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Best receiver for tropical bands?
I have been thinking about buying a tabletop receiver for shortwave.
I am mainly interested in tropical bands and 49 mb SW stations, not interested in ham bands. I have already got a Drake R8b but it is not good for DXing in these bands. I have been reading in some web pages that the Drake r7A perfoms very well . What is your opinion about buying a R7A or a similar receiver? Of course I would sell the R8B first. Any comments are wellcomed. Thanks |
Best receiver for tropical bands?
i think the aor 7030+ ia a good receiver am quailty is great also has a good
syc detector on there as well and of ssb is good all in all a good buy "carlos2007" wrote in message ... I have been thinking about buying a tabletop receiver for shortwave. I am mainly interested in tropical bands and 49 mb SW stations, not interested in ham bands. I have already got a Drake R8b but it is not good for DXing in these bands. I have been reading in some web pages that the Drake r7A perfoms very well . What is your opinion about buying a R7A or a similar receiver? Of course I would sell the R8B first. Any comments are wellcomed. Thanks -- carlos2007 |
Best receiver for tropical bands?
In article ,
"bruce" wrote: "carlos2007" wrote in message ... I have been thinking about buying a tabletop receiver for shortwave. I am mainly interested in tropical bands and 49 mb SW stations, not interested in ham bands. I have already got a Drake R8b but it is not good for DXing in these bands. I have been reading in some web pages that the Drake r7A perfoms very well . What is your opinion about buying a R7A or a similar receiver? Of course I would sell the R8B first. Any comments are wellcomed. Thanks i think the aor 7030+ ia a good receiver am quailty is great also has a good syc detector on there as well and of ssb is good all in all a good buy I own both radios and I think the Drake R8B has an edge over the AR7030+ with side band selectable sync. They are both great radios. -- Telamon Ventura, California |
Best receiver for tropical bands?
In article ,
carlos2007 wrote: I have been thinking about buying a tabletop receiver for shortwave. I am mainly interested in tropical bands and 49 mb SW stations, not interested in ham bands. I have already got a Drake R8b but it is not good for DXing in these bands. I have been reading in some web pages that the Drake r7A perfoms very well . What is your opinion about buying a R7A or a similar receiver? Of course I would sell the R8B first. Any comments are wellcomed. Thanks I'm curious why you think the Drake R8B is not a good DX radio for 49 meters? What seems to be the problem? Overload from local MW stations? -- Telamon Ventura, California |
The problem I have with the Drake R8b it is that I cannnot hear, understand, weak stations, because the audio it is too bassy and muddy.
Same happens on tropical bands. I have tried listening with different headphones, audio filters but not improvement at all. I think that this receiver has been made for generallistening not for DXing. So, why did I spend a $1250 receiver if I cannot identify a weak station? I have read in some groups that same thing happens in many R8B,s and the R8 has much better audio. I have been thinking about buying a tabletop receiver for shortwave. I am mainly interested in tropical bands and 49 mb SW stations, not interested in ham bands. I have already got a Drake R8b but it is not good for DXing in these bands. I have been reading in some web pages that the Drake r7A perfoms very well . What is your opinion about buying a R7A or a similar receiver? Of course I would sell the R8B first. Any comments are wellcomed. Thanks[/i][/color] I'm curious why you think the Drake R8B is not a good DX radio for 49 meters? What seems to be the problem? Overload from local MW stations? -- Telamon Ventura, California[/quote] |
The problem I have with the Drake R8b it is that I cannnot hear, understand, weak stations, because the audio it is too bassy and muddy.
Same happens on tropical bands. I have tried listening with different headphones, audio filters but not improvement at all. I think that this receiver has been made for generallistening not for DXing. So, why did I spend a $1250 receiver if I cannot identify a weak station? I have read in some groups that same thing happens in many R8B,s and the R8 has much better audio. I have been thinking about buying a tabletop receiver for shortwave. I am mainly interested in tropical bands and 49 mb SW stations, not interested in ham bands. I have already got a Drake R8b but it is not good for DXing in these bands. I have been reading in some web pages that the Drake r7A perfoms very well . What is your opinion about buying a R7A or a similar receiver? Of course I would sell the R8B first. Any comments are wellcomed. Thanks[/i][/color] I'm curious why you think the Drake R8B is not a good DX radio for 49 meters? What seems to be the problem? Overload from local MW stations? -- Telamon Ventura, California[/quote][/quote] |
Best receiver for tropical bands?
carlos2007 wrote:
The problem I have with the Drake R8b it is that I cannnot hear, understand, weak stations, because the audio it is too bassy and muddy. Same happens on tropical bands. I have tried listening with different headphones, audio filters but not improvement at all. That's crazy. You can get plenty of treble if you move the PBT a little bit. |
Best receiver for tropical bands?
Depends on the Antenna.
cuhulin |
Best receiver for tropical bands?
In article ,
carlos2007 wrote: I have been thinking about buying a tabletop receiver for shortwave. I am mainly interested in tropical bands and 49 mb SW stations, not interested in ham bands. I have already got a Drake R8b but it is not good for DXing in these bands. I have been reading in some web pages that the Drake r7A perfoms very well . What is your opinion about buying a R7A or a similar receiver? Of course I would sell the R8B first. Any comments are wellcomed. Thanks I'm curious why you think the Drake R8B is not a good DX radio for 49 meters? What seems to be the problem? Overload from local MW stations? The problem I have with the Drake R8b it is that I cannnot hear, understand, weak stations, because the audio it is too bassy and muddy. Same happens on tropical bands. I have tried listening with different headphones, audio filters but not improvement at all. I think that this receiver has been made for generallistening not for DXing. So, why did I spend a $1250 receiver if I cannot identify a weak station? I have read in some groups that same thing happens in many R8B,s and the R8 has much better audio.[/i][/color] Everyones ears are different. I have trouble understanding audio when it has been digitally processed with artifacts generated by psycho acoustic algorithms. I used to own a R8 and traded it in for an R8B. I have not noticed a problem with the audio sound having to much base with either receiver. The two things you can do is turn the tone control clockwise for increased treble and the other is use the passband tuning to bring the higher audio modulation frequencies into the received passband. If you are trying to use the narrower filters with AM mode that can make the sound muddy. Use the narrow filters in SSB mode when DXing AM stations. If this still does not work for you then I suggest buying a professional grade radio with digital filters in software preferably in the IF chain. You will pay a lot more for it than the Drake. -- Telamon Ventura, California |
Best receiver for tropical bands?
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Best receiver for tropical bands?
"Telamon" wrote in message ... In article , wrote: Depends on the Antenna. cuhulin So when are you going to put one up? You have heard of rabbit-ear TV antennae? Cuhulin has a "dog tail" radio antenna... he clips some wire to Blueberry's wagger, and the dog drags it to the front porch. |
[email protected] -- reference loop
On Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:14:32 +0000, carlos2007 wrote:
[snip] Serious errors in your newsreader are causing the References header to contain multiple copies of your Message-ID. Take a look at your own post, because the loop has been trimmed out of this one. The References header winds up being a reference loop, and many news readers will kill such a post instead of attempting to thread it. |
Best receiver for tropical bands?
Telamon wrote:
If this still does not work for you then I suggest buying a professional grade radio with digital filters in software preferably in the IF chain. You will pay a lot more for it than the Drake. You can get a superb DSP receiver for around $500 if you try hard enough. http://www.rfspace.com/SDR-IQ.html |
Best receiver for tropical bands?
On Jan 20, 5:38*am, Dave wrote:
Telamon wrote: If this still does not work for you then I suggest buying a professional grade radio with digital filters in software preferably in the IF chain.. You will pay a lot more for it than the Drake. You can get a superb DSP receiver for around $500 if you try hard enough. http://www.rfspace.com/SDR-IQ.html Thanks, Dave - looks like quite a unit. ~ Bruce Jensen |
Best receiver for tropical bands?
Drake.
Watkins Johnson. Orrrr,,,,, move to the Tropics. cuhulin |
Best receiver for tropical bands?
I have trouble understanding anything them wimmins say.(maybe I might go
to Chat Universe, Sexy Playmates, in a little while and rant with them lezzies for a while,,, Sue, I Love you,,,,,) Seriously though, can a computer speaker with adjustable thingys on it be plugged into a Drake, (I don't own a Drake, wish I do) would that work alright? Yulia Tymoshenko, Prime Minister of Ukraine, she is a real ''Looker'' cuhulin |
Yes, I turn the tone control fully clockwise and move the passband tuning too, but I cannot get improvement in weak signals.
I have tried with a multi mode audio filter, a Datong FL-3, no results. With respect to the antenna it is a Wellbrook 1530+. Now, I hesitate in buying a R7A or a Collins 390A and to selling the R8b. |
Best receiver for tropical bands?
On Jan 21, 2:28*pm, carlos2007
wrote: Yes, I turn the tone control fully clockwise and move the passband tuning too, but I cannot get improvement in weak signals. I have tried with a multi mode audio filter, a *Datong FL-3, no results. With respect to the antenna it is a Wellbrook 1530+. Now, I hesitate in buying *a R7A or a Collins 390A and to selling the R8b. -- carlos2007 First of all, I'm glad that you are reconsidering buying a new expensive radio. It won't solve your problem, since I had the same issue with not understanding speech from weak tropical band signals with my R7. I had a Sherwood SE-3 synch detector (your R8B has a synch built-in) and ran the audio out to a good speaker, but still it was too bassy. I thought about using a graphic equalizer to adjust the tone. Here was some great advice I received on this forum years ago: "If bass rolloff is only what you're after. There is a simpler way. Put a non-polarized capacitor between the R--7 and the speaker. There are numerous nomographs for picking the right cap for your situation in most any radio handbook. Audio handbook, too, for that matter. But you'll likely want to cut and try anyway. Its simple, cost efficient, and it doesn't require a ground, so you can do it with most any radio." I went to a Radio Shack and looked through the catalog for the low cut- off frequency of different capacitors, and just attached one wire to the capacitor on one end, and put the other end into the speaker. Huge improvement. Experiment with different cut-off frequencies for your personal taste, shouldn't cost very much and certainly cheaper than a new rig. |
Best SWL Receiver for Weak Tropical Band Signals ? + Tips and Tricks+ Speakers & Audio Filters
On Jan 22, 5:50 am, wrote:
On Jan 21, 2:28 pm, carlos2007 wrote: Yes, I turn the tone control fully clockwise and move the passband tuning too, but I cannot get improvement in weak signals. I have tried with a multi mode audio filter, a Datong FL-3, no results. With respect to the antenna it is a Wellbrook 1530+. Now, I hesitate in buying a R7A or a Collins 390A and to selling the R8b. -- carlos2007 - First of all, I'm glad that you are reconsidering - buying a new expensive radio. It won't solve - your problem, since I had the same issue with - not understanding speech from weak tropical - band signals with my R7. - I had a Sherwood SE-3 synch detector - (your R8B has a synch built-in) and ran the audio - out to a good speaker, but still it was too bassy. - I thought about using a graphic equalizer to adjust - the tone. Here was some great advice I received - on this forum years ago: - "If bass rolloff is only what you're after. There is - a simpler way. Put a non-polarized capacitor - between the R--7 and the speaker. There are - numerous nomographs for picking the right cap - for your situation in most any radio handbook. - Audio handbook, too, for that matter. But you'll - likely want to cut and try anyway. - - Its simple, cost efficient, and it doesn't require - a ground, so you can do it with most any radio." - - I went to a Radio Shack and looked through the - catalog for the low cut-off frequency of different - capacitors, and just attached one wire to the - capacitor on one end, and put the other end into - the speaker. - Huge improvement. Experiment with different - cut-off frequencies for your personal taste, - shouldn't cost very much and certainly cheaper - than a new rig. WS - Great idea "Tip" and Cost effective Too ! tyvm ~ RHF Carlos, RL Drake R8B http://www.universal-radio.com/used/UI93lrg.jpg 1 - AGC Feature : Turn it 'Off' http://www.universal-radio.com/used/u880disp.jpg 2 - RF Gain Control : Turn it Down http://www.universal-radio.com/used/u880pbt.jpg |
Best receiver for tropical bands?
It can get down to personal preference. I had a Kenwood R-5000 years ago
that I KNOW was superior to anything else I have ever owned,. Sensitive, solid selectivity, many tuning and filter features, and like you, I tried and built speakers, headphones and whatever else I could do. But, I HATED listening to it after an hour or 2. Just something psych-acoustic, whatever. I later got Yeasu FRG-8800 and after a lightning hit, the FRG-100. Later, a Lowe 225. Admittedly, they might be considered a notch down on qualiity, but the important thing is: I am happy with them. You might try tuning AM stations off-freq a couple Khz as your filters may allow, to get the audio into the higher range, but this is not really possible on SSB unless the Drake has a carrier offset tuning (as does my FRG-100). And, I really doubt if the AOR is any more sensitive than the Drake in the real world, this sounds more like an antenna issue. Tropical bands like long antennas. |
Kiwa Electronics "Audio Upgrade" for the Drake R7, R8, R8A and R8BSW Receivers ?
On Jan 22, 5:50*am, wrote:
On Jan 21, 2:28*pm, carlos2007 wrote: Yes, I turn the tone control fully clockwise and move the passband tuning too, but I cannot get improvement in weak signals. I have tried with a multi mode audio filter, a *Datong FL-3, no results. With respect to the antenna it is a Wellbrook 1530+. Now, I hesitate in buying *a R7A or a Collins 390A and to selling the R8b. -- carlos2007 - First of all, I'm glad that you are reconsidering - buying a new expensive radio. -*It won't solve your problem, since I had the same - issue with not understanding speech from weak - tropical band signals with my R7. -*I had a Sherwood SE-3 synch detector (your R8B - has a synch built-in) and ran the audio out to a - good speaker, but still it was too bassy. Bassy sounding Drake Receiver ? OK then why don't they make a Kiwa Audio Upgrade for the Drake R7, R8, R8A and R8B SW Receivers ? http://www.kiwa.com/audioupgrade.html Kiwa Electronics offers an Audio Upgrade for the Kenwood R5000 Receiver. http://www.kiwa.com/R5000.html |
Kiwa Electronics "Audio Upgrade" for the Drake R7, R8, R8A and R8BSW Receivers ?
RHF wrote: On Jan 22, 5:50 am, wrote: On Jan 21, 2:28 pm, carlos2007 wrote: Yes, I turn the tone control fully clockwise and move the passband tuning too, but I cannot get improvement in weak signals. I have tried with a multi mode audio filter, a Datong FL-3, no results. With respect to the antenna it is a Wellbrook 1530+. Now, I hesitate in buying a R7A or a Collins 390A and to selling the R8b. -- carlos2007 - First of all, I'm glad that you are reconsidering - buying a new expensive radio. - It won't solve your problem, since I had the same - issue with not understanding speech from weak - tropical band signals with my R7. - I had a Sherwood SE-3 synch detector (your R8B - has a synch built-in) and ran the audio out to a - good speaker, but still it was too bassy. Bassy sounding Drake Receiver ? OK then why don't they make a Kiwa Audio Upgrade for the Drake R7, R8, R8A and R8B SW Receivers ? Because it's hard to improve upon perfection! dxAce Michigan USA Drake R7, R8, R8A and R8B I swear by, not at, Drake receivers |
Kiwa Electronics "Audio Upgrade" for the Drake R7, R8, R8A andR8B SW Receivers ?
dxAce wrote:
RHF wrote: On Jan 22, 5:50 am, wrote: On Jan 21, 2:28 pm, carlos2007 wrote: Yes, I turn the tone control fully clockwise and move the passband tuning too, but I cannot get improvement in weak signals. I have tried with a multi mode audio filter, a Datong FL-3, no results. With respect to the antenna it is a Wellbrook 1530+. Now, I hesitate in buying a R7A or a Collins 390A and to selling the R8b. -- carlos2007 - First of all, I'm glad that you are reconsidering - buying a new expensive radio. - It won't solve your problem, since I had the same - issue with not understanding speech from weak - tropical band signals with my R7. - I had a Sherwood SE-3 synch detector (your R8B - has a synch built-in) and ran the audio out to a - good speaker, but still it was too bassy. Bassy sounding Drake Receiver ? OK then why don't they make a Kiwa Audio Upgrade for the Drake R7, R8, R8A and R8B SW Receivers ? Because it's hard to improve upon perfection! dxAce Michigan USA Drake R7, R8, R8A and R8B I swear by, not at, Drake receivers Perfection? Hardly. Nice radios to be sure, but not perfect. |
Thank you very much for the non polarized capacitor advice, I will try it with a pair of RCA x33av speakers, and I hope it works with the headphones too.
I emailed Kiwa electronics two weeks ago asking if they have in mind or in a near future an audio upgrade for Drake R8 series.I have still not received response. I explained to them the problem and as I have read in some forums that many owners have it too. I hope that the Kiwa consider it. I made the Kiwa audio upgrade on the Degen 1103 and the difference it is amazing. Meanwhile I will keep the Drake until I find a solution. Thank you very much |
Kiwa Electronics "Audio Upgrade" for the Drake R7, R8, R8A andR8BSW Receivers ?
dave wrote: dxAce wrote: RHF wrote: On Jan 22, 5:50 am, wrote: On Jan 21, 2:28 pm, carlos2007 wrote: Yes, I turn the tone control fully clockwise and move the passband tuning too, but I cannot get improvement in weak signals. I have tried with a multi mode audio filter, a Datong FL-3, no results. With respect to the antenna it is a Wellbrook 1530+. Now, I hesitate in buying a R7A or a Collins 390A and to selling the R8b. -- carlos2007 - First of all, I'm glad that you are reconsidering - buying a new expensive radio. - It won't solve your problem, since I had the same - issue with not understanding speech from weak - tropical band signals with my R7. - I had a Sherwood SE-3 synch detector (your R8B - has a synch built-in) and ran the audio out to a - good speaker, but still it was too bassy. Bassy sounding Drake Receiver ? OK then why don't they make a Kiwa Audio Upgrade for the Drake R7, R8, R8A and R8B SW Receivers ? Because it's hard to improve upon perfection! Perfection? Hardly. Nice radios to be sure, but not perfect. Damn close, boy! dxAce Michigan USA Drake R7, R8, R8A and R8B I swear by, not at, Drake receivers |
Kiwa Electronics "Audio Upgrade" for the Drake R7, R8, R8A andR8BSW Receivers ?
dxAce wrote:
dave wrote: dxAce wrote: RHF wrote: On Jan 22, 5:50 am, wrote: On Jan 21, 2:28 pm, carlos2007 wrote: Yes, I turn the tone control fully clockwise and move the passband tuning too, but I cannot get improvement in weak signals. I have tried with a multi mode audio filter, a Datong FL-3, no results. With respect to the antenna it is a Wellbrook 1530+. Now, I hesitate in buying a R7A or a Collins 390A and to selling the R8b. -- carlos2007 - First of all, I'm glad that you are reconsidering - buying a new expensive radio. - It won't solve your problem, since I had the same - issue with not understanding speech from weak - tropical band signals with my R7. - I had a Sherwood SE-3 synch detector (your R8B - has a synch built-in) and ran the audio out to a - good speaker, but still it was too bassy. Bassy sounding Drake Receiver ? OK then why don't they make a Kiwa Audio Upgrade for the Drake R7, R8, R8A and R8B SW Receivers ? Because it's hard to improve upon perfection! Perfection? Hardly. Nice radios to be sure, but not perfect. Damn close, boy! dxAce Michigan USA Drake R7, R8, R8A and R8B I swear by, not at, Drake receivers My R-390A did a better job than anything else I've owned. I suspect the $4,000 radios are better. |
[/i][/color]
My R-390A did a better job than anything else I've owned. I suspect the $4,000 radios are better.[/quote] Yes I am thinking about purchasing a R-390A to Miltronix, a full refurbished is about $2000 plus $500 shipping to my country,Spain plus $200 of incoming taxes. http://www.dxing.com/r390/r390.htm Does it worth buying a 390A or it would be better spend a little more money in a second hand Watkins Johnson or a Rhode & schwartz, for example? Thanks |
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