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Kenwood R-5000 Shortwave Recievers - Any Good?
I'm thinking of going after a Kenwood shortwave receiver on e-bay. Back when I got into shortwave radio during the mid 1990's I always wanted a Kenwood R-5000. Well, after buying two great portables, a Grundig Yacht Boy 400 and the famous Sony ICF-2010, I never went after a Kenwood. Anyway, I stopped listening to shortwave four or five years ago. Now I noticed that Kenwood radios are discontinued and are popping up on e-bay. So, are Kenwood radios worth going after for shortwave? And will they let me pick up the small stations in Africa that I could never get with my portables? Thanks! |
Kenwood R-5000 Shortwave Recievers - Any Good?
= = = On Apr 13, 7:13 pm, "Von Fourche"
= = = wrote: - I'm thinking of going after a Kenwood shortwave receiver on e-bay. - - Back when I got into shortwave radio during the mid 1990's - I always wanted a Kenwood R-5000. - - Well, after buying two great portables, a Grundig Yacht Boy 400 - and the famous Sony ICF-2010, I never went after a Kenwood. - - Anyway, I stopped listening to shortwave four or five years ago. - Now I noticed that Kenwood radios are discontinued and are - popping up on e-bay. - - So, are Kenwood radios worth going after for shortwave? - And will they let me pick up the small stations in Africa - that I could never get with my portables? - - Thanks! Von Fourche -IF- You Get A Good One - I Think So ~ RHF |
Kenwood R-5000 Shortwave Recievers - Any Good?
"Von Fourche" wrote in message et... I'm thinking of going after a Kenwood shortwave receiver on e-bay. Back when I got into shortwave radio during the mid 1990's I always wanted a Kenwood R-5000. Well, after buying two great portables, a Grundig Yacht Boy 400 and the famous Sony ICF-2010, I never went after a Kenwood. Anyway, I stopped listening to shortwave four or five years ago. Now I noticed that Kenwood radios are discontinued and are popping up on e-bay. So, are Kenwood radios worth going after for shortwave? And will they let me pick up the small stations in Africa that I could never get with my portables? Thanks! I imagine your antenna and location would make more of a difference than the radio in receiving QRP DX (small African stations). I have a TS-440 which is related to the R-5000. I haven't compared the ts-440 to the decent protables available these days but from the way people rave about them their sensitivity and selectivity are probably all one would need, especially for AM shorwave broadcasts. With the Kenwood you would get some other good features. To me what is quite valuable is the computer interface. I have PC software to control the receiver. With that I have a database of several thousand frequencies where I have found signals of interest. It's nice to have a windows interface to point and click to tune them in. I also like the IF shift, independently controllable selectivity, and notch filter of the Kenwood. One thing about the Kenwood, the keyboard tends to develop bounce with time. Generally that is a small annoyance. When punching a mode button (AM, USB, etc.) it doesn't matter if it bounces. But it could be quite annoying if one were directly punching in frequencies alot. I don't know anyone who does that, though. The R-5000 appears to have some free space available in the cabinet. In my book that is a plus for repairs, modifications, and reliability. You can find the user and service manuals for the R-5000 at: http://www.rigpix.com/schematicsnstuff.htm -- rb |
Kenwood R-5000 Shortwave Recievers - Any Good?
On Apr 13, 10:13 pm, "Von Fourche" wrote:
I'm thinking of going after a Kenwood shortwave receiver on e-bay. Back when I got into shortwave radio during the mid 1990's I always wanted a Kenwood R-5000. Well, after buying two great portables, a Grundig Yacht Boy 400 and the famous Sony ICF-2010, I never went after a Kenwood. Anyway, I stopped listening to shortwave four or five years ago. Now I noticed that Kenwood radios are discontinued and are popping up on e-bay. So, are Kenwood radios worth going after for shortwave? And will they let me pick up the small stations in Africa that I could never get with my portables? Thanks! Yes, its a very good receiver but be aware of key bounce which was already mentioned here. Indeed, it may not be an issue for you if you don't direct-entry frequencies much. Also, one of the R-5000s that I had owned developed a hum which was caused by a board inside the rig becoming loose, another possible headache but it is fixable. It does have many things going for it despite these potential problems, particularly for weak Africans which are mainly in the tropical bands. Portables are sensitive but generally have poor dynamic range compared to radios in the R-5000 class, and have enough internal noise to hide weak signals. The R-5000 is quite good in this regard; if the antenna picks it up you will hear the signal, and it also has some of the best audio you'll find for a HF receiver, which is a plus for understanding what you're hearing. Make sure that the wide AM filter is the upgraded 6 kHz filter. If its not then you'll really need to get one at an additional expense of $50-100 on eBay. You can add (or have a technician add) a 4 kHz filter for it which is available from Inrad, but because the IF of the R-5000 is not 455 kHz, this is the only extra AM filter you can add. It is a very good and useful filter, BTW, and I believe Inrad still also has a 1.8 kHz filter for it which may help in really tight spots using ECSS. An R-5000 with all four filters is a super rig! The IF Shift is quite useful but doesn't work in AM; however using ECSS will allow you to use this feature to clear up adjacent channel interference with any filter selected. The notch filter is a big plus, no portable that I know has one. Get a good antenna whether you get the R-5000 or something else. It'll make the Kenwood really shine, but also help lesser radios, too. |
Kenwood R-5000 Shortwave Recievers - Any Good?
On 14 abr, 04:13, "Von Fourche" wrote:
I'm thinking of going after a Kenwood shortwave receiver on e-bay. Back when I got into shortwave radio during the mid 1990's I always wanted a Kenwood R-5000. Well, after buying two great portables, a Grundig Yacht Boy 400 and the famous Sony ICF-2010, I never went after a Kenwood. Anyway, I stopped listening to shortwave four or five years ago. Now I noticed that Kenwood radios are discontinued and are popping up on e-bay. So, are Kenwood radios worth going after for shortwave? And will they let me pick up the small stations in Africa that I could never get with my portables? Thanks! Hello, The R5000 is a nice receiver (I own one), but is no guarantee for hearing a station. At this moment I frequently use a wide band receiver (AOR 8200, with good continuous tunable preselector and a sangean ATS 909, all with external antennas), because they are portable. Before you buy something else, try to figure out what does hinder you from receiving another station. Some issues: Do you have problems with adjacent strong stations? A receiver with better selectivity might help (but when stronger adjacent station emits out of band, a better selectivity may not be sufficient). Sometimes, you can use an antenna with nulls in the radiation pattern (for example a small tuned loop antenna). You can orient the antenna in such a way that reception from the desired station is emphasized with respect to the undesired station. Do you have blocking or overload from non-adjacent, but very strong stations? A better receiver might work. As a test you may construct a resonating circuit to make your own preselector. For example, my AOR 8200 receiver cannot be used with external antenna without preselector. When you buy a R5000, check what filters have been installed. Do you have local interference (from domestic equipment)? In that case it is very unlikely that a better receiver will work better. When the interference is pulse like, a good functioning Noise limiter/blanking system will give some improvement. The R5000 has a good one. Trying to reorient the antenna or find the source of interference may help you. Is It just noise that hinders reception?. Whether a better receiver will perform better or not, depends on whether the receiver's noise or external noise is dominant. Try to add some attenuation between the antenna and the receiver (provided you are using an external antenna). If the reception becomes worse, the sensitivity of the receiver is causing the noise. When it becomes better, then your receiver suffers from overload, a preselector might help. When it doesn't change, external noise is dominant, a better receiver will not help. In general, in many cases the receiver is not the problem, but the antenna and propagation is. If you want another receiver bear in mind that many of the R5000 are in service for over ten years. That is a time that electronic components may suffer from wear-out. It would be sad when you spend 500 dollars for a receiver in bad shape. I hope this will help you to make the right decisions to receive the stations you want to hear. Best Regards, Wim PA3DJS |
Kenwood R-5000 Shortwave Recievers - Any Good?
"Wimpie" wrote in message oups.com... On 14 abr, 04:13, "Von Fourche" wrote: I'm thinking of going after a Kenwood shortwave receiver on e-bay. Back when I got into shortwave radio during the mid 1990's I always wanted a Kenwood R-5000. Well, after buying two great portables, a Grundig Yacht Boy 400 and the famous Sony ICF-2010, I never went after a Kenwood. Anyway, I stopped listening to shortwave four or five years ago. Now I noticed that Kenwood radios are discontinued and are popping up on e-bay. So, are Kenwood radios worth going after for shortwave? And will they let me pick up the small stations in Africa that I could never get with my portables? Thanks! Hello, The R5000 is a nice receiver (I own one), but is no guarantee for hearing a station. At this moment I frequently use a wide band receiver (AOR 8200, with good continuous tunable preselector and a sangean ATS 909, all with external antennas), because they are portable. Before you buy something else, try to figure out what does hinder you from receiving another station. Some issues: Do you have problems with adjacent strong stations? A receiver with better selectivity might help (but when stronger adjacent station emits out of band, a better selectivity may not be sufficient). Sometimes, you can use an antenna with nulls in the radiation pattern (for example a small tuned loop antenna). You can orient the antenna in such a way that reception from the desired station is emphasized with respect to the undesired station. Do you have blocking or overload from non-adjacent, but very strong stations? A better receiver might work. As a test you may construct a resonating circuit to make your own preselector. For example, my AOR 8200 receiver cannot be used with external antenna without preselector. When you buy a R5000, check what filters have been installed. Do you have local interference (from domestic equipment)? In that case it is very unlikely that a better receiver will work better. When the interference is pulse like, a good functioning Noise limiter/blanking system will give some improvement. The R5000 has a good one. Trying to reorient the antenna or find the source of interference may help you. Is It just noise that hinders reception?. Whether a better receiver will perform better or not, depends on whether the receiver's noise or external noise is dominant. Try to add some attenuation between the antenna and the receiver (provided you are using an external antenna). If the reception becomes worse, the sensitivity of the receiver is causing the noise. When it becomes better, then your receiver suffers from overload, a preselector might help. When it doesn't change, external noise is dominant, a better receiver will not help. In general, in many cases the receiver is not the problem, but the antenna and propagation is. If you want another receiver bear in mind that many of the R5000 are in service for over ten years. That is a time that electronic components may suffer from wear-out. It would be sad when you spend 500 dollars for a receiver in bad shape. I hope this will help you to make the right decisions to receive the stations you want to hear. I'm also seeing another Kenwood shortwave radio on ebay: R-2000. Any good? |
Kenwood R-5000 Shortwave Recievers - Any Good?
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Kenwood R-5000 Shortwave Recievers - Any Good?
On Apr 13, 10:13 pm, "Von Fourche" wrote:
I'm thinking of going after a Kenwood shortwave receiver on e-bay. Back when I got into shortwave radio during the mid 1990's I always wanted a Kenwood R-5000. Well, after buying two great portables, a Grundig Yacht Boy 400 and the famous Sony ICF-2010, I never went after a Kenwood. Anyway, I stopped listening to shortwave four or five years ago. Now I noticed that Kenwood radios are discontinued and are popping up on e-bay. So, are Kenwood radios worth going after for shortwave? And will they let me pick up the small stations in Africa that I could never get with my portables? Thanks! Yes, Kenwood made it's last shortwave radio the best ever made by that company. The R5000 is a compact package with four mode selectable filters (two standard), tuning down to 10hz, an excellent notch filter, IF shift, 99 memories, computer control port, etc. And it delivers excellent quality audio. Kenwood has unfortunately been out of the shortwave receiver business for several years now. The R2000 and R1000 are a couple of steps down but competent receivers. They are about equal in performance. |
Kenwood R-5000 Shortwave Recievers - Any Good?
Von Fourche wrote:
I'm also seeing another Kenwood shortwave radio on ebay: R-2000. Any good? As with most radios of this type, the antenna is the deciding factor. Local noise will be also of importance. Tuning is very accurate. I have the radio and have found it to be great. A built in timer and record output jack let you tape shows you can't be around for. http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/4...555fbeddbf140d or: http://snipurl.com/1gkzy mike |
Kenwood R-5000 Shortwave Recievers - Any Good?
m II wrote:
I have the radio and have found it to be great. A built in timer and record output jack let you tape shows you can't be around for. Important note: The record out jack is LINE LEVEL not microphone level, and is mono. One early reviewer panned the R-5000 because the record output was severely distorted. It turned out he had not read the manual and tried to put a line level output (0.707 volts) into a microphone input ( a few milivolts). Geoff. -- Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM IL Voice: (07)-7424-1667 Fax ONLY: 972-2-648-1443 U.S. Voice: 1-215-821-1838 Visit my 'blog at http://geoffstechno.livejournal.com/ |
The Kenwood R-5000 Receiver has Two Potential 'Problems' as it Ages
On Apr 15, 7:39 pm, "RHF" wrote:
On Apr 15, 9:53 am, "Roadie" wrote: On Apr 13, 10:13 pm, "Von Fourche" wrote: I'm thinking of going after a Kenwood shortwave receiver on e-bay. Back when I got into shortwave radio during the mid 1990's I always wanted a Kenwood R-5000. Well, after buying two great portables, a Grundig Yacht Boy 400 and the famous Sony ICF-2010, I never went after a Kenwood. Anyway, I stopped listening to shortwave four or five years ago. Now I noticed that Kenwood radios are discontinued and are popping up on e-bay. So, are Kenwood radios worth going after for shortwave? And will they let me pick up the small stations in Africa that I could never get with my portables? Thanks! Yes, Kenwood made it's last shortwave radio the best ever made by that company. - The R5000 is a compact package The Kenwood R-5000 Receiver has Two Potential 'Problems' as it Ageshttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/kenwood-r5000/message/2105 1 - Key Bounce * oops let me try that again , * * Oops Let Me Try That Again . . * * * OOPS LET ME TRY THAT AGAIN ! ! ! TIP - Using the 'optional' Kenwood R-5000 Receiver Computer Control is one way around the Key Bounce 'problem' using the 'optional' IF-232C Interface Adapter with a Computer's RS-232C Port and connecting Cable.http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/UJIiRgk...6dLopsfncxYXAY SA0G27ZbHlLwCUCC0a1tgouojkKqWNSkmJLVTcmRw9b/IF-232C.pdf Simple and Safe RS232 Interface Cable for the Kenwood R-5000 Receiver -by- 1K2BCPhttp://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/UJIiRuWxTuXbXSfjgRo8bcCtzGfIPc8VCBrxjn7R9 qDsiwYNuLXOypK27-I1ssD91qri-5WSMXCzp78xcFMX/Kenwood%20IF232% 20Interface%20by%20IK2BCP.gif 2 - Heat Aged Components because it Runs Hot due to the Internal AC-toDC Power Supply which generates a good deal of Heat inside the Box. The Kenwood R-5000 Receiver gets and stays very Very VERY Warm All the Time when it is On.} TIP - Some Kenwood R-5000 Receiver Owner/Users like to use an External 12 VDC Power Supply via the DCK-2 Plug on the back of the Receiver and then the Radio runs as cool as most other Solid State Electronics. ABOUT - The 'optional' DCK-2 12 Volt Kit Take a look at the DCK-2 Install.PDF Filehttp://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/UJIiRi8Pe-rbXSfjIhnyG7Lv6- _i01RAAMTw_E_7iNPywqHM_0l6YcrCfx2GY_uxVquVlNcrJJTh q8R4WqEb/DCK-2% 20install.pdf This file contains the instructions for installing the 'optional' Kenwood R-5000 DCK-2 12 Volt Kit. NOTE - If you can not make the above Links / URLs work then go to the Files Section of the Kenwood R-5000 Receiver Owner/Users Group and Click-On them there.http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kenwood-r5000/files/ just my two cents worth of problems ~ RHF . . Check-Out the Kenwood R-5000 Communications Receiver Owner's and User's Groups on YAHOO ! KENWOOD =http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kenwood-r5000/ . . . . with four mode selectable filters (two standard), tuning down to 10hz, an excellent notch filter, IF shift, 99 memories, computer control port, etc. And it delivers excellent quality audio. Kenwood has unfortunately been out of the shortwave receiver business for several years now. The R2000 and R1000 are a couple of steps down but competent receivers. They are about equal in performance.- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - Good advice on the DC kit and they are a snap to install. A couple of other ways to reduce the heat buildup are to mount part of the power supply on the rear of the radio or sit a small muffin fan over the rear heat vent on the radio. I found that if enough room was left around the radio that convection would remove quite a bit of heat. Unfortunately stuff just seems to accumulate and the shack got crowded so the muffin fan trick worked like a champ until I got a good DC power supply for the radio. Although I'm not aware of any heat related failures, it is better to be safe. And yes the R5000 group on Yahoo is a fine source of information. I believe some guys have corrected the key bounce problem. |
Kenwood R-5000 Shortwave Recievers - Any Good?
"Roadie" wrote in message ps.com... On Apr 16, 7:59 pm, "Von Fourche" wrote: "Von Fourche" wrote in message et... I'm thinking of going after a Kenwood shortwave receiver on e-bay. Back when I got into shortwave radio during the mid 1990's I always wanted a Kenwood R-5000. Well, after buying two great portables, a Grundig Yacht Boy 400 and the famous Sony ICF-2010, I never went after a Kenwood. What about some other discontinued table top shortwave receivers that pop up on e-bay? How about his list from universal radio: http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/commdisc.html Any of these radios worth going after that might pop up on ebay really cheap? I would like to get a decent radio at a low cost. I just saw one Kenwood R-5000 go for around $500.00 I was hoping to find an R-5000 for around $250, not $500! lol That is a broad brush sampling of discontinued shortwave receivers. It runs the gamut from tube to electronic, analog to digi/analog to digital. For two more comprehensive lists from the same good people at Universal see: http://www.dxing.com/ Just select Modern Shortwave Receiver Survey or Favorite Tube Type Shortwave Receivers. And here is the granddaddy of all websites with reviews of receivers. It's in german but a google or babelfish translation will get you a lot of good information and an occaisional humorous mis-translation. Lots of good reading about receivers that are discontinued but many of them still come on the used market. http://www.dr-boesch.ch/radio/radio-index.htm To be perfectly honest, you can get a "decent" portable radio that will perform very well for well under $200.00 But if you want to go up a few notches to the better performance of a tabletop you are going to have to pay a little more... The question for you is how much performance do you need? Did the 2010 meet your needs? For the most part it met my needs but I have always wanted a desk top receiver. With short wave radio's popularity fading away I was hoping to find a top notch 1990's table top receiver for a very low price. |
Kenwood R-5000 Shortwave Recievers - Any Good?
Von Fourche wrote:
"Von Fourche" wrote in message et... I'm thinking of going after a Kenwood shortwave receiver on e-bay. Back when I got into shortwave radio during the mid 1990's I always wanted a Kenwood R-5000. Well, after buying two great portables, a Grundig Yacht Boy 400 and the famous Sony ICF-2010, I never went after a Kenwood. For a while, there, Icom's R71 and Kenwood's R-5000 were the Bobsey Twins of shortwave radio. Each had his/her proponents, but for the most part, they were pretty much the same performance with minor differences in ergonomics, and complimentary strengths and weaknesses, although the differences in each direction are of no practical concern. Truth is, if you set them side by side, they'll hear the same things, and dig out the same signals. The Kenwood has more ear pleasing audio. Icom is notorious for pretty crapular sound. Together, they were the benchmarks of top flight SW receivers. That was then. Today, you're up against diminishing supplies of proprietary, model exclusive parts. And should you need a repair, you may be in deep kimchee. Kenwood no longer has access to the display for R-5000. Some keyboard items, and circuit boards are getting scarce. If you find one that's working, you'll probably get some good mileage out of it before you need to move on. But service and support are things you shouldn't count on. That's not to say they don't exist. There just aren't that many people who will take on on, anymore. That said...if you're of the mind that this is a radio you can't live without, by all means, move on it. No one should be limited to 'practicality' in a purchase. Practicality is only one of many criteria. You should be able to find a decent rig for $400 and below. The closer to pristine you get, the more stiffly loaded the price. I've seen them go in the mid $300's for a presentable example. Good luck. p |
Kenwood R-5000 Shortwave Recievers - Any Good?
Von Fourche schreef:
Any of these radios worth going after that might pop up on ebay really cheap? I would like to get a decent radio at a low cost. I just saw one Kenwood R-5000 go for around $500.00 I was hoping to find an R-5000 for around $250, not $500! lol Be aware that r5000's can vary in price due to optionals added into the radio. They can be a VHF convertor unit, and a range of optional filters. They can greatly affect the price of second hand r5000's. -- JeroenK |
Kenwood R-5000 Shortwave Recievers - Any Good?
JeroenK wrote:
Be aware that r5000's can vary in price due to optionals added into the radio. They can be a VHF convertor unit, and a range of optional filters. They can greatly affect the price of second hand r5000's. The options that are available a 1. Replacment AM filter. Kenwood's was also 6kHz, but much more selective. Other companies also had direct replacements and International Crystal had/has a 4kHz filter. 2. Narrow SSB filter 1.8kHz. 3. Narrow CW filter 600/500/250 kHz, I think Kenwood's were 500 and 250. 4. Computer control. 2 chips added under front panel, TTL to RS232 converter in the cable. Real old units need a ROM upgrade too. Chips and cables can be obtained from third parties. 5. Voice sythesiser. Very rare, 6. VHF converter. Rare and expensive. 7. Car Kit. Adds a 12 volt power socket in the back, came with a detachable cable. Other issues: PLL unlock aka the dreaded dots problem. Due to poor choice of manufacturing materials, the main PLL unlocks, the display shows only dots. Memory battery. A 3 volt RECHARGEABLE lithium battery under the front cover. eventualy needs replacing. The keyboard bounce problem others have noted. Note that early units sold in the U.S. were 120 volt only. Mine purchased in 1990 was, by 1993 they were replaced with a multivoltage (manualy switched) unit. In plain English a unit with no additional filters (6kHz AM wide, 2.4kHz SSB), and no other add ons, that has never had the battery replaced or the PPL unlock fixed is worth around $200-$250 dollars. It is very likely both will have to be done. A unit with ALL accesories (narrow AM replacement, add on narrow SSB and CW filters), recent battery replacment and PLL fix, computer interface, voice sythesiser and VHF converter could easily go for close to $1000. (and be worth it IMHO). Figure the VHF convertor is worth $150-$200 if you want one, the filters are worth $50 each. There were never enough voice sythesisers to set a price. The 12v car kit is not worth much, and the computer interface is not a high demand item. Note that with today's prices, it's cheaper to buy a used R-5000 with a VHF converter, keep the better of the two and sell the other than to buy one on it's own and put it in the radio you have. Geoff. -- Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM IL Voice: (07)-7424-1667 Fax ONLY: 972-2-648-1443 U.S. Voice: 1-215-821-1838 Visit my 'blog at http://geoffstechno.livejournal.com/ |
Kenwood R-5000 Shortwave Recievers - Any Good?
Geoffrey S. Mendelson schreef:
The options that are available a Ah yes, thats what you get when typing a post right after you woke up (and before your first coffee), you forget to mention the whole list ;) -- JeroenK |
Kenwood R-5000 Shortwave Recievers - Any Good?
Geoffrey S. Mendelson wrote:
JeroenK wrote: Be aware that r5000's can vary in price due to optionals added into the radio. They can be a VHF convertor unit, and a range of optional filters. They can greatly affect the price of second hand r5000's. The options that are available a Below is what I posted. What am I missing? 1. Replacment AM filter. Kenwood's was also 6kHz, but much more selective. Other companies also had direct replacements and International Crystal had/has a 4kHz filter. 2. Narrow SSB filter 1.8kHz. 3. Narrow CW filter 600/500/250 kHz, I think Kenwood's were 500 and 250. 4. Computer control. 2 chips added under front panel, TTL to RS232 converter in the cable. Real old units need a ROM upgrade too. Chips and cables can be obtained from third parties. 5. Voice sythesiser. Very rare, 6. VHF converter. Rare and expensive. 7. Car Kit. Adds a 12 volt power socket in the back, came with a detachable cable. Other issues: PLL unlock aka the dreaded dots problem. Due to poor choice of manufacturing materials, the main PLL unlocks, the display shows only dots. Memory battery. A 3 volt RECHARGEABLE lithium battery under the front cover. eventualy needs replacing. The keyboard bounce problem others have noted. Note that early units sold in the U.S. were 120 volt only. Mine purchased in 1990 was, by 1993 they were replaced with a multivoltage (manualy switched) unit. In plain English a unit with no additional filters (6kHz AM wide, 2.4kHz SSB), and no other add ons, that has never had the battery replaced or the PPL unlock fixed is worth around $200-$250 dollars. It is very likely both will have to be done. A unit with ALL accesories (narrow AM replacement, add on narrow SSB and CW filters), recent battery replacment and PLL fix, computer interface, voice sythesiser and VHF converter could easily go for close to $1000. (and be worth it IMHO). Figure the VHF convertor is worth $150-$200 if you want one, the filters are worth $50 each. There were never enough voice sythesisers to set a price. The 12v car kit is not worth much, and the computer interface is not a high demand item. Note that with today's prices, it's cheaper to buy a used R-5000 with a VHF converter, keep the better of the two and sell the other than to buy one on it's own and put it in the radio you have. Geoff. -- Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM IL Voice: (07)-7424-1667 Fax ONLY: 972-2-648-1443 U.S. Voice: 1-215-821-1838 Visit my 'blog at http://geoffstechno.livejournal.com/ |
Kenwood R-5000 Shortwave Recievers - Any Good?
Geoffrey S. Mendelson schreef:
Below is what I posted. What am I missing? None! I did missed a whole list though as I only mentioned the VHF converter and the filters ;) -- JeroenK |
Kenwood R-5000 Shortwave Recievers - Any Good?
On Apr 17, 4:14 am, (Geoffrey S. Mendelson) wrote:
JeroenK wrote: Be aware that r5000's can vary in price due to optionals added into the radio. They can be a VHF convertor unit, and a range of optional filters. They can greatly affect the price of second hand r5000's. The options that are available a 1. Replacment AM filter. Kenwood's was also 6kHz, but much more selective. Other companies also had direct replacements and International Crystal had/has a 4kHz filter. 2. Narrow SSB filter 1.8kHz. 3. Narrow CW filter 600/500/250 kHz, I think Kenwood's were 500 and 250. 4. Computer control. 2 chips added under front panel, TTL to RS232 converter in the cable. Real old units need a ROM upgrade too. Chips and cables can be obtained from third parties. 5. Voice sythesiser. Very rare, 6. VHF converter. Rare and expensive. 7. Car Kit. Adds a 12 volt power socket in the back, came with a detachable cable. Good list of the options. The optional filters are certainly worth looking for. The VHF converter has become a collectible and the price seems excessive in light of its limited coverage. The computer control board is worth looking for IF remote control is wanted. The other options don't seem to command much of a premium in price. Other issues: PLL unlock aka the dreaded dots problem. Due to poor choice of manufacturing materials, the main PLL unlocks, the display shows only dots. Memory battery. A 3 volt RECHARGEABLE lithium battery under the front cover. eventualy needs replacing. The keyboard bounce problem others have noted. Note that early units sold in the U.S. were 120 volt only. Mine purchased in 1990 was, by 1993 they were replaced with a multivoltage (manualy switched) unit. In plain English a unit with no additional filters (6kHz AM wide, 2.4kHz SSB), and no other add ons, that has never had the battery replaced or the PPL unlock fixed is worth around $200-$250 dollars. It is very likely both will have to be done. A unit with ALL accesories (narrow AM replacement, add on narrow SSB and CW filters), recent battery replacment and PLL fix, computer interface, voice sythesiser and VHF converter could easily go for close to $1000. (and be worth it IMHO). Figure the VHF convertor is worth $150-$200 if you want one, the filters are worth $50 each. There were never enough voice sythesisers to set a price. The 12v car kit is not worth much, and the computer interface is not a high demand item. Note that with today's prices, it's cheaper to buy a used R-5000 with a VHF converter, keep the better of the two and sell the other than to buy one on it's own and put it in the radio you have. Geoff. Nice list of the R5000 issues. |
Kenwood R-5000 Shortwave Recievers - Any Good?
On Apr 17, 1:52 am, D Peter Maus wrote:
Von Fourche wrote: "Von Fourche" wrote in message . net... I'm thinking of going after a Kenwood shortwave receiver on e-bay. Back when I got into shortwave radio during the mid 1990's I always wanted a Kenwood R-5000. Well, after buying two great portables, a Grundig Yacht Boy 400 and the famous Sony ICF-2010, I never went after a Kenwood. For a while, there, Icom's R71 and Kenwood's R-5000 were the Bobsey Twins of shortwave radio. Each had his/her proponents, but for the most part, they were pretty much the same performance with minor differences in ergonomics, and complimentary strengths and weaknesses, although the differences in each direction are of no practical concern. Truth is, if you set them side by side, they'll hear the same things, and dig out the same signals. The Kenwood has more ear pleasing audio. Icom is notorious for pretty crapular sound. Together, they were the benchmarks of top flight SW receivers. That was then. Today, you're up against diminishing supplies of proprietary, model exclusive parts. And should you need a repair, you may be in deep kimchee. Kenwood no longer has access to the display for R-5000. Some keyboard items, and circuit boards are getting scarce. If you find one that's working, you'll probably get some good mileage out of it before you need to move on. But service and support are things you shouldn't count on. That's not to say they don't exist. There just aren't that many people who will take on on, anymore. That said...if you're of the mind that this is a radio you can't live without, by all means, move on it. No one should be limited to 'practicality' in a purchase. Practicality is only one of many criteria. You should be able to find a decent rig for $400 and below. The closer to pristine you get, the more stiffly loaded the price. I've seen them go in the mid $300's for a presentable example. Good luck. p I had an interesting conversation with Bob Grove regarding the R5000 and it's competition. The R5000, R71a and NRD525 were the hot radios to have and as you mentioned each had it's proponents. Bob lined them up on a bench and tested them on a wide variety of stations and listening conditions. His conclusion was that they were essentially equal in their ability to catch and separate signals. Audio quality was quite different and in his opinion the R5000 came out first, then the R71a and last the NRD525 with it's well known wooly audio. Ergonomics was also different and each radio had its plusses and minuses. After listening to Bob and spinning the dials on all three at the local radio store I went with the R5000 mostly because of size, layout and audio quality. |
Kenwood R-5000 Shortwave Recievers - Any Good?
Roadie schreef:
The computer control board is worth looking for IF remote control is wanted. The other options don't seem to command much of a premium in price. The second hand r5000 that I got last week suffers a bit from the key problem. So to bypass that problem, and preventing more unnecessary aggravation of that problem by using the number keys more I decided to get me the necessary IC's and interface. Luckily both the IC's and the interface is not that expensive. -- JeroenK |
Kenwood R-5000 Shortwave Recievers - Any Good?
The second hand r5000 that I got last week suffers a bit from the key
problem. So to bypass that problem, and preventing more unnecessary aggravation of that problem by using the number keys more I decided to get me the necessary IC's and interface. Funny, I use the big round thing on the front to change stations, The only time I use the keys is to change mode. Geoff. -- Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM IL Voice: (07)-7424-1667 Fax ONLY: 972-2-648-1443 U.S. Voice: 1-215-821-1838 Visit my 'blog at http://geoffstechno.livejournal.com/ |
Kenwood R-5000 Shortwave Recievers - Any Good?
Drifter wrote:
use/ plugged in, etc. and, i must say, the 5K does run hot. i'm not saying it's the better of the offering of that era. but, it is a beauty. Is it a 120 volt only or a switched version? Mine never gets hot, only slightly warm to the touch and it is the 120 volt only version. Now I run it on a transformer because house voltage here is 230 volts, 50Hz. Geoff. -- Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM IL Voice: (07)-7424-1667 Fax ONLY: 972-2-648-1443 U.S. Voice: 1-215-821-1838 Visit my 'blog at http://geoffstechno.livejournal.com/ |
Kenwood R-5000 Shortwave Recievers - Any Good?
Roadie wrote:
the R71a and last the NRD525 with it's well known wooly audio. Ergonomics was also different and each radio had its plusses and minuses. After listening to Bob and spinning the dials on all three at the local radio store I went with the R5000 mostly because of size, layout and audio quality. I sold my R-5000 when I bought an NRD-535D. Just before I moved here, I sold the NRD to the person who bought the R-5000 for the R-5000 and cash. I never liked the audio of the NRD even with the expensive matching external speaker. Geoff. -- Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM IL Voice: (07)-7424-1667 Fax ONLY: 972-2-648-1443 U.S. Voice: 1-215-821-1838 Visit my 'blog at http://geoffstechno.livejournal.com/ |
Kenwood R-5000 Shortwave Recievers - Any Good?
On 17 apr, 16:34, (Geoffrey S. Mendelson) wrote:
Funny, I use the big round thing on the front to change stations, The only time I use the keys is to change mode. Going over a list of frequencies in a considerable short time will be quite slow with the tuning knob and 1MHz step buttons alone. But anyway, don't see a need for a discussion on what way is the best for tuning? If you prefer the 'big round thing' on the front and find everyone else funny if they use other methods that OK with me :) JeroenK |
Kenwood R-5000 Shortwave Recievers - Any Good?
|
Kenwood R-5000 Shortwave Recievers - Any Good?
BDK wrote:
In article , says... BDK wrote: In article .com, says... On Apr 17, 4:14 am, (Geoffrey S. Mendelson) wrote: JeroenK wrote: Be aware that r5000's can vary in price due to optionals added into the radio. They can be a VHF convertor unit, and a range of optional filters. They can greatly affect the price of second hand r5000's. The options that are available a 1. Replacment AM filter. Kenwood's was also 6kHz, but much more selective. Other companies also had direct replacements and International Crystal had/has a 4kHz filter. 2. Narrow SSB filter 1.8kHz. 3. Narrow CW filter 600/500/250 kHz, I think Kenwood's were 500 and 250. 4. Computer control. 2 chips added under front panel, TTL to RS232 converter in the cable. Real old units need a ROM upgrade too. Chips and cables can be obtained from third parties. 5. Voice sythesiser. Very rare, 6. VHF converter. Rare and expensive. 7. Car Kit. Adds a 12 volt power socket in the back, came with a detachable cable. Good list of the options. The optional filters are certainly worth looking for. The VHF converter has become a collectible and the price seems excessive in light of its limited coverage. The computer control board is worth looking for IF remote control is wanted. The other options don't seem to command much of a premium in price. Other issues: PLL unlock aka the dreaded dots problem. Due to poor choice of manufacturing materials, the main PLL unlocks, the display shows only dots. Memory battery. A 3 volt RECHARGEABLE lithium battery under the front cover. eventualy needs replacing. The keyboard bounce problem others have noted. Note that early units sold in the U.S. were 120 volt only. Mine purchased in 1990 was, by 1993 they were replaced with a multivoltage (manualy switched) unit. In plain English a unit with no additional filters (6kHz AM wide, 2.4kHz SSB), and no other add ons, that has never had the battery replaced or the PPL unlock fixed is worth around $200-$250 dollars. It is very likely both will have to be done. A unit with ALL accesories (narrow AM replacement, add on narrow SSB and CW filters), recent battery replacment and PLL fix, computer interface, voice sythesiser and VHF converter could easily go for close to $1000. (and be worth it IMHO). Figure the VHF convertor is worth $150-$200 if you want one, the filters are worth $50 each. There were never enough voice sythesisers to set a price. The 12v car kit is not worth much, and the computer interface is not a high demand item. Note that with today's prices, it's cheaper to buy a used R-5000 with a VHF converter, keep the better of the two and sell the other than to buy one on it's own and put it in the radio you have. Geoff. Nice list of the R5000 issues. Another R5000 design issue that's overlooked is the extremely hot running 110V PS in it. Running the radio on 12V is a very smart move. I operated an R5000 for several years and never noted it running extremely hot. dxAce Michigan USA The two regs that got insanely hot were inside the radio, when/if they failed, it was a 250 buck repair. I know, I paid to have a tech fix it. The outside only gets moderately warm, to slightly hot. The slightest amount of air blowing on the outside cooled it down nicely. On the outside. Touching those regs when it was running would get your fingers burned. I had an Icom R-7100 that was another one that ran insanely hot. It made a great space heater on 120V. On 12V, it was nice and cool. BDK True of R70, R71, and R7000 as well. |
Kenwood R-5000 Shortwave Recievers - Any Good?
|
Kenwood R-5000 Shortwave Recievers - Any Good?
JeroenK wrote:
Roadie schreef: The computer control board is worth looking for IF remote control is wanted. The other options don't seem to command much of a premium in price. The second hand r5000 that I got last week suffers a bit from the key problem. So to bypass that problem, and preventing more unnecessary aggravation of that problem by using the number keys more I decided to get me the necessary IC's and interface. Luckily both the IC's and the interface is not that expensive. What causes the key bounce problem? Is it mechanical or electronic? |
Kenwood R-5000 Shortwave Recievers - Any Good?
HFguy schreef:
What causes the key bounce problem? Is it mechanical or electronic? How can I find out? Probably by opening the whole thing up I guess :) I opened it up for the entry to the IC10 ICs, but unsure whether I want to take that much further, as I'm not *that* experienced with electronics. Certainly dont want to risk damaging the rx. I can live with it as it is now, and soon I will control the rx from my PC anyway. -- JeroenK |
Kenwood R-5000 Shortwave Recievers - Any Good?
HFguy wrote:
What causes the key bounce problem? Is it mechanical or electronic? From what the people on the R-5000 Yahoo group have said it's mechanical. The similar to the problems that cheap remote controls get. Geoff. -- Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM IL Voice: (07)-7424-1667 Fax ONLY: 972-2-648-1443 U.S. Voice: 1-215-821-1838 Visit my 'blog at http://geoffstechno.livejournal.com/ |
Kenwood R-5000 Shortwave Recievers - Any Good?
JeroenK wrote:
HFguy schreef: What causes the key bounce problem? Is it mechanical or electronic? How can I find out? Probably by opening the whole thing up I guess :) I opened it up for the entry to the IC10 ICs, but unsure whether I want to take that much further, as I'm not *that* experienced with electronics. Certainly dont want to risk damaging the rx. I can live with it as it is now, and soon I will control the rx from my PC anyway. I wouldn't take it apart if you don't have too. I've had success with modifying the keys on a Drake-SW8 to make them more reliable. The SW8 keys can be erratic if you don't push them exactly in the center. I had to add some thin silicone shims under each key to reduce the amount of wobbling. That's what causes the keys to sometimes not accept an entry when they're pushed. I would imagine the keys on the R5000 are a different design. |
DX - When You Need Headphones To Hear It . . . What's On Your Head ? ? ?
On Apr 17, 2:23 pm, Bart Bailey wrote:
In posted on Tue, 17 Apr 2007 13:38:11 -0400, BDK wrote: Begin The JRC speakers, like almost all the optional external speakers sold for ham and SW radios, are pretty worthless. A fifty cent speaker in a hundred+ buck case. That was one of my first impressions of dedicated communications speakers, due to first tests typically done on easily available strong stations. But when you really try to dig out something weak and scrape some of the noise off it is when the audio characteristics of those communications speakers is really appreciated. In my case I have a couple HAM rigs that can double for SWLing and the one with the bigger acoustic suspension bookshelf speaker sounds much easier to listen to for extended periods on strong SW and AMBCB talk shows etc. whereas the one with the communications grade speaker is far easier to use for pulling enough syllables out of the hash to confirm a contact. I have a Kenwood TS-2000 that has a KLH speaker on it and it sounds great on V/UHF-FM repeaters or just some Mariachi from a Tijuana AMBCB station, but the Icom 756-Pro3 fitted to an SP-23 is the much better setup for digging out a 17m contact thats plagued with QRN & QSB. Of course for the sheer convenience and performance on routine reception, the E1 gets top honors. Not so many knobs to adjust yet excellent sound, at least when the ambient noise level is low. -- 73 de KM6RF BB [KM6RF], DX - When You Need Head-Phones To Hear It . . . What's On Your Head ? ? ? and In-Your-Ears ! ! ! Yes one of the Speakers from a set of Stereo "Book Shielf" Speakers can be used for good for Easy Listening with many Radio/Receivers -but- Ffor Digging-Out the those Hard-to-Hear Sounds of DX Audio Dirt Diving it comes down to one compound words : "Head-Phones" {Headphones} Yes "Headphones" - They 'focus' your hearing on the Sounds coming out of a Radio/Receiver and Block most of the Exterior Sounds in your Audio Environment. Not just any Headphones -but- Good Communications 'Quality' Headphones that are designed to reproduce the Frequency Natural Range of the Human Voice and attinuate the other Sounds and Noises that you are not interested in hearing. Please don't used common Music Stereo Listening Headphones for DXing in the Dirt on your Radio/Receiver : There are about as good as the Stereo Speakers and will let you HEAR every Sound and Noise coming out of the Radio/Receiver. Here is a Sample of some 'good' Radio/Receiver Listening Headphones and my 'opinion' of them for Radio DXing : http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/head.html * Heil QUIET PHONES http://www.grove-ent.com/HEILHDP.html Nice and Feature Noise Cancelling * ICOM HP-4 Mono Basic but Effective * Japan Radio ST-3 Mono Nice Comfort and Fit but a bit to bright. * * Kenwood HS-5 Mono My 'choice' for Sound, Comfort and Fit * Kenwood HS-6 Mono Light Weight and will do for a Travel Radio set of Headphones. * Pyramid HP-30 Stereo More for Music than DXing * Sony MDR Stereo Great for Walkman 'type' FM Stereo Listening * Vanco HF-24RS Mono Value and Priced * Yaesu YH-77STA Stereo Light Weight and will do for an all around Travel Radio set of Headphones. # # Noise-Reducing Headphones at RadioShack -IF- Your only "Source" for Radio Gear and Accessories is RadioShack then take a look at these Headphones that RadioShack offers. RS Headphones = http://tinyurl.com/25ljfe http://www.radioshack.com/search/ind...atId=203205 7 Yes - "Head-Phones" the One Word that Covers Both Ears :o) yes - we're talking about headphones now be quiet and just listen . . . ~ RHF |
Here are My Three Reasons to Own a Kenwood R-5000 Receiver
On Apr 17, 7:34 am, (Geoffrey S. Mendelson) wrote:
The second hand r5000 that I got last week suffers a bit from the key problem. So to bypass that problem, and preventing more unnecessary aggravation of that problem by using the number keys more I decided to get me the necessary IC's and interface. Funny, I use the big round thing on the front to change stations, The only time I use the keys is to change mode. Geoff. -- Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM IL Voice: (07)-7424-1667 Fax ONLY: 972-2-648-1443 U.S. Voice: 1-215-821-1838 Visit my 'blog athttp://geoffstechno.livejournal.com/ For One and All, Here are My Three Reasons to Own a Kenwood R-5000 Receiver : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kenwoo...0/message/2110 * "The Sound" * The "Feel-and-Beauty" of it's Tuning * Plus Solid Performance and Reliability Yes the Kenwood R-5000 Receiver's Tuning Knob has 'that-feel' to it that makes it enjoyable to Tune within the Band. Plus there are the 1-MHz-Up and 1-MHz-Down Buttons just to the bottom right of the Tuning Knob that makes Changing-Bands real easy and fast. Also using the Memories as the Starting Points of the Amateur or Shortwave Bands can be a big help in going Up-and-Down the Bands with the Buttons and then using the Tuning Knob to Seek-Out what Out-There on that Band. I guess I am a Tuning Knob 'person' cause using it allows me to "Find-What's-Out-There" {DISCOVERY} vice relying on a pre-programmed Memory or Keying-In a Specific Frequency to go to a 'known' Station. About - 80% Tuning Knob -vice- 20% Keys-and-Memory. This is 'Why' I have kept the Kenwood R-5000 Receiver over the Years is "The Sound" and the "Feel-and-Beauty" of it's Tuning; plus Solid Perfromance and Reliability. My Kenwood R-5000 Receivers have the 'optional' IF Filters : * 6 kHz AM Filter * 2.4 kHz Wide-SSB Filter * 1.8 kHz Narrow-SSB Filter http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/ken.../view/b4af?b=9 FWIW - The INRAD 6kHz AM Filter is an 'alternative' to the 'optional' Kenwood 6 kHz AM Filter that many Kenwood R-5000 Receiver Owner's like to use. http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/ken...view/b4af?b=11 IIRC - There is another Kenwood IF Filter that is design for one of their Transcevers that is Listed as a YK-88S-1 and is a Drop-In for the Kenwood R-5000 Receiver however it is rated as 2.8 or 3.2 kHz Wide-SSB Filter. - - - I would like to find one and try it. ? Any One Know {Info Please} about this 'other' YK-88S-1 ? some say - i would if i could . . . i simply say 'kenwood' ~ RHF |
Here are My Three Reasons to Own a Kenwood R-5000 Receiver
Awwww,,, I am fixin to go see what them yeyhooos at
alt.gossip.celebrities are squawikin aboot now.M*A*S*H is on Radio tb now. cuhulin |
Kenwood R-5000 Shortwave Recievers - Any Good?
In article ,
says... BDK wrote: In article , says... BDK wrote: In article .com, says... On Apr 17, 4:14 am, (Geoffrey S. Mendelson) wrote: JeroenK wrote: Be aware that r5000's can vary in price due to optionals added into the radio. They can be a VHF convertor unit, and a range of optional filters. They can greatly affect the price of second hand r5000's. The options that are available a 1. Replacment AM filter. Kenwood's was also 6kHz, but much more selective. Other companies also had direct replacements and International Crystal had/has a 4kHz filter. 2. Narrow SSB filter 1.8kHz. 3. Narrow CW filter 600/500/250 kHz, I think Kenwood's were 500 and 250. 4. Computer control. 2 chips added under front panel, TTL to RS232 converter in the cable. Real old units need a ROM upgrade too. Chips and cables can be obtained from third parties. 5. Voice sythesiser. Very rare, 6. VHF converter. Rare and expensive. 7. Car Kit. Adds a 12 volt power socket in the back, came with a detachable cable. Good list of the options. The optional filters are certainly worth looking for. The VHF converter has become a collectible and the price seems excessive in light of its limited coverage. The computer control board is worth looking for IF remote control is wanted. The other options don't seem to command much of a premium in price. Other issues: PLL unlock aka the dreaded dots problem. Due to poor choice of manufacturing materials, the main PLL unlocks, the display shows only dots. Memory battery. A 3 volt RECHARGEABLE lithium battery under the front cover. eventualy needs replacing. The keyboard bounce problem others have noted. Note that early units sold in the U.S. were 120 volt only. Mine purchased in 1990 was, by 1993 they were replaced with a multivoltage (manualy switched) unit. In plain English a unit with no additional filters (6kHz AM wide, 2.4kHz SSB), and no other add ons, that has never had the battery replaced or the PPL unlock fixed is worth around $200-$250 dollars. It is very likely both will have to be done. A unit with ALL accesories (narrow AM replacement, add on narrow SSB and CW filters), recent battery replacment and PLL fix, computer interface, voice sythesiser and VHF converter could easily go for close to $1000. (and be worth it IMHO). Figure the VHF convertor is worth $150-$200 if you want one, the filters are worth $50 each. There were never enough voice sythesisers to set a price. The 12v car kit is not worth much, and the computer interface is not a high demand item. Note that with today's prices, it's cheaper to buy a used R-5000 with a VHF converter, keep the better of the two and sell the other than to buy one on it's own and put it in the radio you have. Geoff. Nice list of the R5000 issues. Another R5000 design issue that's overlooked is the extremely hot running 110V PS in it. Running the radio on 12V is a very smart move. I operated an R5000 for several years and never noted it running extremely hot. dxAce Michigan USA The two regs that got insanely hot were inside the radio, when/if they failed, it was a 250 buck repair. I know, I paid to have a tech fix it. The outside only gets moderately warm, to slightly hot. The slightest amount of air blowing on the outside cooled it down nicely. On the outside. Touching those regs when it was running would get your fingers burned. I had an Icom R-7100 that was another one that ran insanely hot. It made a great space heater on 120V. On 12V, it was nice and cool. BDK True of R70, R71, and R7000 as well. I didn't have the R70 here long enough to notice, but the two R71's I had didn't run nearly as hot as the 7100 did. I had the one R71 apart for several days trying to find the cold/cracked solder joint that made the signal strength go up and down, and I touched about everything inside it. I finally found it, and like almost always, it was where a plug was soldered into a PC board. I found another one on the same plug. BDK |
DX - When You Need Headphones To Hear It . . . What's On Your Head ? ? ?
In article . com, rhf-
says... On Apr 17, 2:23 pm, Bart Bailey wrote: In posted on Tue, 17 Apr 2007 13:38:11 -0400, BDK wrote: Begin The JRC speakers, like almost all the optional external speakers sold for ham and SW radios, are pretty worthless. A fifty cent speaker in a hundred+ buck case. That was one of my first impressions of dedicated communications speakers, due to first tests typically done on easily available strong stations. But when you really try to dig out something weak and scrape some of the noise off it is when the audio characteristics of those communications speakers is really appreciated. In my case I have a couple HAM rigs that can double for SWLing and the one with the bigger acoustic suspension bookshelf speaker sounds much easier to listen to for extended periods on strong SW and AMBCB talk shows etc. whereas the one with the communications grade speaker is far easier to use for pulling enough syllables out of the hash to confirm a contact. I have a Kenwood TS-2000 that has a KLH speaker on it and it sounds great on V/UHF-FM repeaters or just some Mariachi from a Tijuana AMBCB station, but the Icom 756-Pro3 fitted to an SP-23 is the much better setup for digging out a 17m contact thats plagued with QRN & QSB. Of course for the sheer convenience and performance on routine reception, the E1 gets top honors. Not so many knobs to adjust yet excellent sound, at least when the ambient noise level is low. -- 73 de KM6RF BB [KM6RF], DX - When You Need Head-Phones To Hear It . . . What's On Your Head ? ? ? and In-Your-Ears ! ! ! Yes one of the Speakers from a set of Stereo "Book Shielf" Speakers can be used for good for Easy Listening with many Radio/Receivers -but- Ffor Digging-Out the those Hard-to-Hear Sounds of DX Audio Dirt Diving it comes down to one compound words : "Head-Phones" {Headphones} Yes "Headphones" - They 'focus' your hearing on the Sounds coming out of a Radio/Receiver and Block most of the Exterior Sounds in your Audio Environment. Not just any Headphones -but- Good Communications 'Quality' Headphones that are designed to reproduce the Frequency Natural Range of the Human Voice and attinuate the other Sounds and Noises that you are not interested in hearing. Please don't used common Music Stereo Listening Headphones for DXing in the Dirt on your Radio/Receiver : There are about as good as the Stereo Speakers and will let you HEAR every Sound and Noise coming out of the Radio/Receiver. Here is a Sample of some 'good' Radio/Receiver Listening Headphones and my 'opinion' of them for Radio DXing : http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/head.html * Heil QUIET PHONES http://www.grove-ent.com/HEILHDP.html Nice and Feature Noise Cancelling * ICOM HP-4 Mono Basic but Effective * Japan Radio ST-3 Mono Nice Comfort and Fit but a bit to bright. * * Kenwood HS-5 Mono My 'choice' for Sound, Comfort and Fit * Kenwood HS-6 Mono Light Weight and will do for a Travel Radio set of Headphones. * Pyramid HP-30 Stereo More for Music than DXing * Sony MDR Stereo Great for Walkman 'type' FM Stereo Listening * Vanco HF-24RS Mono Value and Priced * Yaesu YH-77STA Stereo Light Weight and will do for an all around Travel Radio set of Headphones. # # Noise-Reducing Headphones at RadioShack -IF- Your only "Source" for Radio Gear and Accessories is RadioShack then take a look at these Headphones that RadioShack offers. RS Headphones = http://tinyurl.com/25ljfe http://www.radioshack.com/search/ind...atId=203205 7 Yes - "Head-Phones" the One Word that Covers Both Ears :o) yes - we're talking about headphones now be quiet and just listen . . . ~ RHF . . . . I'm not a Dx'er, I'm mostly into Utes, but I can only take headphones for about an hour or so, and I'm done. I have the JRC ST-3 and both the Kenwood phones, along with the Yaesu ones and all of them sit in the boxes. I should just ebay them. BDK |
Kenwood R-5000 Shortwave Recievers - Any Good?
Janitor Boy Jr schreef:
what software are you planning on using? In first instance Ham Radio Deluxe. Heard many good things about it, and you cant beat the price! -- JeroenK |
DX - When You Need Headphones To Hear It . . . What's On Your Head ? ? ?
On Apr 17, 10:02 pm, Bart Bailey wrote:
In ps.com posted on 17 Apr 2007 16:28:40 -0700, RHF wrote: Begin Yes one of the Speakers from a set of Stereo "Book Shielf" Speakers can be used for good for Easy Listening with many Radio/Receivers -but- Ffor Digging-Out the those Hard-to-Hear Sounds of DX Audio Dirt Diving it comes down to one compound words : "Head-Phones" {Headphones} Yes "Headphones" - They 'focus' your hearing on the Sounds coming out of a Radio/Receiver and Block most of the Exterior Sounds in your Audio Environment. You're preaching to the choir. Not just any Headphones -but- Good Communications 'Quality' Headphones that are designed to reproduce the Frequency Natural Range of the Human Voice and attinuate the other Sounds and Noises that you are not interested in hearing. Please don't used common Music Stereo Listening Headphones for DXing in the Dirt on your Radio/Receiver : There are about as good as the Stereo Speakers and will let you HEAR every Sound and Noise coming out of the Radio/Receiver. The cans I've got are Stereo Music Listening style Koss UR-40http://tinyurl.com/ymjeggbought from Radio Shack, but I plug them into the jack on an SP-23 which provides enough customizable audio filtration to whack off the ultra highs and lows.http://tinyurl.com/ymqo78 I've tried the RS noise canceling ones as well as Heil Quiet Phones, neither of which had as pleasant sound as when the canceling was switched off, but behind the SP-23 almost any cans do well. -- Bart BB, |
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