"Wannabe DXer" wrote in message
news:1118887297.12fb7bdc685bbc65d235a98fc2bc6c14@t eranews...

"Michael" wrote in message
...

"Wannabe DXer" wrote in message
news:1118884196.05d57dc7f630f12a4921703480bafd7b@t eranews...
Up to now I've been using portable SW radios, but would like to
graduate
to
a real DXing setup. I've been considering either the Japan Radio Co.
NRD-545
DSP http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...rxvr/1545.html or the
Ten-Tec
RX-350D http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...rxvr/0350.html

Which of these would probably do the best for DXing?

Suggestions?


I have used an NRD-545 for a few nights. A friend lent me his for a week
when I was considering buying one a few months back. I thought it would
be
an advance on my Icom R-75. It was not a better DX'ing rig then the R-75
regardless of the DSP capabilities of the NRD-545. I found it to be
tinny
sounding and without question WAY over priced. I have never used the
RX-350D. I have also used a Drake R8 and a Kenwood R-5000. Of the R8,
R-5000, NRD-545 and the R-75, I have found the R-75 to be the best rig
for
DX-ing. I tend to do all of my DX'ing in ssb mode using ECSS tuning.
The
R-75 is King for this.

Still... Your antenna set up and your location is more important then
your
rig. If you live an a congested area with lots of noise sources, no rig
is
going to be very effective. Also... If you dont have a good antenna set
up,
your rig wont matter either.

For hard core DX'ing the best rig I can recommend under $2,000.00 is the
R-75. A new one is under $600.00. Your best bet for an antenna would
depend on your circumstances. Can you put something up outside ??? If
so,
how much of an area do you have to work with ???

I could put up something in my backyard. It's about 50 meters wide by 40
meters deep. What sort of antenna did you have in mind?


A dipole like this would be a good bet....

http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/sw_ant/3377.html

Or, you could set up multiple antennas. Perhaps an east-west long wire and
a north-south long wire that you could switch between. Having multiple
antennas is always a plus for DX'ing

A loop would also be a good bet.

The possibilities are endless !!!

Michael

Michael wrote:
I tend to do all of my
DX'ing in ssb mode using ECSS tuning.

With the R-75, you really have no choice, do you?

The R-75 is King for this.

Over what? All high end receivers are stable and do ECSS mode extremely
well. Most (but not the Icom) also do AM sync very well.

--
Brian Denley
http://home.comcast.net/~b.denley/index.html

"Brian Denley" wrote in message
...
Michael wrote:
I tend to do all of my
DX'ing in ssb mode using ECSS tuning.

With the R-75, you really have no choice, do you?

Yes, you do have a choice to use it in AM mode... I'd use ecss for DX'ing
with any rig.

The R-75 is King for this.

Over what? All high end receivers are stable and do ECSS mode extremely
well.

Without benifit of a dual PBT. Only Icom has that. I've been using the
R-75 long enough to say that it is a tremendously benificial feature for
DX'ing extreamly weak signals.

Most (but not the Icom) also do AM sync very well.

AM sync ??? I thought we were talking about "real" DX'ing. How did we get
on program listening ??? Oh... OK, I get it...You just feel like bashing
the R-75 because you shelled out a chunk of money for a rig that isnt as
capable. No AM sync... I mean NO AM sync is ANY help with very weak signals.
AM sync comes in handy for program listneing on signals with moderate fade.
Not with "real" DX'ing. Not that it has do with DX'ing but my R-75 has the
Kiwa modded AM sync. It works just fine for program listening and sounds
great. Along with being a good rig for program listening, it is better for
DX'ing then any rig out there under $2,000.



--
Brian Denley
http://home.comcast.net/~b.denley/index.html

Michael wrote:
"Brian Denley" wrote in message
...
Michael wrote:
I tend to do all of my
DX'ing in ssb mode using ECSS tuning.

With the R-75, you really have no choice, do you?

Yes, you do have a choice to use it in AM mode... I'd use ecss for
DX'ing with any rig.

The R-75 is King for this.

Over what? All high end receivers are stable and do ECSS mode
extremely well.

Without benifit of a dual PBT. Only Icom has that. I've been using
the R-75 long enough to say that it is a tremendously benificial
feature for DX'ing extreamly weak signals.

Most (but not the Icom) also do AM sync very well.

AM sync ??? I thought we were talking about "real" DX'ing. How did
we get on program listening ??? Oh... OK, I get it...You just feel
like bashing the R-75 because you shelled out a chunk of money for a
rig that isnt as capable. No AM sync... I mean NO AM sync is ANY help
with very weak signals. AM sync comes in handy for program listneing
on signals with moderate fade. Not with "real" DX'ing. Not that it
has do with DX'ing but my R-75 has the Kiwa modded AM sync. It works
just fine for program listening and sounds great. Along with being a
good rig for program listening, it is better for DX'ing then any rig
out there under $2,000.

Horse sh*t. You just keep telling yourself it's better than the higher
price rigs. It's not. My JRC has over 500 bandwidth settings, a great sync
detector and better stability for manual ECSS. We all hear the same
signals you do, Michael. All our receivers are rock stable. We can all do
ECSS extremely well and we didn't need any mods! Some of these radios have
features you haven't experienced.

The R-75 is a nice radio - for the price. Why pretend it's something it
isn't?
--
Brian Denley
http://home.comcast.net/~b.denley/index.html

"Brian Denley" wrote in message
...
Michael wrote:
"Brian Denley" wrote in message
...
Michael wrote:
I tend to do all of my
DX'ing in ssb mode using ECSS tuning.

With the R-75, you really have no choice, do you?

Yes, you do have a choice to use it in AM mode... I'd use ecss for
DX'ing with any rig.

The R-75 is King for this.

Over what? All high end receivers are stable and do ECSS mode
extremely well.

Without benifit of a dual PBT. Only Icom has that. I've been using
the R-75 long enough to say that it is a tremendously benificial
feature for DX'ing extreamly weak signals.

Most (but not the Icom) also do AM sync very well.

AM sync ??? I thought we were talking about "real" DX'ing. How did
we get on program listening ??? Oh... OK, I get it...You just feel
like bashing the R-75 because you shelled out a chunk of money for a
rig that isnt as capable. No AM sync... I mean NO AM sync is ANY help
with very weak signals. AM sync comes in handy for program listneing
on signals with moderate fade. Not with "real" DX'ing. Not that it
has do with DX'ing but my R-75 has the Kiwa modded AM sync. It works
just fine for program listening and sounds great. Along with being a
good rig for program listening, it is better for DX'ing then any rig
out there under $2,000.

Horse sh*t. You just keep telling yourself it's better than the higher
price rigs. It's not. My JRC has over 500 bandwidth settings, a great
sync
detector and better stability for manual ECSS. We all hear the same
signals you do, Michael. All our receivers are rock stable. We can all
do
ECSS extremely well and we didn't need any mods! Some of these radios
have
features you haven't experienced.

The R-75 is a nice radio - for the price. Why pretend it's something it
isn't?

When you say your JRC are you talking about the NRD-545 DSP or a different
model?

"Michael" wrote in message
...

"Wannabe DXer" wrote in message
news:1118887297.12fb7bdc685bbc65d235a98fc2bc6c14@t eranews...

"Michael" wrote in message
...

"Wannabe DXer" wrote in message
news:1118884196.05d57dc7f630f12a4921703480bafd7b@t eranews...
Up to now I've been using portable SW radios, but would like to
graduate
to
a real DXing setup. I've been considering either the Japan Radio Co.
NRD-545
DSP http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...rxvr/1545.html or the
Ten-Tec
RX-350D http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...rxvr/0350.html

Which of these would probably do the best for DXing?

Suggestions?


I have used an NRD-545 for a few nights. A friend lent me his for a
week
when I was considering buying one a few months back. I thought it
would
be
an advance on my Icom R-75. It was not a better DX'ing rig then the
R-75
regardless of the DSP capabilities of the NRD-545. I found it to be
tinny
sounding and without question WAY over priced. I have never used the
RX-350D. I have also used a Drake R8 and a Kenwood R-5000. Of the R8,
R-5000, NRD-545 and the R-75, I have found the R-75 to be the best rig
for
DX-ing. I tend to do all of my DX'ing in ssb mode using ECSS tuning.
The
R-75 is King for this.

Still... Your antenna set up and your location is more important then
your
rig. If you live an a congested area with lots of noise sources, no
rig
is
going to be very effective. Also... If you dont have a good antenna
set
up,
your rig wont matter either.

For hard core DX'ing the best rig I can recommend under $2,000.00 is
the
R-75. A new one is under $600.00. Your best bet for an antenna would
depend on your circumstances. Can you put something up outside ??? If
so,
how much of an area do you have to work with ???

I could put up something in my backyard. It's about 50 meters wide by 40
meters deep. What sort of antenna did you have in mind?


A dipole like this would be a good bet....

http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/sw_ant/3377.html

Or, you could set up multiple antennas. Perhaps an east-west long wire
and
a north-south long wire that you could switch between. Having multiple
antennas is always a plus for DX'ing

A loop would also be a good bet.

The possibilities are endless !!!

Michael

Thanks for the info. I'll be doing to research on antennas, but I also think
I'm going to get a good tabletop reciever as well.

"Michael" wrote in message
...
{...}
Still... Your antenna set up and your location is more important then your
rig. If you live an a congested area with lots of noise sources, no rig
is
going to be very effective. Also... If you dont have a good antenna set
up,
your rig wont matter either.

As far as my location is concerned, there is a small power substation about
250 meters from my house. Is that going to generate enough interference to
negate getting a better receiver and antenna setup?

"Brian Denley" wrote in message
...
Michael wrote:
"Brian Denley" wrote in message
...
Michael wrote:
I tend to do all of my
DX'ing in ssb mode using ECSS tuning.

With the R-75, you really have no choice, do you?

Yes, you do have a choice to use it in AM mode... I'd use ecss for
DX'ing with any rig.

The R-75 is King for this.

Over what? All high end receivers are stable and do ECSS mode
extremely well.

Without benifit of a dual PBT. Only Icom has that. I've been using
the R-75 long enough to say that it is a tremendously benificial
feature for DX'ing extreamly weak signals.

Most (but not the Icom) also do AM sync very well.

AM sync ??? I thought we were talking about "real" DX'ing. How did
we get on program listening ??? Oh... OK, I get it...You just feel
like bashing the R-75 because you shelled out a chunk of money for a
rig that isnt as capable. No AM sync... I mean NO AM sync is ANY help
with very weak signals. AM sync comes in handy for program listneing
on signals with moderate fade. Not with "real" DX'ing. Not that it
has do with DX'ing but my R-75 has the Kiwa modded AM sync. It works
just fine for program listening and sounds great. Along with being a
good rig for program listening, it is better for DX'ing then any rig
out there under $2,000.

Horse sh*t. You just keep telling yourself it's better than the higher
price rigs. It's not. My JRC has over 500 bandwidth settings, a great
sync detector and better stability for manual ECSS. We all hear the same
signals you do, Michael. All our receivers are rock stable. We can all
do ECSS extremely well and we didn't need any mods! Some of these radios
have features you haven't experienced.


If you are talking about the NRD-545. I've used this rig. It is over priced
BIG TIME. Sure, it is a nice looking radio and it is built rock solid. I
also found it to be tinny sounding. I'd go so far as to say the audio
quality sux !!! I had to use it through my PC speakers and work my software
mixer to get it to sound tolerable for program listening. What does that
radio sell for ??? $1,800.00 ??? I'd rather use my R-75 for program
listening over the NRD-545 because the 545 sounds so tinny and hollow.

If you want to spend more money and get a more capable rig then the R-75 ,
the NRD-545 is NOT the answer. I'd say go with the Icom 746 pro. Less money
then the NRD-545 at $1,500 and more capable.

Michael

I assume you are listening to your R-75 with an external speaker, as the
stock speaker sound is equivelant to the sound of a cheap transistor radio.
I know, I have one. By the way, I love my R-75 but I can't imagine ANY radio
sounding worse than the R-75 thru the stock speaker...



"Michael" wrote in message
...

"Brian Denley" wrote in message
...
Michael wrote:
"Brian Denley" wrote in message
...
Michael wrote:
I tend to do all of my
DX'ing in ssb mode using ECSS tuning.

With the R-75, you really have no choice, do you?

Yes, you do have a choice to use it in AM mode... I'd use ecss for
DX'ing with any rig.

The R-75 is King for this.

Over what? All high end receivers are stable and do ECSS mode
extremely well.

Without benifit of a dual PBT. Only Icom has that. I've been using
the R-75 long enough to say that it is a tremendously benificial
feature for DX'ing extreamly weak signals.

Most (but not the Icom) also do AM sync very well.

AM sync ??? I thought we were talking about "real" DX'ing. How did
we get on program listening ??? Oh... OK, I get it...You just feel
like bashing the R-75 because you shelled out a chunk of money for a
rig that isnt as capable. No AM sync... I mean NO AM sync is ANY help
with very weak signals. AM sync comes in handy for program listneing
on signals with moderate fade. Not with "real" DX'ing. Not that it
has do with DX'ing but my R-75 has the Kiwa modded AM sync. It works
just fine for program listening and sounds great. Along with being a
good rig for program listening, it is better for DX'ing then any rig
out there under $2,000.

Horse sh*t. You just keep telling yourself it's better than the higher
price rigs. It's not. My JRC has over 500 bandwidth settings, a great
sync detector and better stability for manual ECSS. We all hear the
same
signals you do, Michael. All our receivers are rock stable. We can all
do ECSS extremely well and we didn't need any mods! Some of these
radios
have features you haven't experienced.


If you are talking about the NRD-545. I've used this rig. It is over
priced
BIG TIME. Sure, it is a nice looking radio and it is built rock solid. I
also found it to be tinny sounding. I'd go so far as to say the audio
quality sux !!! I had to use it through my PC speakers and work my
software
mixer to get it to sound tolerable for program listening. What does that
radio sell for ??? $1,800.00 ??? I'd rather use my R-75 for program
listening over the NRD-545 because the 545 sounds so tinny and hollow.

If you want to spend more money and get a more capable rig then the R-75 ,
the NRD-545 is NOT the answer. I'd say go with the Icom 746 pro. Less
money
then the NRD-545 at $1,500 and more capable.

Michael

"Michael" wrote in message
...

"Brian Denley" wrote in message
...
Michael wrote:
"Brian Denley" wrote in message
...
Michael wrote:
I tend to do all of my
DX'ing in ssb mode using ECSS tuning.

With the R-75, you really have no choice, do you?

Yes, you do have a choice to use it in AM mode... I'd use ecss for
DX'ing with any rig.

The R-75 is King for this.

Over what? All high end receivers are stable and do ECSS mode
extremely well.

Without benifit of a dual PBT. Only Icom has that. I've been using
the R-75 long enough to say that it is a tremendously benificial
feature for DX'ing extreamly weak signals.

Most (but not the Icom) also do AM sync very well.

AM sync ??? I thought we were talking about "real" DX'ing. How did
we get on program listening ??? Oh... OK, I get it...You just feel
like bashing the R-75 because you shelled out a chunk of money for a
rig that isnt as capable. No AM sync... I mean NO AM sync is ANY help
with very weak signals. AM sync comes in handy for program listneing
on signals with moderate fade. Not with "real" DX'ing. Not that it
has do with DX'ing but my R-75 has the Kiwa modded AM sync. It works
just fine for program listening and sounds great. Along with being a
good rig for program listening, it is better for DX'ing then any rig
out there under $2,000.

Horse sh*t. You just keep telling yourself it's better than the higher
price rigs. It's not. My JRC has over 500 bandwidth settings, a great
sync detector and better stability for manual ECSS. We all hear the
same
signals you do, Michael. All our receivers are rock stable. We can all
do ECSS extremely well and we didn't need any mods! Some of these
radios
have features you haven't experienced.


If you are talking about the NRD-545. I've used this rig. It is over
priced
BIG TIME. Sure, it is a nice looking radio and it is built rock solid. I
also found it to be tinny sounding. I'd go so far as to say the audio
quality sux !!! I had to use it through my PC speakers and work my
software
mixer to get it to sound tolerable for program listening. What does that
radio sell for ??? $1,800.00 ??? I'd rather use my R-75 for program
listening over the NRD-545 because the 545 sounds so tinny and hollow.

If you want to spend more money and get a more capable rig then the R-75 ,
the NRD-545 is NOT the answer. I'd say go with the Icom 746 pro. Less
money
then the NRD-545 at $1,500 and more capable.

Thanks. I'll take a good look at both the R-75 and the 746 Pro.