Drake sw-2 vs. Sw-8
 

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

Drake sw-2 vs. Sw-8
 

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

Drake sw-2 vs. Sw-8
 

On Sat, 10 Nov 2007 01:22:49 -0600, "Pete KE9OA"
wrote:

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

I'll be happy to trade my SW2 for an SW8. The SW2 used to be a good
MW receiver, but IBOC has limited its utility, as you cannot have both
sidebands on in SYNC mode. R. Netherlands says the front end is

The HD Warbler and the hash or fade-free DX...

http://www.mwcircle.org/res-receiver-drakesw2.htm

Drake sw-2 vs. Sw-8
 

I just got through reading the review on the link that you provided. Thank
you for posting it. This is good that this receiver uses good quality metal
cased ceramic filters. It appears to use the same noisy synthesizer as the
SW-8, and it doesn't use the input bandpass filters that the SW-8 uses.
Still, for a cheap price it isn't a bad receiver.
I have an SW-8 (1994 version), and it isn't a bad receiver. One thing I like
about the SW-8 is that the LCD is illuminated with a Lumitex fiber optic
illuminator. Only one high intensity LED radiates into a fiber optic bundle
that fans out into a flat panel. The advantage here is that by changing the
color of the LED you can choose your own display color. I knew there was
some reason that I kept this receiver around!
I stand corrected in my original impressions of the SW-2. Although the SW-8
is still a better receiver, the SW-2 still seems to be a fairly good design.

Pete

"David" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 10 Nov 2007 01:22:49 -0600, "Pete KE9OA"
wrote:

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

I'll be happy to trade my SW2 for an SW8. The SW2 used to be a good
MW receiver, but IBOC has limited its utility, as you cannot have both
sidebands on in SYNC mode. R. Netherlands says the front end is

The HD Warbler and the hash or fade-free DX...

http://www.mwcircle.org/res-receiver-drakesw2.htm

Drake sw-2 vs. Sw-8
 

On Sat, 10 Nov 2007 10:01:39 -0600, "Pete KE9OA"
wrote:

I just got through reading the review on the link that you provided. Thank
you for posting it. This is good that this receiver uses good quality metal
cased ceramic filters. It appears to use the same noisy synthesizer as the
SW-8, and it doesn't use the input bandpass filters that the SW-8 uses.
Still, for a cheap price it isn't a bad receiver.
I have an SW-8 (1994 version), and it isn't a bad receiver. One thing I like
about the SW-8 is that the LCD is illuminated with a Lumitex fiber optic
illuminator. Only one high intensity LED radiates into a fiber optic bundle
that fans out into a flat panel. The advantage here is that by changing the
color of the LED you can choose your own display color. I knew there was
some reason that I kept this receiver around!
I stand corrected in my original impressions of the SW-2. Although the SW-8
is still a better receiver, the SW-2 still seems to be a fairly good design.

Pete

You can work the passband against the SYNC detector by tuning off
center, in the opposite direction from the sideband chosen. This will
narrow the I. F. and lower splatter. It could use a 4 kHz filter for
AM/SYNC.

Drake sw-2 vs. Sw-8
 

It is good that you like the SW-2; we all need to be happy with our
purchases! Now, about that encoder..............you should be able to find
that component at Digi-Key for about 3 dollars, or better yet, replace the
encoder with an optical encoder.
In order to do this mod, you will need to remove the pullup resistors at the
input of the up and supply +5V for the encoder. I am assuming that a
Quadrature encoder is being used here. This type of encoder has only two
outputs, channel A and channel B. When turning clockwise, channel A leads
channel B by 90 degrees; when turning counterclockwise, channel A lags
channel B by 90 degrees.

Pete

"k9kz" wrote in message
...

"Pete KE9OA" wrote in message
. ..
I just got through reading the review on the link that you provided.
Thank
you for posting it. This is good that this receiver uses good quality
metal
cased ceramic filters. It appears to use the same noisy synthesizer as
the
SW-8, and it doesn't use the input bandpass filters that the SW-8 uses.
Still, for a cheap price it isn't a bad receiver.
I have an SW-8 (1994 version), and it isn't a bad receiver. One thing I
like
about the SW-8 is that the LCD is illuminated with a Lumitex fiber optic
illuminator. Only one high intensity LED radiates into a fiber optic
bundle
that fans out into a flat panel. The advantage here is that by changing
the
color of the LED you can choose your own display color. I knew there was
some reason that I kept this receiver around!
I stand corrected in my original impressions of the SW-2. Although the
SW-8
is still a better receiver, the SW-2 still seems to be a fairly good
design.

Pete

The SW2 is a terrific receiver for the money. It's the only desktop I've
used that didn't need an external speaker. I think all of the SW2's will
have encoder problems eventually though. One sorry regular here sold me an
SW2 and described it as in perfect working condition. When I got it you
couldn't even tune with the knob. Other than that and the sorry 50 Hz
tuning
resolution it's a VERY nice rig. I had a nice SW8 too but prefer the SW2.

Drake sw-2 vs. Sw-8
 

You can work the passband against the SYNC detector by tuning off
center, in the opposite direction from the sideband chosen. This will
narrow the I. F. and lower splatter. It could use a 4 kHz filter for
AM/SYNC.

The main thing is getting ahold of a Murata CFJ-455I. Murata stopped
production on the higher performance filters back in 2002. I never use Sync
detection, so it is a non issue for me. A few years back, I designed an
Analog Devices AD607 based sync detector that didn't have the problems that
I see with other sync detectors. I've still got the prototype. I was going
to market the unit, but there are so many variables when interfacing such a
unit to a receiver that I decided against it. Also, there doesn't seem to be
much of a demand for an outboard unit. Sherwood Engineering has an outboard
unit, but I don't think that this device is a high volume seller.

Pete

Drake sw-2 vs. Sw-8
 

On Sun, 11 Nov 2007 00:54:55 -0600, "Pete KE9OA"
wrote:


You can work the passband against the SYNC detector by tuning off
center, in the opposite direction from the sideband chosen. This will
narrow the I. F. and lower splatter. It could use a 4 kHz filter for
AM/SYNC.

The main thing is getting ahold of a Murata CFJ-455I. Murata stopped
production on the higher performance filters back in 2002. I never use Sync
detection, so it is a non issue for me. A few years back, I designed an
Analog Devices AD607 based sync detector that didn't have the problems that
I see with other sync detectors. I've still got the prototype. I was going
to market the unit, but there are so many variables when interfacing such a
unit to a receiver that I decided against it. Also, there doesn't seem to be
much of a demand for an outboard unit. Sherwood Engineering has an outboard
unit, but I don't think that this device is a high volume seller.

Pete


I am just the right distance from Los Angeles to have the ground waves
and the skywaves phasing each other out. The SYNC helps, but raises
noise. My R8B is always standing by, but listening to Handel on the
Law on such a beast seems inappropriate on a certain level.

Drake sw-2 vs. Sw-8
 

I've noticed that effect when I get around 150 miles out from Chicago, on
WLS 890.

Pete

"David" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 11 Nov 2007 00:54:55 -0600, "Pete KE9OA"
wrote:


You can work the passband against the SYNC detector by tuning off
center, in the opposite direction from the sideband chosen. This will
narrow the I. F. and lower splatter. It could use a 4 kHz filter for
AM/SYNC.

The main thing is getting ahold of a Murata CFJ-455I. Murata stopped
production on the higher performance filters back in 2002. I never use
Sync
detection, so it is a non issue for me. A few years back, I designed an
Analog Devices AD607 based sync detector that didn't have the problems
that
I see with other sync detectors. I've still got the prototype. I was going
to market the unit, but there are so many variables when interfacing such
a
unit to a receiver that I decided against it. Also, there doesn't seem to
be
much of a demand for an outboard unit. Sherwood Engineering has an
outboard
unit, but I don't think that this device is a high volume seller.

Pete


I am just the right distance from Los Angeles to have the ground waves
and the skywaves phasing each other out. The SYNC helps, but raises
noise. My R8B is always standing by, but listening to Handel on the
Law on such a beast seems inappropriate on a certain level.

Drake sw-2 vs. Sw-8
 

On Sun, 11 Nov 2007 20:38:11 -0600, "Pete KE9OA"
wrote:

I've noticed that effect when I get around 150 miles out from Chicago, on
WLS 890.

I'm about 1,500' above the transmitter altitiude for KFI and KNX and
about 50 miles sideways from them. I get severe selective fading
during twilight time.