Although the Sync detector might be better (I am not sure, because I never
use them), I don't believe that the SW-2 is in the same class as the SW-8.
The SW-8 uses 11-element ceramic ladder filters for all of the I.F.
bandwidths, and it has a pretty strong 1st mixer. I am not sure if the SW-2
uses a strong mixer or not.
When I spoke to somebody at Drake when the SW-2 first came out, I was told
that this design uses an NE-602 for the 1st mixer. Although the 602 is fine
for the 2nd mixer if you have a crystal filter ahead of it, it just doesn't
have the IMD performance of other mixers.
The SW-2 appears to have quite a bit of collector value, but if you could
get ahold of the SW-8 for a similar price, the SW-8 wins hands down.

Pete

"john" wrote in message
oups.com...
For the most part these radios are very similiar adios - are the sync
detectors the same in both radios. i have read that the sw-2 is
actually a little better than the sw-8? can anyonw comment.

thx, john