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.