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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HFguy wrote in message ...
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.
Yes sensible like this one :
Yes, I agree... My R8B is a miserable failure as well. Certain parts of
the HF band are totally useless for weak signal work because of the
birdies spaced every 1.5 kc or so. For just a couple of extra bucks
invested in shielding and separate boards they could have had a nice
clean receiver---but Drake was more interested in the profit margin.

I also had the same argument with Drake concerning the birdies. One
fellow did ask if they were in the amateur band and after I said no he
said that's OK!

Besides the other problems I've been having with the R8B a new one just
surfaced; the audio gain control is getting scratchy causing all manner
of grief when I adjust it---guess I need to replace it (only 2 year old)
along with a bunch of other stuff.
A classic.

Kenneth wrote:


Yes sensible like this one :
Yes, I agree... My R8B is a miserable failure as well. Certain parts of
the HF band are totally useless for weak signal work because of the
birdies spaced every 1.5 kc or so. For just a couple of extra bucks
invested in shielding and separate boards they could have had a nice
clean receiver---but Drake was more interested in the profit margin.

Again Kenneth, if it's so simple, why haven't you fixed it?

Steve
Holland, MI
Drake R7, R8 and R8B

HFguy wrote:

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.


HFguy beat me to it, Linus. That's the first rational reply on the
subject. The R-75 I had was a fine receiver -- to a point -- but now
that I've sold it, I won't miss it at all.

As for the religious wars... what can I say? After a year and a half
away, an R-75 war breaks out and phil pops back in.


--
Eric F. Richards,
"Nature abhors a vacuum tube." -- J. R. Pierce, Bell Labs, c. 1940

(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.


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

Kenneth wrote:

(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

You actually think the DSP in the R75 is worth anything?

,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

One again, another question you refuse to answer. Just what do you consider to be 'very hot'?

Can you answer even one question Kenneth?

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

You actually think the DSP in the R75 is worth anything?
Yes Steve,the DSP include an automatic notch filter an really helps in
improve intelligibility of some tough signals and reduce heterodyne
[whistle]interference.
Ken

Kenneth wrote:

You actually think the DSP in the R75 is worth anything?
Yes Steve,the DSP include an automatic notch filter an really helps in
improve intelligibility of some tough signals and reduce heterodyne
[whistle]interference.
Ken

Golly, an automatic notch filter! Who would've thought! ;)

That must free up one of your hands for... well... doing other things!

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

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.

That's obvious.

They have the the freedom to
defend their radios, what the problem with that.?

I never said there was a 'problem' with freedom to express opinions (and I find
it amazing, as usual, that I get the tired 'censorship' accusation from yet
another teen-minded champion of personal pride of ownership), but if you would
care to go back into the archives and read through a fraction of the myriad
threads over who's got the better product and who's an idiot for NOT buying
said product, you'd know that your position and churlish attitude is neither
new, nor constructive.

I did the side by side test and for me
your reaction is only a failed intent to sweep the facts under the
rug.

Here lies the core of the whole 'my rig's better than your rig' ****ing
contest.
You admitted already that you leave logic to others, and are not using logic in
your current strand of posts, so I'll make this easier for you.
There's a HUGE difference between your singular, personal experiences with a
given product and someone else's reviews of the same thing versus any actual
FACTS. What you are attempting to do (illogically, as you admit) is portray
your opinion, and a handful of other's opinions, as FACTS to prove your
position in some blown-up (and utterly needless) debate over your radio. The
books and periodicals you mention as scientific proof are still derived from
personal experiences, and while I often refer to the same books and articles
for input and advice, I do not consider anything told to me (beyond basics like
dimensions, weight, frequency range, etc.) as FACTS. MY personal experiences
(are you spotting the lesson here yet?) with many products have differed quite
dramatically than the opinions and 'facts' expressed in those articles quite
often.
You have a personal agenda to defend your radio, which seems silly to me.
There's a difference between having real facts, and simply displaying a
churlish, personal-pride-of-ownership temper tantrum. ANYONE can point to
articles both pro- and con- regarding ANY product you care to mention... and
NONE of those articles, pro- or con-, can change YOUR personal experience and
preferences.

At last you got it;all radios have pro's and flaws."Get everything
right" commercial advertisement is only a nice myth.

If you really believed what you're saying all through this, you would have
simply not replied to Telamon's personal opinion, since it was EXACTLY that:
His statement of flaws of the radio in question, which IN *HIS* OPINION, helped
him decide NOT to purchase the radio.
ANYTHING beyond that is pointless.
I like my R75, and I liked my R8B, and have had not a single problem with
either of them. You seem to have gotten a dud.
Linus