Kenneth wrote:
snip
hi Starman:

I've never heard of any failure of the transformer or
associated AC power supply components.

strawman argument? there are no failures, there are alignments.
Yes expensive friendly [$$$$$] aligments from Mr Drake an his nice
service guys.Any 101 course electronic technician knows that extreme
heat near delicated component can change its critical tolerance and
with that the need for aligments.Why do you think the drake service
dept is so famous?.

Extreme heat? My R8 ran warm enough that the cats liked to snuggle up to it.

Ever compare the case of an R8 series radio with a similar sized set that uses tubes?

I suspect the reason the Drake service department is famous is if you call them up with a question, they treat you like a valued customer. They sent me an owners manual for the R8 I bought used for free.

The R75 sounds much better with an external
speaker but it's
still not as good as an R8, particularly for program listening.

the modded R75 has fidelity, working SAM, and a better filter for SAM
sideband selection.
With an external speaker and the Phidelity mod the sound is much
better and clear with its quiet circuitry .
There is no sync' mod for the R75 that makes it
work as
well as the sync' on an R8B.

says who? the guy who in 2002 said the R75 had "no synchronous selectable
sideband" then in 2004 said DUH "synchronous selectable sideband actually
being somewhat functional". the guy who in 2003 could not get a Kiwa modded
R75 to review but in 2004 sited "exceptionally fast turnaround"? the guy
who stated "added crispness marginally improves audio" but got the wrong
audio mod? the guy who "forgot" the "1/2" on the Kiwa modded R75's rating?
Just wondering, are you insinuating that this "guy" FORGOT the 1/2
start in the R75 rating [see passport site]only by a "coincidence"?
NAHHHHHH we all are too mature to believe in silly "coincidences" like
that.Like einstein said God don't play dice.This guy was the same that
said in a Grundig advertisement "the sat 800 is the most powerfull
radio in the world" and about the R8B "it get everything right".
I prefer to pay more for a receiver that doesn't need many
(if any) mod's, than to pay less up front and then spend
more time and money to get it working acceptably.

spend time doing what? the work has already been done. you send Kiwa a
radio and an $80 check. who knows, maybe 2004 will be the year you fix the
R8B's synthesizer with encoder lubricant.
A lot of radio enthusiastics know how to solder and with some care
they are working in their radios having fun and saving some service
money.If you know how to solder and have a good magnifier your
sync/agc mod cost can be less than $10.00.

Since these mods are well known, simple and inexpensive, why hasn't the factory hasn't gotten around to incorporating them into the design?

It would eliminate almost every complaint people have about the radio.

I think the answer is not enough owners have complained.

"Mark S. Holden" wrote in message Extreme heat? My R8 ran warm enough that the cats liked to snuggle up to it.
Remember that cats have 9 lives.
Ever compare the case of an R8 series radio with a similar
sized set that uses tubes?
But a tubes receiver components [resistors,cap,transistor]have better
heat tolerance than the R8 mini IC's,cap,resistors ect.Do you know
that a lot of capacitor in a tube set can work with more than 400v
applied? What about a tube set resistors? Do you ever see a huge 10
watts one?
I suspect the reason the Drake service department is famous is if you call them up with a question, they treat you like a valued customer. They sent me an owners manual for the R8 I bought used for free.
Yes but send your R8 and r8B for aligment or encoder repair and pray
God before the bill arrive.For sure they are very friendly [$$$$]
people and sometimes send some owners manuals for free.Remember that
you can find a lot of receivers manuals for free [online].

The R75 sounds much better with an external
speaker but it's
still not as good as an R8, particularly for program listening.

the modded R75 has fidelity, working SAM, and a better filter for SAM
sideband selection.
With an external speaker and the Phidelity mod the sound is much
better and clear with its quiet circuitry .
then

radio and an $80 check. who knows, maybe 2004 will be the year you fix the
R8B's synthesizer with encoder lubricant.

Since these mods are well known, simple and inexpensive, why hasn't the factory hasn't gotten around to incorporating them into the design?

It would eliminate almost every complaint people have about the radio.
Yes and with that the elimination of the $450.00 [free DSP]offer for a
radio with a list price of $1,100.
I think the answer is not enough owners have complained.
We are complaining but at the same time designing new and easy
upgrades for it and now we have a champ that can compete with any
radio in the market.

Perhaps the best way to solve the ICOM R75 problem is to contact the Federal Trade Commission and ask them why ICOM is dumping their receivers in the USA at a greatly discounted price.

What we need is a trade war with Japan! ;-)

Steve
Holland, MI
Drake R7, R8 and R8B
"I swear by, not at, Drake receivers"
"I don't have to bother myself with modificatons either"

http://www.iserv.net/~n8kdv/dxpage.htm

N8KDV wrote in message
Steve
Holland, MI
Drake R7, R8 and R8B
"I swear by, not at, Drake receivers"
"I don't have to bother myself with modificatons either"
Sorry for you. At this time no modifications are available for the R8B
flaws [synthesizer phase noise,background hiss,birdies,cheapy
encoder,K'mart keypad ect ect [yes,I agree, for the funny tunning
knob there is a remplacement available]. .....About the "running very
hot" problem , you did the right thing with adding an external AC
adaptor,Yes,you are learning very fast.
http://www.iserv.net/~n8kdv/dxpage.htm
Ken

"Kenneth" wrote in message
om...
N8KDV wrote in message
Steve
Holland, MI
Drake R7, R8 and R8B
"I swear by, not at, Drake receivers"
"I don't have to bother myself with modificatons either"
Sorry for you. At this time no modifications are available for the R8B
flaws [synthesizer phase noise,background hiss,birdies,cheapy
encoder,K'mart keypad ect ect [yes,I agree, for the funny tunning
knob there is a remplacement available]. .....About the "running very
hot" problem , you did the right thing with adding an external AC
adaptor,Yes,you are learning very fast.

I have an R75 and like it very much, but I have also owned an R8B and loved
it! All of the problems you're magnifying are extremely minor, except for
the encoder. It seems to me that you are bashing the R8B because it's
American made.

DeWayne K9KZ

http://www.iserv.net/~n8kdv/dxpage.htm
Ken

Sorry for you. At this time no modifications are available for the R8B
flaws [synthesizer phase noise,background hiss,birdies,cheapy
encoder,K'mart keypad ect ect

I am, like DeWayne, the happy owner of an R75, AND I owned a Drake R8B for
three years. The R8B is an awesome receiver, and the problems you're blowing
all out of proportion are as DeWayne says, minor and infrequent (I never ONCE
had a problem with the encoder or tuning knob)...
I have been following your (Kenneth's) current run of tirades for a few days
now, and don't really know what your point has been all along.
Yes, I tend to champion the R75 when discussing it with fellow (or soon-to-be)
SWL's for its price range, performance, and overall flexibility for most users.
I enjoy electronics and enhancing my gear if needed, and enjoyed thoroughly the
process of upgrading the R75 to a more capable receiver than it already was. I
did everything myself and spent MAYBE another $40 after all was said and done,
so FOR ME and MY wallet, it was a great choice of radio.
But that doesn't mean I excuse Icom for making some poor choices in components
and circuit design, nor do I excuse them for advertising as *working* a few
features which simply *don't work* without fixing by the user or Kiwa. Does
this mean I hate the radio? Hell no.
I take Telamon's (and others who feel as he does) opinions and comments to be
sincere and well-meaning, and accurate. There ARE plenty of SWL's who won't
spend $500 for a radio they need to spend either more money or more time on to
get working as advertised, and I can't blame them. And I don't see them flaming
ME for WANTING to own and enhance the radio, do I? He's just stating his
educated opinion and HIS personal preference for purchasing the radios HE wants
to use, based on what I find to be sound reasoning. Why, therefore, do you
INSIST on arguing with people who don't want to own an R75?
The Drake R8B also has its fair share of detractors, but unlike your posts
here, they tend to state a few LOGICAL reasons why they don't wish to buy an
R8B, any one of which makes SENSE compared to your 'facts' given here. And even
if the R8B's 'flaws' were indeed numerous and frequent, HOW IN HELL does that
have ANY effect on anyone's opinion of how well-made the R75 is?
Apples/oranges, who cares?
How can Telamon be 'wrong' in having a preference in radios? How can YOU be
'right' for owning an R75? It seems to me like you're rather sophomorically
creating and extending an argument for no other reason than to 'defend'
something which needs no defense (a radio product) or simply watch yourself
type.
Like a few teen-minded defenders of some dubious radio products in this
newsgroup's past (can anyone say TT?) you're being ridiculous, and show it more
with every heated, self-defensive post about differing OPINIONS and
preferences.
I would give you the same advice I have received and have given others:
Quit looking for black-and-white in radios. It will NEVER exist.
Linus

GrtPmpkin32 wrote:

Sorry for you. At this time no modifications are available for the R8B
flaws [synthesizer phase noise,background hiss,birdies,cheapy
encoder,K'mart keypad ect ect

I am, like DeWayne, the happy owner of an R75, AND I owned a Drake R8B for
three years. The R8B is an awesome receiver, and the problems you're blowing
all out of proportion are as DeWayne says, minor and infrequent (I never ONCE
had a problem with the encoder or tuning knob)...
I have been following your (Kenneth's) current run of tirades for a few days
now, and don't really know what your point has been all along.
snipped

That was the most sensible reply on this subject that I've ever seen.
Congratulations Linus.


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(GrtPmpkin32) wrote in message ...

I am, like DeWayne, the happy owner of an R75, AND I owned a Drake R8B for
three years. The R8B is an awesome receiver, and the problems you're blowing
all out of proportion are as DeWayne says, minor and infrequent (I never ONCE
had a problem with the encoder or tuning knob)...
synthesizer phase noise,background hiss,birdies,cheapy mechanical
encoder with high failure rate,NO DSP,no 1hz tunning steps
increments,K'mart keypad,poor grounding and shielding techniques,not
pro filters[with excellent shape factor skirts selectivity,notch
filter does not tune under 500hz,run very hot even turned off ect ect
If you want to call this "minor" and "infrequent" problems this is your privilege.
now, and don't really know what your point has been all along.

point:All receiver have flaws ALL RECEIVERS ,and
another point is: a moded receiver can surpass in hard core dxing a
most expensive receiver.
Yes, I tend to champion the R75 when
discussing it with fellow (or soon-to-be)
SWL's for its price range, performance, and overall flexibility for most users.

The Drake R8B also has its fair share of detractors, but
unlike your posts
here, they tend to state a few LOGICAL reasons why they don't wish to buy an
R8B, any one of which makes SENSE compared to your 'facts' given
My R8B flaws facts "no give sense" compared with other
logical reasons? I keep with my scientific side by side test facts an
leave the "logic reasoning" to the studious.
Like a few teen-minded
defenders of some dubious radio products
They have the the freedom to
defend their radios, what the problem with that.? you're being
ridiculous, and show it more
with every heated, self-defensive post about differing OPINIONS and
preferences.

I quoted passport,white papers,past post from this
group archives,experts articles,I did the side by side test and for me
your reaction is only a failed intent to sweep the facts under the
rug.
advice I have received and have given others:
Quit looking for black-and-white in radios. It will NEVER exist.
At last you got it;all radios have pro's and flaws."Get everything
right" commercial advertisement is only a nice myth.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"DeWayne" wrote in message ...
"Kenneth" wrote in message
om...


I have an R75 and like it very much, but I have also owned an R8B and loved
it! All of the problems you're magnifying are extremely minor, except for
the encoder. It seems to me that you are bashing the R8B because it's
American made.

Yes R8B flaws [synthesizer phase noise,background hiss,birdies,cheapy
encoder,K'mart keypad ect ect [yes,I agree, for the funny tunning
knob there is a remplacement available]. .....receiver "running very
hot" even turned off ect ect....
Drake R8B "extremely minor problems" and you sold it and now have a R-75?

Kenneth wrote:

"DeWayne" wrote in message ...
"Kenneth" wrote in message
om...


I have an R75 and like it very much, but I have also owned an R8B and loved
it! All of the problems you're magnifying are extremely minor, except for
the encoder. It seems to me that you are bashing the R8B because it's
American made.

Yes R8B flaws [synthesizer phase noise,background hiss,birdies,cheapy
encoder,K'mart keypad ect ect [yes,I agree, for the funny tunning
knob there is a remplacement available]. .....receiver "running very
hot" even turned off ect ect....
Drake R8B "extremely minor problems" and you sold it and now have a R-75?

LOL, ANY problem the R8 series has is INDEED minor when compared to the GLARING flaws in the R75
design...

Steve
Holland, MI
Drake R7, R8 and R8B
"I swear by, not at, Drake receivers"