|
Is winradio really all that good?
Is winradio as good as it's made out to be?
I'm thinking of buying one but I'd like to make sure there aren't any really dis-satisfied customers out there first. |
"Geoff Burginon" wrote in message news:41faecda.13177859@news-server... Half of what you remember is correct, the other half is not: They did indeed review all the three radios you mention, but the Winradio was a clear winner. They said it is the "ne plus ultra" amongst all PC radios. I have the G313 and I would never ever look back. Superb radio. Geoff and only half of that is right. The winradio g303i and tentec rx-3200 were BOTH rated 4-star 'passport's choice'. The icom pcr1000 was only rated 3 stars. However, this IS rec.radio.scanner -- not rec.radio.shortwave, and Passport's 'Verdict' section on the icom says "Among tested PC-controlled receivers, the Japanese-made Icom IC-PCR1000 is the most appropriate for wideband frequency coverage." -- which kind of sounds like what a rec.radio.scanner questioner would be interested in... |
On Sat, 29 Jan 2005 03:32:15 GMT, "SamSez"
wrote: "Geoff Burginon" wrote in message news:41faecda.13177859@news-server... Half of what you remember is correct, the other half is not: They did indeed review all the three radios you mention, but the Winradio was a clear winner. They said it is the "ne plus ultra" amongst all PC radios. I have the G313 and I would never ever look back. Superb radio. Geoff and only half of that is right. The winradio g303i and tentec rx-3200 were BOTH rated 4-star 'passport's choice'. The icom pcr1000 was only rated 3 stars. Yes, and only half of that is right. ;-) TenTec got 4 stars and WinRadio also, but only WinRadio was declared "ne plus ultra amongst PC receivers". (Just looked up "ne plus ultra" in a dictionary to be sure, it means "the pinnacle" or "the ultimate", simply the very best.) And the WRTH awarded five stars to G303 with a glowing review. To anyone who has tried both receivers, the difference between TenTec 320 and Winradio G303 is quite obvious: You buy TenTec if you are happy with a conventional performance receiver with a crude PC control, and your budget is tight. You buy WinRadio if you want more innovation and refinement, better performance and better features, and don't mind paying a little more. However, this IS rec.radio.scanner -- not rec.radio.shortwave, and Passport's 'Verdict' section on the icom says "Among tested PC-controlled receivers, the Japanese-made Icom IC-PCR1000 is the most appropriate for wideband frequency coverage." -- which kind of sounds like what a rec.radio.scanner questioner would be interested in... Indeed. In such case I would have however recommend the WinRadio WR-1550e. I happen to own this model also, and in my experience it runs circles around the PCR 1000. Geoff |
"Geoff Burginon" wrote in message
news:41fb67ad.451203@news-server... On Sat, 29 Jan 2005 03:32:15 GMT, "SamSez" However, this IS rec.radio.scanner -- not rec.radio.shortwave, and Passport's 'Verdict' section on the icom says "Among tested PC-controlled receivers, the Japanese-made Icom IC-PCR1000 is the most appropriate for wideband frequency coverage." -- which kind of sounds like what a rec.radio.scanner questioner would be interested in... Indeed. In such case I would have however recommend the WinRadio WR-1550e. I happen to own this model also, and in my experience it runs circles around the PCR 1000. Geoff Concur - owning both a PCR1000 and a Winradio 1500e, I fully support the statement. My experience with the PCR 1000 has been very negative to put it mildly - it has **** sensitivity and has woeful support from hte manufacturer. The top of the line winradio gear is a damn sight more expensive, but there is not a lot of cost difference between the 1000 and the 1550 - my advice, don't waste your money on the Icom. Matt |
"Geoff Burginon" wrote in message news:41fb67ad.451203@news-server... snip However, this IS rec.radio.scanner -- not rec.radio.shortwave, and Passport's 'Verdict' section on the icom says "Among tested PC-controlled receivers, the Japanese-made Icom IC-PCR1000 is the most appropriate for wideband frequency coverage." -- which kind of sounds like what a rec.radio.scanner questioner would be interested in... Indeed. In such case I would have however recommend the WinRadio WR-1550e. I happen to own this model also, and in my experience it runs circles around the PCR 1000. Geoff You might indeed recommend it, but Passport did not... [the original question?] |
"Matt" wrote in message ... "Geoff Burginon" wrote in message news:41fb67ad.451203@news-server... On Sat, 29 Jan 2005 03:32:15 GMT, "SamSez" However, this IS rec.radio.scanner -- not rec.radio.shortwave, and Passport's 'Verdict' section on the icom says "Among tested PC-controlled receivers, the Japanese-made Icom IC-PCR1000 is the most appropriate for wideband frequency coverage." -- which kind of sounds like what a rec.radio.scanner questioner would be interested in... Indeed. In such case I would have however recommend the WinRadio WR-1550e. I happen to own this model also, and in my experience it runs circles around the PCR 1000. Geoff Concur - owning both a PCR1000 and a Winradio 1500e, I fully support the statement. My experience with the PCR 1000 has been very negative to put it mildly - it has **** sensitivity and has woeful support from hte manufacturer. The top of the line winradio gear is a damn sight more expensive, but there is not a lot of cost difference between the 1000 and the 1550 - my advice, don't waste your money on the Icom. Matt Disagree -- sold my 1500e and bought a second 1000. Each to his own. Spend your money wisely. |
On Sat, 29 Jan 2005 16:16:30 GMT, "SamSez"
wrote: "Geoff Burginon" wrote in message news:41fb67ad.451203@news-server... snip However, this IS rec.radio.scanner -- not rec.radio.shortwave, and Passport's 'Verdict' section on the icom says "Among tested PC-controlled receivers, the Japanese-made Icom IC-PCR1000 is the most appropriate for wideband frequency coverage." -- which kind of sounds like what a rec.radio.scanner questioner would be interested in... Indeed. In such case I would have however recommend the WinRadio WR-1550e. I happen to own this model also, and in my experience it runs circles around the PCR 1000. Geoff You might indeed recommend it, but Passport did not... [the original question?] Passport did not review Winradio 1550e in fact. And even if they did, I'd rather verify their opinion myself, as I always do - trust me I am very well qualified for that. Also, as you are correctly implying elsewhere, different people can have different needs and motivations, and other issues rather than those of strictly objective technical merit can, and often do, come into play, and I have seen this happening with Passport also. But that particular Passport comparison involved only Winradio G303i vs TenTec vs PCR1000, which I have already covered. You can also see the TenTec and Winradio receivers compared side by side by Lee Reynolds in the August 2003 issue of the Monitoring Times magazine. The G303i was, unsurprisingly, a clear winner. So, the answer to the original question is, "yes, Winradio is really that good", and often better than it is being credited for. I guess the reason is that they are often miles ahead of others. Just look at their latest G303e and G313i - there is simply no comparison: http://www.winradio.com/home/g303e.htm http://www.winradio.com/home/g313i.htm Geoff |
"Geoff Burginon" wrote in message news:41fc1759.1072906@news-server... On Sat, 29 Jan 2005 16:16:30 GMT, "SamSez" wrote: "Geoff Burginon" wrote in message news:41fb67ad.451203@news-server... snip However, this IS rec.radio.scanner -- not rec.radio.shortwave, and Passport's 'Verdict' section on the icom says "Among tested PC-controlled receivers, the Japanese-made Icom IC-PCR1000 is the most appropriate for wideband frequency coverage." -- which kind of sounds like what a rec.radio.scanner questioner would be interested in... Indeed. In such case I would have however recommend the WinRadio WR-1550e. I happen to own this model also, and in my experience it runs circles around the PCR 1000. Geoff You might indeed recommend it, but Passport did not... [the original question?] Passport did not review Winradio 1550e in fact. And even if they did, I'd rather verify their opinion myself, as I always do - trust me I am very well qualified for that. Also, as you are correctly implying elsewhere, different people can have different needs and motivations, and other issues rather than those of strictly objective technical merit can, and often do, come into play, and I have seen this happening with Passport also. But that particular Passport comparison involved only Winradio G303i vs TenTec vs PCR1000, which I have already covered. You can also see the TenTec and Winradio receivers compared side by side by Lee Reynolds in the August 2003 issue of the Monitoring Times magazine. The G303i was, unsurprisingly, a clear winner. So, the answer to the original question is, "yes, Winradio is really that good", and often better than it is being credited for. I guess the reason is that they are often miles ahead of others. Just look at their latest G303e and G313i - there is simply no comparison: http://www.winradio.com/home/g303e.htm http://www.winradio.com/home/g313i.htm Geoff So I guess you're the guy I buy one from... |
On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 02:24:33 GMT, "SamSez"
wrote: "Geoff Burginon" wrote in message news:41fc1759.1072906@news-server... On Sat, 29 Jan 2005 16:16:30 GMT, "SamSez" wrote: "Geoff Burginon" wrote in message news:41fb67ad.451203@news-server... snip However, this IS rec.radio.scanner -- not rec.radio.shortwave, and Passport's 'Verdict' section on the icom says "Among tested PC-controlled receivers, the Japanese-made Icom IC-PCR1000 is the most appropriate for wideband frequency coverage." -- which kind of sounds like what a rec.radio.scanner questioner would be interested in... Indeed. In such case I would have however recommend the WinRadio WR-1550e. I happen to own this model also, and in my experience it runs circles around the PCR 1000. Geoff You might indeed recommend it, but Passport did not... [the original question?] Passport did not review Winradio 1550e in fact. And even if they did, I'd rather verify their opinion myself, as I always do - trust me I am very well qualified for that. Also, as you are correctly implying elsewhere, different people can have different needs and motivations, and other issues rather than those of strictly objective technical merit can, and often do, come into play, and I have seen this happening with Passport also. But that particular Passport comparison involved only Winradio G303i vs TenTec vs PCR1000, which I have already covered. You can also see the TenTec and Winradio receivers compared side by side by Lee Reynolds in the August 2003 issue of the Monitoring Times magazine. The G303i was, unsurprisingly, a clear winner. So, the answer to the original question is, "yes, Winradio is really that good", and often better than it is being credited for. I guess the reason is that they are often miles ahead of others. Just look at their latest G303e and G313i - there is simply no comparison: http://www.winradio.com/home/g303e.htm http://www.winradio.com/home/g313i.htm Geoff So I guess you're the guy I buy one from... Sorry, I am not selling mine, as you can see I am a very happy owner. :-) So I guess you must be running out of arguments if you are resorting to such cheap shots. ;-) Geoff |
"Geoff Burginon" wrote in message news:41fc5358.16432218@news-server... On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 02:24:33 GMT, "SamSez" wrote: "Geoff Burginon" wrote in message news:41fc1759.1072906@news-server... On Sat, 29 Jan 2005 16:16:30 GMT, "SamSez" wrote: "Geoff Burginon" wrote in message news:41fb67ad.451203@news-server... snip However, this IS rec.radio.scanner -- not rec.radio.shortwave, and Passport's 'Verdict' section on the icom says "Among tested PC-controlled receivers, the Japanese-made Icom IC-PCR1000 is the most appropriate for wideband frequency coverage." -- which kind of sounds like what a rec.radio.scanner questioner would be interested in... Indeed. In such case I would have however recommend the WinRadio WR-1550e. I happen to own this model also, and in my experience it runs circles around the PCR 1000. Geoff You might indeed recommend it, but Passport did not... [the original question?] Passport did not review Winradio 1550e in fact. And even if they did, I'd rather verify their opinion myself, as I always do - trust me I am very well qualified for that. Also, as you are correctly implying elsewhere, different people can have different needs and motivations, and other issues rather than those of strictly objective technical merit can, and often do, come into play, and I have seen this happening with Passport also. But that particular Passport comparison involved only Winradio G303i vs TenTec vs PCR1000, which I have already covered. You can also see the TenTec and Winradio receivers compared side by side by Lee Reynolds in the August 2003 issue of the Monitoring Times magazine. The G303i was, unsurprisingly, a clear winner. So, the answer to the original question is, "yes, Winradio is really that good", and often better than it is being credited for. I guess the reason is that they are often miles ahead of others. Just look at their latest G303e and G313i - there is simply no comparison: http://www.winradio.com/home/g303e.htm http://www.winradio.com/home/g313i.htm Geoff So I guess you're the guy I buy one from... Sorry, I am not selling mine, as you can see I am a very happy owner. :-) So I guess you must be running out of arguments if you are resorting to such cheap shots. ;-) Geoff Only because the credibility index went to zero with the statement that the 1550e "runs circles around" the 1000. Little point to rational arguments in that environment. |
The radio hobby market has MOSTLY rejected the winradio.
I suspect it is due to their high price and lack of third party software and extemely poor marketing, The hobby has long embraced the ICOM PCR 1000. There are DOZENS of FREEWare and shareware titles that can do everything from trunk tracking to ship tracking, conventional scanning, tuning from free shortwave broadcaster databases and decode many digital modes WITHOUT MODIFICATION Pretty cool. Check out DX-Tuners, (extra cost to do alot of these fun things: zero ) The Icom PCR FUN FACTOR IS VERY HIGH. Winradio has almost completely failed in this respect. Why? |
On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 15:03:36 GMT, "SamSez"
wrote: Only because the credibility index went to zero with the statement that the 1550e "runs circles around" the 1000. Little point to rational arguments in that environment. Don't know why it should have. Such is my experience. And it looks I am not alone. Geoff |
On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 16:29:49 GMT, "B L R"
wrote: (extra cost to do alot of these fun things: zero ) The Icom PCR FUN FACTOR IS VERY HIGH. Winradio has almost completely failed in this respect. Why? Is this question really justified? I can't see why. I for one am certainly having much more fun with my WR-1550e than I ever had with my PCR-1000. Putting aside Winradio's professionally crafted and fully supported software which comes with the receiver (there really is no comparison to the crap that Icom supplies with their radios), there are plenty of *free* software add-ons as well. See for example: 1. http://www.rbasic.com (now where is Icom's equivalent to that? - see also under "Programs") 2. http://xrs.winradio.com (ditto - see all the free plugins under "Downloads") 3. http://www.linradio.com (source codes for Linux buffs) 4. http://www.winradio.com/home/macradio.htm (native software for Mac) 5. http://www.winradio.com/home/developer.htm (open programming standard) etc. (I better stop here before Sam accuses me again of being a salesman for Winradio... :-)) Maybe Winradio's marketing "mistake" was to supply good software in the first place, so that people can actually use it as it is without having to look for third party stuff... :-) Geoff |
The PCR 1000's "fun" factor may be high, but its "performance" factor leaves
much to be desired. Read the reviews found all over the net. When I buy a radio, I buy it to listen to... what good is a radio that has a million "fun" features, but can't receive worth a ****? "B L R" wrote in message .. . The Icom PCR FUN FACTOR IS VERY HIGH. Winradio has almost completely failed in this respect. |
B L R wrote:
The radio hobby market has MOSTLY rejected the winradio. Oh no, not yet another self-appointed expert on the radio hobby market. Winradio rules. Great products, great service, great company. PB |
| All times are GMT +1. The time now is 07:33 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
RadioBanter.com