Joe Analssandrini wrote:

In my opinion, and in the opinion of several of my friends who have
seen/worked with it, the AOR AR7030 Plus is the "Rolls-Royce" of
short-wave radio.




Appropriate automotive analogy, here. Although I wouldn't say
the 7030+ is a Rolls-Royce. It doesn't leak oil. And it doesn't way
more than your house. But build quality is high, and it has a
luxurious feel.

Maybe a Daimler, or a Van den Plas.


This radio has been much maligned for it's operating system.
This criticism is simply a lot of noise. Work it for a couple of
hours, and the O/S becomes second nature. The O/S is also the
reason why this much performance comes at such a reasonable price.
This much radio, with every function on a dedicated switch, would
come in at more than twice the price. Early models have been
revised, to accomodate more reliable encoders, improve performance,
and generally make it sing and dance more smoothly. Current
versions of 7030+ are reliable, exceptional performers, and
amazingly versatile.

If you have a decent antenna installation, this radio is
difficult to overload. Lord knows, I've tried. If you DON"T have a
decent installation, no matter, sensitivity is more than adequate to
compensate. And you can install a simple whip for indoor
installation. Filters are selectable, and self centering. And
nearly all functions of the radio can be operated automatically,
which can be entertaining to watch, and highly convenient, if you're
not in the fiddling mood. If you prefer manual operation, you may
select virtually any function you wish, for manual operation, while
retaining automatic functionality for others.

The radio is highly configurable. It will remember all your
preferences for each individual frequency you put into memory.
Memories are tuneable.

Like a fine dog, it will be anything you want it to be. You
just don't have to take it out three times a day.

Remote control has more buttons, so dedicated functionality is
available in hand held form, across the room.

It makes a dandy, although almighty expensive, clock radio.

I've been playing with a 7030+, now, for a couple of years.
Audio is very good. Out of the box, it's works well, and more or
less intuitively, if you have any computer experience at all. With
a little effort and experience, it's one of the most convenient
radios I've yet encountered. I use it almost exclusively, now, to
the point that I've sold off several of my other radios, including
my long time benchmark R-71.


Recommendations are to get the notch/noise blanker accessory.
Expensive, but worth it if you find you enjoy deep DX.

An external speaker is hardly necesary, but makes for very
nice very long term listening.

As a beginner's receiver, 7030+ may be a bit of overkill, but
if you find you get sucked deep into the hobby, it's a radio you can
grow into, but not out of.



Then buy a Wellbrook ALA 330S Active Loop Antenna (either from THE
SHORTWAVE SHOP or the factory). This antenna (the very best in my
experience) can be mounted outdoors, in an attic (where I have mine),
or even in your room (if no one in your family objects to a 1-meter
loop as a "decoration"). A rotator (I use an nexpensive Radio Shack
one) is very helpful, especially on frequencies below 6 Mhz. Even if
you have the space to put up a first class outdoor wire antenna, you
will probably find, as I have, that this antenna is the best one
currently available for summertime listening when atmospheric noise
and thunderstorm activity are at their peak.



An alternative is the RF systems MTA--Magnetic transfer antenna.
This is a passive, with unobtrusive appearance, if that's an issue,
and it's astonishingly quiet. And impossible to overload, if you
live in a high RF environment. I've recently been doing some tests
with a homebuilt version of the MTA. A storm came along and wiped
it off the map. But the results were impressive enough, that I've
ordered an MTA, and when installed, I'll put up some side by side
audio files of reception with the MTA, vs other antennae I'm using.

All evaluated on the 7030+.

Peter Maus wrote in message
...


An alternative is the RF systems MTA--Magnetic transfer antenna.
This is a passive, with unobtrusive appearance, if that's an issue,
and it's astonishingly quiet. And impossible to overload, if you
live in a high RF environment. I've recently been doing some tests
with a homebuilt version of the MTA. A storm came along and wiped
it off the map. But the results were impressive enough, that I've
ordered an MTA, and when installed, I'll put up some side by side
audio files of reception with the MTA, vs other antennae I'm using.

Yes, please let us know your findings on this antenna setup.

73, Ken

Peter Maus wrote:
Like a fine dog, it will be anything you want it to be. You
just don't have to take it out three times a day.

I've never had a radio poop in the shack, but I have had one howl all night
when I forgot to turn it off and left the BFO on.

--
"Kerry arrived [in Viet Nam] with a strong anti-Vietnam War bias and a self-
serving determination to build a foundation for his political future."
-- Rear Admiral Roy Hoffmann, USN (Ret.), May 4, 2004

clifto wrote:
Peter Maus wrote:

Like a fine dog, it will be anything you want it to be. You
just don't have to take it out three times a day.


I've never had a radio poop in the shack, but I have had one howl all night
when I forgot to turn it off and left the BFO on.




And a real radio will keep you warm at night.

In article
,
Peter Maus wrote:

Joe Analssandrini wrote:

In my opinion, and in the opinion of several of my friends who have
seen/worked with it, the AOR AR7030 Plus is the "Rolls-Royce" of
short-wave radio.

Appropriate automotive analogy, here. Although I wouldn't say
the 7030+ is a Rolls-Royce. It doesn't leak oil. And it doesn't way
more than your house. But build quality is high, and it has a
luxurious feel.

Snip

I think a review you wrote in the newsgroup long time ago convinced me
to buy one and I have never regretted it. The AOR 7030+ is one slick
radio with it's auto tuning, self aligning filters and remote. The built
in speaker sounds pretty good but a bookshelf speaker sounds better.
Really excellent audio with a bookshelf speaker or headphones.

--
Telamon
Ventura, California

Telamon wrote:
In article
,
Peter Maus wrote:


Joe Analssandrini wrote:


In my opinion, and in the opinion of several of my friends who have
seen/worked with it, the AOR AR7030 Plus is the "Rolls-Royce" of
short-wave radio.

Appropriate automotive analogy, here. Although I wouldn't say
the 7030+ is a Rolls-Royce. It doesn't leak oil. And it doesn't way
more than your house. But build quality is high, and it has a
luxurious feel.


Snip

I think a review you wrote in the newsgroup long time ago convinced me
to buy one and I have never regretted it. The AOR 7030+ is one slick
radio with it's auto tuning, self aligning filters and remote. The built
in speaker sounds pretty good but a bookshelf speaker sounds better.
Really excellent audio with a bookshelf speaker or headphones.


Well.....I"m flattered. I didn't think anyone paid much attention
to my opinion.

Nice to know it paid off for you.

I use a big cabinet of 1" hardwood, with twin Stromberg-Carlson
woofers, Electrovoice tweeters, and Motorola piezo tweeters as my
speaker system of choice in the listening room. This serves not
only the 7030+, but the RX-350, SW-2, HF-150, BC-794 and several
others, as well as some of my vintage FM tuners, through a
Switchcraft switching system that came out of a hi-fi shop. Makes
for very quick selection of receivers, speakers, recorders and
routing to other parts of the house.

Through this system, the 7030+ sounds a little anemic in the
extreme low end, as compared to the Drake, and the Lowe, but is as
smooth and pleasant for long term listening than many of my tube sets.


Good listening with yours. And thanks for the compliment.

p

(Snip)

This radio has been much maligned for it's operating system.
This criticism is simply a lot of noise. Work it for a couple of
hours, and the O/S becomes second nature. The O/S is also the
reason why this much performance comes at such a reasonable price.
This much radio, with every function on a dedicated switch, would
come in at more than twice the price.

Hello,

Are you familiar with the RxWings computer control program (written by
Jan Arkesteijn) which can be used with the AR7030? It DOES put every
function on a dedicated (though "virtual") switch.

Though you're absolutely right that the criticisms of the AOR's
operating system
are way off base (one of the rare times in PASSPORT that they are dead
wrong and,
worse, they refuse to correct their errors) and the receiver really is
very easy to use, this computer control program makes its use even
easier. And, best of all, it is totally FREE!

All the best,

Joe

Joe Analssandrini wrote:
(Snip)

This radio has been much maligned for it's operating system.
This criticism is simply a lot of noise. Work it for a couple of
hours, and the O/S becomes second nature. The O/S is also the
reason why this much performance comes at such a reasonable price.
This much radio, with every function on a dedicated switch, would
come in at more than twice the price.

Hello,

Are you familiar with the RxWings computer control program (written by
Jan Arkesteijn) which can be used with the AR7030? It DOES put every
function on a dedicated (though "virtual") switch.



No, I'm not familiar with that software. I don't use my computers
with my radios.





Though you're absolutely right that the criticisms of the AOR's
operating system
are way off base (one of the rare times in PASSPORT that they are dead
wrong



I think we'll have to agree to disagree, there. My personal
opinion of Passport is somewhat less than flattering. As expressed
here before.





and,
worse, they refuse to correct their errors) and the receiver really is
very easy to use, this computer control program makes its use even
easier. And, best of all, it is totally FREE!

All the best,


Good listening, to you, as well.










Joe

Then buy a Wellbrook ALA 330S Active Loop Antenna (either from THE
SHORTWAVE SHOP or the factory). This antenna (the very best in my
experience) can be mounted outdoors, in an attic (where I have mine),
or even in your room (if no one in your family objects to a 1-meter
loop as a "decoration"). A rotator (I use an nexpensive Radio Shack
one) is very helpful, especially on frequencies below 6 Mhz. Even if
you have the space to put up a first class outdoor wire antenna, you
will probably find, as I have, that this antenna is the best one
currently available for summertime listening when atmospheric noise
and thunderstorm activity are at their peak.

Finally (you DID say money was no object), buy a Sony ICF-SW7600GR
portable along with a Sony AN-LP1 Active Loop Antenna and an AOR WL500
Active Loop Antenna. The AOR can be used on the Sony when you are at
home; the AN-LP1, though somewhat inferior to the AOR, is very
suitable for travel.

I have all of the above radios and antennas and I am very satisfied
with them.

Joe



I would also put a plug in for the AOR LA350. I got a used one pretty
much on a lark--and was shocked by how good it is. I've spent a fair
amount of time trying to figure out WHY it's so good, but haven't yet
discovered the secret.

Steve