I've been looking at Drake R8B, but was wondering if these days one should
really be considering nothing but a DSP rx. Like Ten-Tec RX-350D at about
1,200 USD, or maybe JRC NRD-545 DSP at about 1,800 USD.

I do like radios with good audio. And I do like BCB DXing. Maybe on that
score the R8B would be best. Nice also if the frequency readout reads the
actual carrier frequency of the transmitted signal no matter what mode or
filter setting you choose..

I've been away from SWL for some time, and I don't know much about todays rx
offerings.

Like I say, the Drake R8B is tempting me. As long as the readout actually
reads the carrier frequency and I don't have to work it out on a peice of
paper everytime I change modes I'm happy. Anyone know about this? It
actually looks nice as well.

With the exchange rate between US and UK being so favourable to us British,
I think the time to buy is now. I was looking at Universal Radio. It's
1469.95 USD there.


"Richard" wrote in message
...
I've been looking at Drake R8B, but was wondering if these days one should
really be considering nothing but a DSP rx. Like Ten-Tec RX-350D at about
1,200 USD, or maybe JRC NRD-545 DSP at about 1,800 USD.

I do like radios with good audio. And I do like BCB DXing. Maybe on that
score the R8B would be best. Nice also if the frequency readout reads the
actual carrier frequency of the transmitted signal no matter what mode or
filter setting you choose..

I've been away from SWL for some time, and I don't know much about todays
rx
offerings.

Richard wrote:

Like I say, the Drake R8B is tempting me. As long as the readout actually
reads the carrier frequency and I don't have to work it out on a peice of
paper everytime I change modes I'm happy. Anyone know about this? It
actually looks nice as well.

It will not read the carrier frequency in CW, you have to know what the offset
is.

A radio I recall that did read the carrier frequency in CW was the Kenwood
R5000.

dxAce
Michigan
USA

Drake R7, R8 and R8B

Currently chasing Gangtok on 3390.

"dxAce" wrote in message
...


Richard wrote:

Like I say, the Drake R8B is tempting me. As long as the readout
actually
reads the carrier frequency and I don't have to work it out on a peice
of
paper everytime I change modes I'm happy. Anyone know about this? It
actually looks nice as well.

It will not read the carrier frequency in CW, you have to know what the
offset
is.

A radio I recall that did read the carrier frequency in CW was the Kenwood
R5000.


Actually the R8B will read the exact carrier freq. in CW and LSB/USB...
there may be a menu config setting somewhere. At least mine reads the
precise carrier freq. in CW mode. I'll check the manual and report back.

DesignGuy wrote:

"dxAce" wrote in message
...


Richard wrote:

Like I say, the Drake R8B is tempting me. As long as the readout
actually
reads the carrier frequency and I don't have to work it out on a peice
of
paper everytime I change modes I'm happy. Anyone know about this? It
actually looks nice as well.

It will not read the carrier frequency in CW, you have to know what the
offset
is.

A radio I recall that did read the carrier frequency in CW was the Kenwood
R5000.


Actually the R8B will read the exact carrier freq. in CW and LSB/USB...

I don't think it will, or does. To get, say a 800 hz tone, one must off tune
from the exact carrier frequency. There is no way to alter this as far as I
know, vs. the R5000 which did read the carrier frequency in CW and RTTY as I
recall.

However, if you can discover something in the manual, I'd be interested in
reading it.

dxAce
Michigan
USA

"dxAce" wrote in message
...

I don't think it will, or does. To get, say a 800 hz tone, one must
off tune from the exact carrier frequency. There is no way to alter
this as far as know, vs. the R5000 which did read the carrier
frequency in CW and RTTY as I recall.

However, if you can discover something in the manual, I'd be
interested in reading it.

Me too.

If not I wonder if you can do a mod.

I don't think it will, or does. To get, say a 800 hz tone, one must off
tune
from the exact carrier frequency. There is no way to alter this as far as
I
know, vs. the R5000 which did read the carrier frequency in CW and RTTY as
I
recall.

However, if you can discover something in the manual, I'd be interested in
reading it.


That's what I meant. If a station is transmitting in CW mode on 7000.00 KHZ
and the radio is tuned to 7.000 KHZ you will not hear a tone, only the
"swish-swish" as the carrier is zero beat. The same with USB/LSB/RTTY modes
on my rig. Naturally, this assumes a perfectly aligned radio that doesn't
read off by 20Hz like so many do. My unit uses Rev. 12 firmware (press and
hold the down arrow key while powering on to read your firmware revision) so
maybe others are different.

I was thinking there was a programmable offset but the manual doesn't give
any; I may have been thinking of the NRD-525.

The Icom R-75 on the other hand has a programmable offset but only between
300 and 900 Hz. You cannot zero beat that radio in CW mode unfortunately.

DesignGuy wrote:

I don't think it will, or does. To get, say a 800 hz tone, one must off
tune
from the exact carrier frequency. There is no way to alter this as far as
I
know, vs. the R5000 which did read the carrier frequency in CW and RTTY as
I
recall.

However, if you can discover something in the manual, I'd be interested in
reading it.

That's what I meant. If a station is transmitting in CW mode on 7000.00 KHZ
and the radio is tuned to 7.000 KHZ you will not hear a tone, only the
"swish-swish" as the carrier is zero beat.

Yes, but one can't copy CW that way. Now, with the R5000, as I recall, the
offset was already built in at 800 or 1000 Hz... and if you tuned to the carrier
frequency, voila, you were copying code. That is what I meant! The R8x series
does not have that, so one must off tune from the carrier frequency.

Many publications always list the carrier frequency of a station, so unless the
offset is built in, one must always off tune from that listed frequency.

The same with USB/LSB/RTTY modes
on my rig. Naturally, this assumes a perfectly aligned radio that doesn't
read off by 20Hz like so many do. My unit uses Rev. 12 firmware (press and
hold the down arrow key while powering on to read your firmware revision) so
maybe others are different.

I was thinking there was a programmable offset but the manual doesn't give
any; I may have been thinking of the NRD-525.

The Icom R-75 on the other hand has a programmable offset but only between
300 and 900 Hz. You cannot zero beat that radio in CW mode unfortunately.

"dxAce" wrote in message
...

Yes, but one can't copy CW that way. Now, with the R5000, as I recall, the
offset was already built in at 800 or 1000 Hz... and if you tuned to the
carrier
frequency, voila, you were copying code. That is what I meant! The R8x
series
does not have that, so one must off tune from the carrier frequency.

Many publications always list the carrier frequency of a station, so
unless the
offset is built in, one must always off tune from that listed frequency.

Yep. If you know the carrier frequency and you have an 800Hz offset, than
when you tune to the published frequency you will get an 800Hz tone.

If you don't have a published frequency and your offset is 800Hz, I beleive
you will have to measure the frequency of the audio beat. When you get
800Hz, you know you are reading the carrier frequency.

Dear Richard,

If you live in the UK, why not consider an AOR AR7030 Plus receiver? I
live in the USA and, as you know, for me, the pound-dollar ratio is
reversed. Nonetheless, after investigating a number of "top" receivers
over the years (and owning many SW portables and the Grundig Satellit
800), I purchased an AR7030 Plus last March and I must say it is the
finest receiver with which I have ever "played" much less owned!
Telephone Richard Hillier at AOR UK and he can explain the radio to
you and answer any questions you might have. He can also recommend
options, depending on your listening requirements, which would enhance
your enjoyment of the radio. As the radio is designed, manufactured,
and serviced in the UK, this would be a major "plus" for you.

The Drake R8B is also a fine receiver and, due to that money ratio, is
probably less expensive for you. However, I firmly believe the AR7030
Plus to be the better radio.

I should at least investigate it.

Best,

Joe


P.S. You also might want to "check out" Andy Ikin's Wellbrook Active
Loop Antennas, which are made in Wales. I have a Wellbrook ALA 330S
Active Loop Antenna which is mounted (on a Radio Shack rotator) in my
attic. The combination of the AOR AR7030 Plus and the Wellbrook ALA
330S is the best combination I personally have ever experienced for SW
listening.