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Passport receiver reviews
Dear Sir/Madam,
A quick reply: No one, certainly not you or me, can predict the future of Windows (or Mac or Linux) operating systems and their backwards compatibility. Reread my post. I AM using the AR7030 Plus as a virtual SDR with "RxWINGS" (but this radio has an advantage of being able to be operated stand-alone should a computer control program for this radio not be written for some hypothetical future computer OS). Go to AOR-UK's site. You will see that the AR7030 Plus was/is the receiver of choice for DRM experiments and, in fact, any AR7030 can be modified to receive DRM (which, in any case, in my opinion, will not be successful for overseas transmissions). Best, Joe del.icio.us wrote: Never mind an operation system that is used by about a billion people with applications being written by hundreds of thousands of programmers. The question becomes is there a demand or need? Knowing ham radio people, an OS has never been a hindrance to any valuable piece of radio hardware such as the SDR-1000. Now let us talk about what will make your analog radio like a AR7030 obsolete overnight without an outboard computer/OS: DRM and any present or future digital mode you can dream about. "Joe Analssandrini" wrote in message oups.com... Dear John, Thank you for your very thoughtful and intelligent discussion of current shortwave receivers. I should like to mention two points: 1. Software-defined radios are "iffy" at best, in my opinion, as when operating systems change (Windows XP to Windows Vista to Windows XXX, etc.) these radios may or may not work properly with these new OSs. Therefore, the purchaser of a fairly expensive SDR may be forced to operate it with an older computer and, if that computer "dies," he/she may have a very expensive paperweight. Even though Microsoft has taken some pains to ensure that "most" older programs still work with the newer OSs, this may or may not continue to be the case. The situation is even worse with Apple as they have, in the past, "abandoned" compatibility with older programs in newer OSs. 2. In my opinion, the "difficulties" with the AOR AR7030 (Plus)'s OS are VERY blown out of proportion. In reality, it's no more difficult to operate than a VCR or a digital camera. (And remember - this is an "old geezer" talking!) Yes, the radio takes some getting used to - but what piece of good equipment does not? (It took me about a half-hour.) Read the manual (which you can do online even before you purchase the radio*) and you can see for yourself just how easy to operate it actually is. Most of the menu selections are, in fact, rarely used. Tuning in a station, adjusting the radio for best reception of that station, and sitting back and listening are no "harder" than on any other good shortwave radio. Yes, it's very different, but that doesn't make it inordinately difficult per se as some have indicated. Some people have been heavily influenced by "negative" reviews or postings about the AOR's OS and were thus prejudiced when they obtained the receiver. Others may have been unwilling to engage in the learning process necessary for this sophisticated piece of machinery. ("When in doubt, read the instructions!") Personally I feel that this radio is the finest piece of shortwave equipment designed in the past fifteen years. (AND - for those who do not wish to have to think about "menu" selections, there is Jan Arkesteijn's superb and FREE "RxWINGS" computer-control program which allows me to operate the radio from across the room while sitting in my easy chair. With it, I don't even have to look at the AOR's display! Everything is shown on my notebook computer's screen and just about everything has its own "button" or "adjustment" right in front of me! You are quite correct about the disappointing remote control. I have put mine away, no longer having any need for it, as I operate the receiver exclusively with "RxWINGS.") In any event, we are all entitled to our opinions, our likes, and our dislikes but I do strongly recommend that any serious shortwave listener consider purchasing a new AR7030 Plus, assuming he/she has the financial ability to do so, and also assuming he/she is willing to take the relatively small amount of time necessary to properly learn the operating procedures of the radio. I do not believe any such person will regret the purchase. Thanks again very much for your excellent article. Your posts here are always of great interest. Best, Joe *You can even print out the manual should you desire to do so - that's what I did! Remember - I'm an "old geezer" - I still prefer to read something printed on paper rather than on a computer screen! John Plimmer wrote: Passport does some nice reviews of serious radio's, better than I read in most mags that seem too keen not to upset their advertisers who supply them with loan radio's. I had some e-mails from Larry Magne and he explained that market research had shown that the main interest for readers was in the $50 to $150 portable radio range, and that there was only a handful of those like myself interested in the more expensive tabletops. With only a few top end radio's now available now that Drake has gone off the scene, here's my comment on what's left: Eton E1 - a couple of my DX pals own this new offering and rave about it's abilities to do serious DX, even connected to a big antenna which will not overload it. Icom RC-75 - for the price really good value for money. Many of my serious DX contacts use this radio with excellent results. AOR 7030+ is probably the top analogue DX machine, but not everyone can get used to it's difficult and quirky operating system, small limited display and tiny cramped remote keypad. Those who got used to it's limitations love it. JRC NRD545 - every serious DXer I know had one sold it on. It's early 16 bit digital processor limits it's performance. Here's what one serious DXer says about the one he sold: "I will never advise anyone to buy a 545". Ten Tec RX340 and WJ 1000 - these expensive radio's have only 16 bit processors which limits them. However owners in this newsgroup defend them to the hilt. Two of my DX friends had RX340's and sold them for better options. SDR computer radio's - some of my pals have moved onto these radio's and love them. I don't like computer radio's at all though - prefer to have a large radio in front of me with full functions and a nice tuning knob. So, that's not a very wide choice left anymore, but there is another set of radio's that represent good value for money and offer the listener outstanding performance, and that is the ham transceivers. I asked Larry Magne why he doesn't include some selected ones in Passport like WRTH sometimes do, and he replied again that the interest was too limited to a very few diehard DXer's and he could not therefore devote the limited space and resources of Passport to this small market. Here's my take on a few ham transceivers that I think you could have a look at: Icom IC-7000 has a 32 bit processor and every bell and whistle you could want, plus FM up to 450 Mhz. See Bjarne Mjelde's review at: http://www.kongsfjord.no/bm/ic-7000%20review.pdf Very small and highly portable, also does not need to have the MW band enhanced. $1500 Also at $1500 is the more heavy weight Icom 746Pro with a 32 bit processor. See the Dallas Lankford review: http://www.kongsfjord.no/dl/Icom/IC-...20&%20Mods.pdf It's only drawback is like most Icom's, the MW band has been attenuated and you are going to have to get a skilled techie to remove that. Otherwise great value for money and a great DX machine. Friends who own them rave about their performance Finally, if you want to spend big bucks on the ultimate with every bell and whistle you could hope for, then take a look at the: Icom 756 PRO III and the Yaesu FT2000. At a price of $3000 they will outperform the 16 bit processor's in the TT RX340 & WJ1000 with their 32 bit processors. See my review of the 756 at http://www.dxing.info/equipment/ The ham transceivers do not have a sideband selectable sync detector in AM, except for the Icom 746Pro. If you just like listening comfortably to AM broadcasts then a ham transceiver will not suit you. Rather look on eBay for a good used Drake R8B with it's superb sync detector. And if you are squeamish about having a transmitter around, just get a techie to disable the transmit function, a simple and inexpensive mod that can be reversed later if you want to again sell the radio. good DX and don't forget to have fun.............. -- 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, Datong AD-270 Kiwa MW Loop, PAORDT Roelof mini-whip http://www.dxing.info/about/dxers/plimmer.dx |
#2
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Passport receiver reviews
You need to learn what SDR "Software Defined Radio" means. Hooking up a
computer to an analog radio is not a SDR or even a "virtual SDR". Whatever that means. "Joe Analssandrini" wrote in message ups.com... Dear Sir/Madam, A quick reply: No one, certainly not you or me, can predict the future of Windows (or Mac or Linux) operating systems and their backwards compatibility. Reread my post. I AM using the AR7030 Plus as a virtual SDR with "RxWINGS" (but this radio has an advantage of being able to be operated stand-alone should a computer control program for this radio not be written for some hypothetical future computer OS). Go to AOR-UK's site. You will see that the AR7030 Plus was/is the receiver of choice for DRM experiments and, in fact, any AR7030 can be modified to receive DRM (which, in any case, in my opinion, will not be successful for overseas transmissions). Best, Joe del.icio.us wrote: Never mind an operation system that is used by about a billion people with applications being written by hundreds of thousands of programmers. The question becomes is there a demand or need? Knowing ham radio people, an OS has never been a hindrance to any valuable piece of radio hardware such as the SDR-1000. Now let us talk about what will make your analog radio like a AR7030 obsolete overnight without an outboard computer/OS: DRM and any present or future digital mode you can dream about. "Joe Analssandrini" wrote in message oups.com... Dear John, Thank you for your very thoughtful and intelligent discussion of current shortwave receivers. I should like to mention two points: 1. Software-defined radios are "iffy" at best, in my opinion, as when operating systems change (Windows XP to Windows Vista to Windows XXX, etc.) these radios may or may not work properly with these new OSs. Therefore, the purchaser of a fairly expensive SDR may be forced to operate it with an older computer and, if that computer "dies," he/she may have a very expensive paperweight. Even though Microsoft has taken some pains to ensure that "most" older programs still work with the newer OSs, this may or may not continue to be the case. The situation is even worse with Apple as they have, in the past, "abandoned" compatibility with older programs in newer OSs. 2. In my opinion, the "difficulties" with the AOR AR7030 (Plus)'s OS are VERY blown out of proportion. In reality, it's no more difficult to operate than a VCR or a digital camera. (And remember - this is an "old geezer" talking!) Yes, the radio takes some getting used to - but what piece of good equipment does not? (It took me about a half-hour.) Read the manual (which you can do online even before you purchase the radio*) and you can see for yourself just how easy to operate it actually is. Most of the menu selections are, in fact, rarely used. Tuning in a station, adjusting the radio for best reception of that station, and sitting back and listening are no "harder" than on any other good shortwave radio. Yes, it's very different, but that doesn't make it inordinately difficult per se as some have indicated. Some people have been heavily influenced by "negative" reviews or postings about the AOR's OS and were thus prejudiced when they obtained the receiver. Others may have been unwilling to engage in the learning process necessary for this sophisticated piece of machinery. ("When in doubt, read the instructions!") Personally I feel that this radio is the finest piece of shortwave equipment designed in the past fifteen years. (AND - for those who do not wish to have to think about "menu" selections, there is Jan Arkesteijn's superb and FREE "RxWINGS" computer-control program which allows me to operate the radio from across the room while sitting in my easy chair. With it, I don't even have to look at the AOR's display! Everything is shown on my notebook computer's screen and just about everything has its own "button" or "adjustment" right in front of me! You are quite correct about the disappointing remote control. I have put mine away, no longer having any need for it, as I operate the receiver exclusively with "RxWINGS.") In any event, we are all entitled to our opinions, our likes, and our dislikes but I do strongly recommend that any serious shortwave listener consider purchasing a new AR7030 Plus, assuming he/she has the financial ability to do so, and also assuming he/she is willing to take the relatively small amount of time necessary to properly learn the operating procedures of the radio. I do not believe any such person will regret the purchase. Thanks again very much for your excellent article. Your posts here are always of great interest. Best, Joe *You can even print out the manual should you desire to do so - that's what I did! Remember - I'm an "old geezer" - I still prefer to read something printed on paper rather than on a computer screen! John Plimmer wrote: Passport does some nice reviews of serious radio's, better than I read in most mags that seem too keen not to upset their advertisers who supply them with loan radio's. I had some e-mails from Larry Magne and he explained that market research had shown that the main interest for readers was in the $50 to $150 portable radio range, and that there was only a handful of those like myself interested in the more expensive tabletops. With only a few top end radio's now available now that Drake has gone off the scene, here's my comment on what's left: Eton E1 - a couple of my DX pals own this new offering and rave about it's abilities to do serious DX, even connected to a big antenna which will not overload it. Icom RC-75 - for the price really good value for money. Many of my serious DX contacts use this radio with excellent results. AOR 7030+ is probably the top analogue DX machine, but not everyone can get used to it's difficult and quirky operating system, small limited display and tiny cramped remote keypad. Those who got used to it's limitations love it. JRC NRD545 - every serious DXer I know had one sold it on. It's early 16 bit digital processor limits it's performance. Here's what one serious DXer says about the one he sold: "I will never advise anyone to buy a 545". Ten Tec RX340 and WJ 1000 - these expensive radio's have only 16 bit processors which limits them. However owners in this newsgroup defend them to the hilt. Two of my DX friends had RX340's and sold them for better options. SDR computer radio's - some of my pals have moved onto these radio's and love them. I don't like computer radio's at all though - prefer to have a large radio in front of me with full functions and a nice tuning knob. So, that's not a very wide choice left anymore, but there is another set of radio's that represent good value for money and offer the listener outstanding performance, and that is the ham transceivers. I asked Larry Magne why he doesn't include some selected ones in Passport like WRTH sometimes do, and he replied again that the interest was too limited to a very few diehard DXer's and he could not therefore devote the limited space and resources of Passport to this small market. Here's my take on a few ham transceivers that I think you could have a look at: Icom IC-7000 has a 32 bit processor and every bell and whistle you could want, plus FM up to 450 Mhz. See Bjarne Mjelde's review at: http://www.kongsfjord.no/bm/ic-7000%20review.pdf Very small and highly portable, also does not need to have the MW band enhanced. $1500 Also at $1500 is the more heavy weight Icom 746Pro with a 32 bit processor. See the Dallas Lankford review: http://www.kongsfjord.no/dl/Icom/IC-...20&%20Mods.pdf It's only drawback is like most Icom's, the MW band has been attenuated and you are going to have to get a skilled techie to remove that. Otherwise great value for money and a great DX machine. Friends who own them rave about their performance Finally, if you want to spend big bucks on the ultimate with every bell and whistle you could hope for, then take a look at the: Icom 756 PRO III and the Yaesu FT2000. At a price of $3000 they will outperform the 16 bit processor's in the TT RX340 & WJ1000 with their 32 bit processors. See my review of the 756 at http://www.dxing.info/equipment/ The ham transceivers do not have a sideband selectable sync detector in AM, except for the Icom 746Pro. If you just like listening comfortably to AM broadcasts then a ham transceiver will not suit you. Rather look on eBay for a good used Drake R8B with it's superb sync detector. And if you are squeamish about having a transmitter around, just get a techie to disable the transmit function, a simple and inexpensive mod that can be reversed later if you want to again sell the radio. good DX and don't forget to have fun.............. -- 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, Datong AD-270 Kiwa MW Loop, PAORDT Roelof mini-whip http://www.dxing.info/about/dxers/plimmer.dx |
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