On Fri, 29 Feb 2008 08:44:06 -0800 (PST), Radioguy
wrote:

On Feb 29, 1:09*am, (Geoffrey S. Mendelson) wrote:
Radioguy wrote:
Yes, I agree. *Side by side there would probably be a few situations
where each of those receivers would excel by a small margin on HF.
The 9500 might be a bargain if measured by the price-per-button.

The 9500 is a bargain if you have the money and want that extra
margin in the situations it excels at. If it makes the difference
between having every possible DXCC country in your log and not,
or getting that one extra contact for a contest, it's worth it.

Since this is an SWL group, let's face it, that extra margin is probably
of no concern to an SWL. In the real world a $200 portable with a $5
wire probably will "bag" you 95% of what is out there when it is there,
so the difference in price does not buy you much.

Did you know there is a ham out there with a 20m (14mHz) 10 element
beam antenna? I'm sure he could use one. :-) If you don't know the
math, my 11 element 2m beam antenna was 6 feet wide, by 12 feet long.
Multiply that by 10.

At least they made the thing look and feel like a radio, instead of
an expensive VoIP box.

Geoff.

--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel *N3OWJ/4X1GM
IL Voice: (07)-7424-1667 U.S. Voice: 1-215-821-1838
Visit my 'blog athttp://geoffstechno.livejournal.com/

It would be interesting to determine if the 9500 could actually
deliver usable signals from stations where the other two could not.
And it would be equally interesting to see if the reverse were true.
I would like to read about or somehow quantify the as yet undefined
listening margin that a mega-buck reveiver like the 9500 is supposed
to deliver.

The 9500 has a graphic spectrum display, frequency coverage darkness
to daylight and numerous controls that the other receivers do not.
But basic signal grabbing performance on the HF bands is where the
receivers should be compared.

I don't know that we'll ever answer this question here on the ng.
Yes, it boils down to basic signal capture capability - however, if
one radio makes that easier via better DSP, filters, easy to use
controls vs embedded menus I bet it will more often be used to its
full potential.

On a separate note; this is one of the better threads - good focus on
on-topic material!