Lucky wrote:

Hi gentlemen

It looks like I've narrowed my next radio down to these two. I did bid on a
Harris RF-550 last week but my $606 bid got taken out.

I'll be using the receiver for AM BC during the day, and local Hams and
DX'ing at night into the wee hours. I know the R8a has selectable sideband
and AM sync if I'm correct.

The R8A has AM synch, but not sideband selectable synch. That was not
incorporated into the design until the R8B.

dxAce
Michigan

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

"dxAce" wrote in message
...


Lucky wrote:

Hi gentlemen

It looks like I've narrowed my next radio down to these two. I did bid on
a
Harris RF-550 last week but my $606 bid got taken out.

I'll be using the receiver for AM BC during the day, and local Hams and
DX'ing at night into the wee hours. I know the R8a has selectable
sideband
and AM sync if I'm correct.

The R8A has AM synch, but not sideband selectable synch. That was not
incorporated into the design until the R8B.

dxAce
Michigan

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



Oh I didn't know that. Heck I thought that was in the R8a too. That changes
things quite a bit. Thank you dxAce.

Lucky

"Lucky" wrote in message ...
"dxAce" wrote in message
...


Lucky wrote:

Hi gentlemen

It looks like I've narrowed my next radio down to these two. I did bid on
a
Harris RF-550 last week but my $606 bid got taken out.

I'll be using the receiver for AM BC during the day, and local Hams and
DX'ing at night into the wee hours. I know the R8a has selectable
sideband
and AM sync if I'm correct.

The R8A has AM synch, but not sideband selectable synch. That was not
incorporated into the design until the R8B.

dxAce
Michigan

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



Oh I didn't know that. Heck I thought that was in the R8a too. That changes
things quite a bit. Thank you dxAce.

Lucky

Lucky - The R-75 is a great rig for its price, but it does have some
of the problems you mention (AM sound) plus a weak Synch Detector if
you use it stock. Mods you can do yourself if you're handy, or Kiwa
mods, help a great deal, and the lack of selectable sideband on AM can
largely be overcome by either (1) using SSB for AM broadcasts, which
does work well, or (2) with the modded Synch Detector, using the
passband tuning to full advantage. The dual passband tuning is very
handy on SSB in particular, mostly as a result of the choice of
filters provided.

However, if at the same price, the R8A also has one passband tuning
(enough for the large majority of applications on AM), a better array
of filters, and a good working synch detector, then it is likely a
better buy. The R-75 gives you the DSP option, which is helpful but
not crucial, and a better tuning knob - but these are probably not
enough to tip the scale. They both have noise blankers and notches, I
believe (R75 with DSP provides this) - if the R8A's work well, then
those two matters are an even draw, because these both shine on the
R75.

DXAce knows I am an R75 fan, and we know he is a Drake man all the
way, but *all* things being equal, I'd try the Drake first. If you
don't like it for some reason, it should hold its resale value very
well, and then you can try the Icom.

Too bad you missed the Harris - reports from others on this group
indicate that it is a knockout piece of equipment.

Bruce Jensen

bpnjensen wrote:

"Lucky" wrote in message ...
"dxAce" wrote in message
...


Lucky wrote:

Hi gentlemen

It looks like I've narrowed my next radio down to these two. I did bid on
a
Harris RF-550 last week but my $606 bid got taken out.

I'll be using the receiver for AM BC during the day, and local Hams and
DX'ing at night into the wee hours. I know the R8a has selectable
sideband
and AM sync if I'm correct.

The R8A has AM synch, but not sideband selectable synch. That was not
incorporated into the design until the R8B.

dxAce
Michigan

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



Oh I didn't know that. Heck I thought that was in the R8a too. That changes
things quite a bit. Thank you dxAce.

Lucky

Lucky - The R-75 is a great rig for its price, but it does have some
of the problems you mention (AM sound) plus a weak Synch Detector if
you use it stock. Mods you can do yourself if you're handy, or Kiwa
mods, help a great deal, and the lack of selectable sideband on AM can
largely be overcome by either (1) using SSB for AM broadcasts, which
does work well, or (2) with the modded Synch Detector, using the
passband tuning to full advantage. The dual passband tuning is very
handy on SSB in particular, mostly as a result of the choice of
filters provided.

However, if at the same price, the R8A also has one passband tuning
(enough for the large majority of applications on AM), a better array
of filters, and a good working synch detector, then it is likely a
better buy. The R-75 gives you the DSP option, which is helpful but
not crucial, and a better tuning knob - but these are probably not
enough to tip the scale. They both have noise blankers and notches, I
believe (R75 with DSP provides this) - if the R8A's work well, then
those two matters are an even draw, because these both shine on the
R75.

DXAce knows I am an R75 fan, and we know he is a Drake man all the
way, but *all* things being equal, I'd try the Drake first. If you
don't like it for some reason, it should hold its resale value very
well, and then you can try the Icom.

That is true Bruce. Even when I've used ICOM transceivers in the past I've always configured them so
I could use a Drake receiver vs. the receiver in the ICOM.

dxAce
Michigan

I swear by, not at, Drake receivers.©

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

"bpnjensen" wrote in message
om...
"Lucky" wrote in message
...
"dxAce" wrote in message
...


Lucky wrote:

Hi gentlemen

It looks like I've narrowed my next radio down to these two. I did bid
on
a
Harris RF-550 last week but my $606 bid got taken out.

I'll be using the receiver for AM BC during the day, and local Hams
and
DX'ing at night into the wee hours. I know the R8a has selectable
sideband
and AM sync if I'm correct.

The R8A has AM synch, but not sideband selectable synch. That was not
incorporated into the design until the R8B.

dxAce
Michigan

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



Oh I didn't know that. Heck I thought that was in the R8a too. That
changes
things quite a bit. Thank you dxAce.

Lucky

Lucky - The R-75 is a great rig for its price, but it does have some
of the problems you mention (AM sound) plus a weak Synch Detector if
you use it stock. Mods you can do yourself if you're handy, or Kiwa
mods, help a great deal, and the lack of selectable sideband on AM can
largely be overcome by either (1) using SSB for AM broadcasts, which
does work well, or (2) with the modded Synch Detector, using the
passband tuning to full advantage. The dual passband tuning is very
handy on SSB in particular, mostly as a result of the choice of
filters provided.

However, if at the same price, the R8A also has one passband tuning
(enough for the large majority of applications on AM), a better array
of filters, and a good working synch detector, then it is likely a
better buy. The R-75 gives you the DSP option, which is helpful but
not crucial, and a better tuning knob - but these are probably not
enough to tip the scale. They both have noise blankers and notches, I
believe (R75 with DSP provides this) - if the R8A's work well, then
those two matters are an even draw, because these both shine on the
R75.

DXAce knows I am an R75 fan, and we know he is a Drake man all the
way, but *all* things being equal, I'd try the Drake first. If you
don't like it for some reason, it should hold its resale value very
well, and then you can try the Icom.

Too bad you missed the Harris - reports from others on this group
indicate that it is a knockout piece of equipment.

Bruce Jensen


Yes I'm sorry I missed the Harris too. I just keep my cool and don't
overbid. Still, a bid of $606 was not light at all. Seems the other bidder
really wanted it bad. Yes, the R75 is sure getting high marks with people
all over.

Lucky

Actually, I must add to that - the AM sync on the R8A is most mediocre, not
the sort of thing I would write home to my mother about. The later R8B on
the other hand is SUPERB!
However, the R8A will deliver great sound, especially if driven through a
good outboard speaker or if linked to your stereo system. Also, the SSB ham
reception will be very good.

OTOH the R75 is coming into greater favour with the serious DX veterans if
upgraded with the Kiwa mods, something you could do later. It will never
match the nice audio of the Drake though for AM BCB.
--
John Plimmer, Montagu, Western Cape Province, South Africa
South 33 d 47 m 540 s, East 20 d 07 m 541 s.
RX Drake R8B, SW8
BW XCR 30, Braun T1000, Sangean 818 & 803A.
Hallicrafters SX-100, Eddystone 940
GE circa 50's radiogram
Antenna's RF Systems DX 1 Pro, Datong AD-270
Kiwa MW Loop

"dxAce" wrote in message
...


Lucky wrote:

I'll be using the receiver for AM BC during the day, and local Hams and
DX'ing at night into the wee hours. I know the R8a has selectable
sideband
and AM sync if I'm correct.

The R8A has AM synch, but not sideband selectable synch. That was not
incorporated into the design until the R8B.

dxAce
Michigan

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