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Ham transceiver gen. cov. Rx ?
I'm curious as to what users have found when they use the general coverage
in their ham transciever for SWLing and VLF. Has anyone made any AB comparisons to their SWL gen. cov. RX? Which ones seem to be best? I know Kenwood and Icom make SWL receivers that look much like a transciever and might even use the same circuitry, not sure about Yaesu though. The Icom R-75 looks a lot like the Icom 718 but the Rx has the PS built in. I can't recall the Kewood models. How about the Kenwood TS-2000 or Icom 756 Pro for gen cov? tnx -- 73 Hank WD5JFR |
Have a look at the link below and you will find my review of the Drake R8B
side by side with the Icom 756 PRO III -- John Plimmer, Montagu, Western Cape Province, South Africa South 33 d 47 m 32 s, East 20 d 07 m 32 s Icom IC-756 PRO III with MW mods RX Drake R8B, SW8 & ERGO software Sony 7600D GE SRIII 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 http://www.dxing.info/about/dxers/plimmer.dx "Henry Kolesnik" wrote in message m... I'm curious as to what users have found when they use the general coverage in their ham transciever for SWLing and VLF. Has anyone made any AB comparisons to their SWL gen. cov. RX? Which ones seem to be best? I know Kenwood and Icom make SWL receivers that look much like a transciever and might even use the same circuitry, not sure about Yaesu though. The Icom R-75 looks a lot like the Icom 718 but the Rx has the PS built in. I can't recall the Kewood models. How about the Kenwood TS-2000 or Icom 756 Pro for gen cov? tnx -- 73 Hank WD5JFR |
For casual use my Kenwood TS-870S works fine for SW and BCB listening.
I think it is really more in the antenna than the receiver as far as "pulling em in". Most modern rigs have lots of gain and sensitivity. The noise floor is more importatnt in this regard. Dynamic range is an important consideration as well. But purists would opt for the SWL receivers with synchronous detection and other features not found on Ham transceivers. A Ham transceiver has the advantage of use when and if you have Ham license. Also the TS-2000 (as an example) covers TX: 10-160 m + WARC / 6 m / 2 m / 70 cm RX: General coverage 23 cm/10 W option Mode: AM/FM/SSB/CW -- C. L. - Reader Beware -- I doubt, therefore I might be ! "Henry Kolesnik" wrote in message m... I'm curious as to what users have found when they use the general coverage in their ham transciever for SWLing and VLF. Has anyone made any AB comparisons to their SWL gen. cov. RX? Which ones seem to be best? I know Kenwood and Icom make SWL receivers that look much like a transciever and might even use the same circuitry, not sure about Yaesu though. The Icom R-75 looks a lot like the Icom 718 but the Rx has the PS built in. I can't recall the Kewood models. How about the Kenwood TS-2000 or Icom 756 Pro for gen cov? tnx -- 73 Hank WD5JFR |
On Mon, 14 Mar 2005 17:13:16 +0000, Henry Kolesnik wrote:
I'm curious as to what users have found when they use the general coverage in their ham transciever for SWLing and VLF. Has anyone made any AB comparisons to their SWL gen. cov. RX? Which ones seem to be best? I know Kenwood and Icom make SWL receivers that look much like a transciever and might even use the same circuitry, not sure about Yaesu though. The Icom R-75 looks a lot like the Icom 718 but the Rx has the PS built in. I can't recall the Kewood models. How about the Kenwood TS-2000 or Icom 756 Pro for gen cov? tnx I sometimes use my Kenwood TS-450S and it works great. I use a G5RV with it. I have an Icom 706MKII but haven't played with it on SW yet, I suspect it's also excellent on the SW bands. |
I forgot to mention that one of my reasons for the question was that I was
going to look at an older Kenwood TS-2000 that followed me home. Afer struggling with all its functions I finally got it to do what I wanted, that is after studying the manual, you can't leave without it, hacking doesn't cut it. Now to check it out. -- 73 Hank WD5JFR "Henry Kolesnik" wrote in message m... I'm curious as to what users have found when they use the general coverage in their ham transciever for SWLing and VLF. Has anyone made any AB comparisons to their SWL gen. cov. RX? Which ones seem to be best? I know Kenwood and Icom make SWL receivers that look much like a transciever and might even use the same circuitry, not sure about Yaesu though. The Icom R-75 looks a lot like the Icom 718 but the Rx has the PS built in. I can't recall the Kewood models. How about the Kenwood TS-2000 or Icom 756 Pro for gen cov? tnx -- 73 Hank WD5JFR |
Is the TS-2000 a R2000 under another tag?
If so, there is a R20000 newsgroup that you might be ineterested in. Terry |
Les
I see you have a R274C. I have a R274D/FRR by Hallicrafters with what appears to be a factory for SSB with a set of three Collins mechancial filters and 24 tubes. Ever hear or see of another as I'm looking for more info? tnx -- 73 Hank WD5JFR "Les" wrote in message ups.com... Ken Wilson wrote: Henry Kolesnik wrote: I'm curious as to what users have found when they use the general coverage in their ham transciever for SWLing and VLF. Has anyone made any AB comparisons to their SWL gen. cov. RX? Which ones seem to be best? I know Kenwood and Icom make SWL receivers that look much like a transciever and might even use the same circuitry, not sure about Yaesu though. The Icom R-75 looks a lot like the Icom 718 but the Rx has the PS built in. I can't recall the Kewood models. How about the Kenwood TS-2000 or Icom 756 Pro for gen cov? tnx I really like the 756 PRO I bought used a few weeks ago. The MW has a bit of attenuation....but that is ok except for weak signal daytime use. I think they are a real bargain at around $1100 - $1200. No SYNCRO AM however. I think the 746 PRO does have SYCRO AM though. 73 es DX Ken KG4BIG I'll have to echo John's and Ken's sentiments on this one. I have a friend who lives close by and we have compared the 756 Pro II with several high end receivers. Other than some attenuation on mw and lw, it is superb as a sw receiver. To my ear, the RX-340 sounds better, but the 756 is as good in pulling in the tough signals. Of course, many will not spend the money for a transceiver if they do not have an amateur license, but many will. The colorful display is something to see. Lots of information in that display! Having owned many, many Drake receivers over the years, the news about Drake getting out of the receiver business is not good news. But, we should have known it was coming, shortwave receivers are but a drop in the bucket of the electronics business. Les Locklear Monitoring since ' 57 Monitoring from the Gulf of Mexico Hammarlund R-274C/FRR (SP-600JX-14) R-1051B/URR Ten Tec RX-340 Alpha Delta Sloper Quantum QX Loop Various Longwires CU-2279/BRC Multicoupler http://www.hammarlund.info/homepage.html |
I'll have to check it out. tnx -- 73 Hank WD5JFR wrote in message oups.com... Is the TS-2000 a R2000 under another tag? If so, there is a R20000 newsgroup that you might be ineterested in. Terry |
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Is the TS-2000 a R2000 under another tag?
*Totally* different animals...The TS-2000 is a much more modern design than the fairly old R-2000. The TS-2000 is all bands-all modes much like my IC-706mk2g. Except with more toys than the small icom. It will also cross repeat, work duplex for Sat's, etc...I wouldn't mind getting a TS-2000 as a house radio...A few friends on mine have TS-2000's...I've worked 160m, via UHF, by talking to a guys TS-2000 on UHF, thirty miles away, using my 706g, and then being repeated onto 160m. They are very versatile radios. BTW...I use my IC-706mk2g for SWL, and MW quite a bit..Also the TS-2000 is capable up to 1.2 gigs with an extra module. I think anyway....The radio is a lot of bang for the buck...Ain't no high end contest-dx rig, but I don't contest... MK |
Is the TS-2000 a R2000 under another tag?
*Totally* different animals...The TS-2000 is a much more modern design than the fairly old R-2000. The TS-2000 is all bands-all modes much like my IC-706mk2g. Except with more toys than the small icom. It will also cross repeat, work duplex for Sat's, etc...I wouldn't mind getting a TS-2000 as a house radio...A few friends of mine have TS-2000's...I've worked 160m, via UHF, by talking to a guys TS-2000 on UHF, thirty miles away, using my 706g, and then being repeated onto 160m. They are very versatile radios. BTW...I use my IC-706mk2g for SWL, and MW quite a bit..Also the TS-2000 is capable up to 1.2 gigs with an extra module. I think anyway....The radio is a lot of bang for the buck...Ain't no high end contest-dx rig, but I don't contest... MK |
Henry Kolesnik wrote:
I'm curious as to what users have found when they use the general coverage in their ham transciever for SWLing and VLF. Has anyone made any AB comparisons to their SWL gen. cov. RX? Which ones seem to be best? I know Kenwood and Icom make SWL receivers that look much like a transciever and might even use the same circuitry, not sure about Yaesu though. The Icom R-75 looks a lot like the Icom 718 but the Rx has the PS built in. I can't recall the Kewood models. How about the Kenwood TS-2000 or Icom 756 Pro for gen cov? tnx I us my Kenwood TS-570D(G) for most of my shortwave and ham use, cost was about $800 a few years ago. I also have a Yaesu FT-857 that was purchased with $175 rebate (final cost was $599 which included the DSP unit!). I occasionally use an ATS-909 ($249). The Kenwood is used with an MFJ differential T tuner (MFJ-986). And yes, the tuner helps with reception. I have a 135 ft. dipole feed with ladderline connected to a 4:1 balun (in the tuner). This is my favorite setup as it is easy to use and has the best performance, definately because of the antenna and tuner, but also because the radio has more "front panel" controls and audio DSP. Not as great as "real" IF stage DSP, but nice when you need it. DSP for CW is AMAZING. 11 selectable filters from 2Khz to as tight as 50 Hz. External speaker definitely helps when in the shack. Wireless headphones let me walk around the house and into the yard, untethered. The default BCB attenuator was jumpered out for better sensitivity (there is a small jumper on the main board, just like a small computer jumper). The Yaesu is a great radio, 1.8Mhz - 30 Mhz, 6 meters, 2 meters and 70cm on transmit and a huge Receive range 0.1Khz to around 512Mhz (with some blank spots). IMHO one of the best bangs for the buck. It is connected to about 25 feet of tiny 30 gauge wire strung out the window. No ground, no matching transformer, just connected to the center of the antenna jack. Very good performance in this "temporary" setup! It has a terrible speaker, but I use headphone with this rig almost exclusively. It has plenty of audio to drive an external speaker. It would be my choice if I could only have 1 radio. House, car, vacation, this rig gets lots of use. Currently on my nightstand (hence the 30 gauge wire out the window). It will evetually go into my truck for mobile operation. The audio DSP is good for SSB and OK for CW (only 3 (?) selectable filters on CW) The ATS-909 is what everyone knows already. Not very good off the whip. A good radio with an external antenna (20 to 60 feet of wire). I use a 9:1 matching transformer. Eats batteries so the wallwart is always plugged in. This was my nightstand radio, and will be again when the FT-857 goes mobile. I wish the tuning knob was bigger and that the fine tuning on ssb was displayed more accurately on the LCD, but these are really minor gripes. It is a good radio with many decent functions. Speaker or headphone, it is an easy listen. FM stereo (through the headphones) is very good. But if I was to do it again, I would pass on the 909 and save a few more dollars and buy the Yeasu. None of my radios have AM sync, so I have no comment on this. Listen to mostly AM program, SSB ham, some AM DXing & occasional CW. Once in a while utes, but not often. Pat in NJ |
I'll jump in here and say "ditto" also to the 756Pro. I love mine for
trans-Pacific mediumwave and tropical bands DXing. It outclasses my highly modded R-75, which was the equivalent to a fine example of a Racal RA6790GM I owned. The modest MW attenuation in the 756Pro can be removed fairly easily... two SMD chips need to be taken off and a jumper wire added. Email me for info if you are interested (remove the NOSPAM in my email address) The mod made a difference to threshold level trans-Pacific stations when compared to a fully stock 756Pro. The Yaesu FT-920 also works well for SWL/DXIng. There are some good INRAD filters that fit this model, too. However, considering the performance benefits, the 756Pro is a better value for the money. Guy Atkins Puyallup, WA USA "Les" wrote in message ups.com... Ken Wilson wrote: Henry Kolesnik wrote: I'm curious as to what users have found when they use the general coverage in their ham transciever for SWLing and VLF. Has anyone made any AB comparisons to their SWL gen. cov. RX? Which ones seem to be best? I know Kenwood and Icom make SWL receivers that look much like a transciever and might even use the same circuitry, not sure about Yaesu though. The Icom R-75 looks a lot like the Icom 718 but the Rx has the PS built in. I can't recall the Kewood models. How about the Kenwood TS-2000 or Icom 756 Pro for gen cov? tnx I really like the 756 PRO I bought used a few weeks ago. The MW has a bit of attenuation....but that is ok except for weak signal daytime use. I think they are a real bargain at around $1100 - $1200. No SYNCRO AM however. I think the 746 PRO does have SYCRO AM though. 73 es DX Ken KG4BIG I'll have to echo John's and Ken's sentiments on this one. I have a friend who lives close by and we have compared the 756 Pro II with several high end receivers. Other than some attenuation on mw and lw, it is superb as a sw receiver. To my ear, the RX-340 sounds better, but the 756 is as good in pulling in the tough signals. Of course, many will not spend the money for a transceiver if they do not have an amateur license, but many will. The colorful display is something to see. Lots of information in that display! Having owned many, many Drake receivers over the years, the news about Drake getting out of the receiver business is not good news. But, we should have known it was coming, shortwave receivers are but a drop in the bucket of the electronics business. Les Locklear Monitoring since ' 57 Monitoring from the Gulf of Mexico Hammarlund R-274C/FRR (SP-600JX-14) R-1051B/URR Ten Tec RX-340 Alpha Delta Sloper Quantum QX Loop Various Longwires CU-2279/BRC Multicoupler http://www.hammarlund.info/homepage.html |
Is anyone using an ICOM 706 for SWL, and how does it compare to a
"dedicated" SW radio? I'm seriously looking at getting a 706 because it receives airband as well. |
I took the bottom off the TS-2000 and moved the jumper from normal to DX and
all AM BCB stations increased from 4 to 5 S points and the strong one went from 10/9 to 20/9. I picked up 7 stations that I couldn't detect before but none registered on the S meter but I could hear better than 50% of the what the announcer was saying. -- 73 Hank WD5JFR "PJ Hoban" wrote in message ... Henry Kolesnik wrote: I'm curious as to what users have found when they use the general coverage in their ham transciever for SWLing and VLF. Has anyone made any AB comparisons to their SWL gen. cov. RX? Which ones seem to be best? I know Kenwood and Icom make SWL receivers that look much like a transciever and might even use the same circuitry, not sure about Yaesu though. The Icom R-75 looks a lot like the Icom 718 but the Rx has the PS built in. I can't recall the Kewood models. How about the Kenwood TS-2000 or Icom 756 Pro for gen cov? tnx I us my Kenwood TS-570D(G) for most of my shortwave and ham use, cost was about $800 a few years ago. I also have a Yaesu FT-857 that was purchased with $175 rebate (final cost was $599 which included the DSP unit!). I occasionally use an ATS-909 ($249). The Kenwood is used with an MFJ differential T tuner (MFJ-986). And yes, the tuner helps with reception. I have a 135 ft. dipole feed with ladderline connected to a 4:1 balun (in the tuner). This is my favorite setup as it is easy to use and has the best performance, definately because of the antenna and tuner, but also because the radio has more "front panel" controls and audio DSP. Not as great as "real" IF stage DSP, but nice when you need it. DSP for CW is AMAZING. 11 selectable filters from 2Khz to as tight as 50 Hz. External speaker definitely helps when in the shack. Wireless headphones let me walk around the house and into the yard, untethered. The default BCB attenuator was jumpered out for better sensitivity (there is a small jumper on the main board, just like a small computer jumper). The Yaesu is a great radio, 1.8Mhz - 30 Mhz, 6 meters, 2 meters and 70cm on transmit and a huge Receive range 0.1Khz to around 512Mhz (with some blank spots). IMHO one of the best bangs for the buck. It is connected to about 25 feet of tiny 30 gauge wire strung out the window. No ground, no matching transformer, just connected to the center of the antenna jack. Very good performance in this "temporary" setup! It has a terrible speaker, but I use headphone with this rig almost exclusively. It has plenty of audio to drive an external speaker. It would be my choice if I could only have 1 radio. House, car, vacation, this rig gets lots of use. Currently on my nightstand (hence the 30 gauge wire out the window). It will evetually go into my truck for mobile operation. The audio DSP is good for SSB and OK for CW (only 3 (?) selectable filters on CW) The ATS-909 is what everyone knows already. Not very good off the whip. A good radio with an external antenna (20 to 60 feet of wire). I use a 9:1 matching transformer. Eats batteries so the wallwart is always plugged in. This was my nightstand radio, and will be again when the FT-857 goes mobile. I wish the tuning knob was bigger and that the fine tuning on ssb was displayed more accurately on the LCD, but these are really minor gripes. It is a good radio with many decent functions. Speaker or headphone, it is an easy listen. FM stereo (through the headphones) is very good. But if I was to do it again, I would pass on the 909 and save a few more dollars and buy the Yeasu. None of my radios have AM sync, so I have no comment on this. Listen to mostly AM program, SSB ham, some AM DXing & occasional CW. Once in a while utes, but not often. Pat in NJ |
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