car or in use when I drive. If I
can find a good station before I start then I don't have to tune around.
Since I learned to listen for mechanical noise and fix my own car I have
been a DIY'er ever since I was 15 on cars, 7 or 8 on radios.
* * * * * * * t5rwss've not mentioned, that's VERY portable, smaller and
lighter



than the AOR, HIGHLY sensitive, works off battery power, and a whip
antenna, excellent audio....you can toss it into a backpack for a
bicycle trip and not feel it....Lowe HF-150. When you can find one, it
will be less expensive and a better general fit than your other options.
No lighted dial without modification.

Another small, and very nice performer, though not the best S/N is AOR's
AR3030. Sensitivity is good, but headroom is not on par with the others.
Small, lightweight, can run on batteries, sensitive enough for a whip
antenna. Intuitive controls, nice audio. Looks good.

For desktop operation, any of the 5. In order of performance: R8(x),
AR7030, HF-150, SW-8, AR3030.

In the car, in order of performance: HF-150, SW-8, AR3030.

For bike trips: HF-150, SW-8, AR3030.

For general purpose/all applications: SW-8, HF-150.

Pretty much the short list I came up with.

someone
* One caveat about SW-8. The audio stage is unique. The finals output is
not referenced to ground. That is to say it's floating and balanced. If
you should accidently take one leg to ground, say in an attempt to run
the audio through the car's system, you blow the audio stage. So, auto
applications will require some care. Transform the output and you're fine.

* Not an issue if you use the receiver's internal speaker exclusively..

In the car yes. I want to hear sirens and stuff happening around me when
I am driving. There are dozens of speaker sets around here from dead
receivers made (you know where, China), that gave up the ghost as soon
as possible when the warranty (full) expired. I could strap one under
the steering wheel since it is mono anyway and be isolated from the
car's 12 volt positive system. I have only seen positive ground on a few
European brands from the 1950's and very early 60's.
The Lowe, Drake, and AOR each have some unique features that would be
killer in one radio. I would like to see a custom comb filter in all of
them that could be set to blank the totally repetitive 50 and 60 Hertz
noise from lamps and such. If the are two or three SCR's all switching
at the same point per sine but different degrees they could be tuned out
manually.
Not to go overboard, but maybe someone else coming up, could offer a
radio with upgradeable modules until you got to the $30,000 super spy
radio that gets everything from literally D.C. to daylight.
Choices are still nice to have and I would still want to have the radio
in my hand before I buy it, but those days appear to be just memories now..
Bill Baka

The AR7030+ has many memory slots (300 I think) and a wireless IR
remote. I think it is too big for mounting in a car. Using the 7030 in
bright light may require the rear IR sensor to be covered over. The
7030+MB has a noise blanker, though I never really needed it. The auto
tracking notch filer is very good.