Joe Analssandrini wrote:

Dear Mr. "Radio Man,"

I do not know if your question is serious (the other postings on this
thread assume it is not). However, on the assumption that you do want
a serious answer, I'll give you my opinion.

For short wave listening and DXing, to my mind, the finest receiver
available today is the AOR AR7030 Plus receiver. I researched radios
for many years, acquiring a fair collection of SW receivers, some
good, some not-so-good, but all serving some purpose. For example, I
use a Sony ICF-SW7600G model for trips; I use the 'GR model at home
for some casual listening outside; I have a Grundig Satellit 800
(which is attached to an AOR WL500 Window Loop Antenna and which
performs admirably). If price WERE an object, this is the radio I
should recommend without hesitation.

However, for the purposes of argument, you state money is no object.
Realistically, though, even if the most expensive GC receiver is the
absolute "best," we live in a real world in which ease of operation,
quality of sound (which plays an extremely important role in
listening), and certain other parameters are important also. Thus, if
one needs to purchase a "third-party" attachment to make a receiver
work or sound "right," this is an example of poor design of the
receiver proper. If nothing else, an additional component complicates
the operating procedures and is, at the very least, highly
inconvenient, at least to me.

Having read about the AR7030 for many years in PASSPORT and, frankly,
being "afraid" of it due to the negative comments about its operating
procedures discussed in PASSPORT, I finally succumbed to the lure of
the "numbers" published there (its specifications). I telephoned
Richard Hillier in the UK and he assured me, quite correctly, that if
one can operate a VCR (not even to mention a computer!), one can
easily operate the AR7030. He is absolutely correct in his assessment.
PASSPORT's panelists don't like the way one "works" the AR7030, but I
feel that they are really incorrect in their judgments, one of their
few reviews with which I disagree (normally they are "right on the
money").

Also, this receiver can be almost totally computer-controlled with a
FREE computer program called RxWings which is available from Mr. Jan
Arkesteijn. This program allows the receiver to be worked virtually,
just like a receiver with "dedicated" buttons (if one wishes for that)
and supplies the receiver with facilities (such as automatic scanning)
which are not present in the receiver proper. I suppose you could call
this program a "third-party" add-on, but it is not, really; it becomes
the total controller of the receiver, if one wishes, or one can ignore
it and use the receiver itself, if required. The whole setup is quite
amazing. It is something which has to be experienced and is also
something about which I could not have even dreamed possible just ten
years ago!

Please buy the latest edition of PASSPORT TO WORLD BAND RADIO
(available online from various sources such as Amazon, Universal
Radio, or Grove Enterprises) for a very good picture of the available
receivers. I have been buying the book since 1996 and, having studied
the editions carefully, and speaking to people "in the know," I came
to the conclusion that the AR7030 Plus (somewhat modified by the
factory with recommendations by Richard Hillier for my requirements)
would be the finest choice for me.

In my particular instance, money WAS no object.

(I also bought a Wellbrook ALA 330S Active Loop Antenna, based on
PASSPORT's recommendation, which is the very best choice for my
particular circumstance.)

I would strongly recommend the AOR AR7030 Plus receiver.

Others may, and probably will, disagree with me.

Question: if you want to operate a receiver from your PC, why not look
at the receivers made specifically for PC operation? I would think that
they would have better shielding.

For the record: Passport recommends the Drake R8B, although in its 2005
edition the AOR is rated a close second. I use a Yaesu FRG-8800, which
has 20 year old technology but performs admirably for my uses (Passport
offers a White Paper on the 8800, which means that they consider it to
be one of the best solid state receivers of all time). If you're in the
US, it may be hard to get your hands on an AOR, as Passport says they're
no longer sold in the US. You may be able to get a used one, or buy the
Drake if it's essential that you have a brand spanking new right out of
the box receiver. Passport is available direct from the publisher at
www.passband.com.


Best,

Joe

"Radio Man" wrote in message news:ewPmd.5860$h15.2506@trnddc07...
If money were no object what is the best general
coverage receiver that one could purchase?



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On 22 Nov 2004 13:47:00 -0800, (Joe
Analssandrini) wrote:

Hello Diesel,

I've seen that review (I get MONITORING TIMES), but, as Grove is, I
believe, the main US dealer for WinRadio, I would prefer an
"independent" review.

Thanks anyway.

Joe




Here's your review:

http://www.monitoringtimes.com/html/mtrevunov04.html

"Radio Man" wrote in message
news:ewPmd.5860$h15.2506@trnddc07...
If money were no object what is the best general
coverage receiver that one could purchase?


Those radio kits where you have to wind the wire around the toilet paper
roll all day. They work great.

ET phone Home.
cuhulin

Mine.

"CW" wrote in message
...
Mine.



your what?

In article ,
" Radio Flyer" wrote:

"CW" wrote in message
...
Mine.



your what?

Radio!

--
Telamon
Ventura, California

"Telamon" wrote in message
...
In article ,
" Radio Flyer" wrote:

"CW" wrote in message
...
Mine.



your what?

Radio!

But that makes no sense, he was replying to "ET Phone Home"


--
Telamon
Ventura, California

Really. Perhaps he should make himself a crystal radio. It would use no
batteries. Don't know how it would work on SW but they used to work
pretty well on AM or FM, forgot which. Not very selective, but not
costly to operate either!

Radio Flyer wrote:
"Radio Man" wrote in message
news:ewPmd.5860$h15.2506@trnddc07...

If money were no object what is the best general
coverage receiver that one could purchase?



Those radio kits where you have to wind the wire around the toilet paper
roll all day. They work great.

" Radio Flyer" wrote in message
...

"Telamon" wrote in
message

...
In article ,
" Radio Flyer" wrote:

"CW" wrote in message
...
Mine.



your what?

Radio!

But that makes no sense, he was replying to "ET Phone Home"

Where's the Gilligan's Island radio in all this, anyway??

--Mike L.