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Looking for a real DX setup
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? |
This works well for me:
http://www.thiecom.de/english/g313i/ Warmest regards, John "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? |
Portable SW radios can be pretty good.. - What kind of antenna do you have; I think that's really the most important feature.. You can take a portable to remote, low noise areas string out Huge antennas and pick up all sorts of stuff Dan ( R-75 & 100 feet of raandom wire) Wannabe DXer wrote: 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? |
How well does this Winradio stack up to high quality tabletop sets?
"John Smith" wrote in message ... This works well for me: http://www.thiecom.de/english/g313i/ Warmest regards, John |
Right now I'm using an AN-LP1 antenna. It works better than the whip, but
still doesn't do very well with distant stations. "Dan" wrote in message oups.com... Portable SW radios can be pretty good.. - What kind of antenna do you have; I think that's really the most important feature.. You can take a portable to remote, low noise areas string out Huge antennas and pick up all sorts of stuff Dan ( R-75 & 100 feet of raandom wire) |
"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 ??? -- Respectfully, Michael Location: New Jersey Primary Receiver: R-75 with full Kiwa mods Antennas: G5RV, 200ft "Frankenstein" roof wire Additional Radios: 7600GR,KA-1101,KA-1102 PL-550, KA-989, Info-Mate 837, GE-SR III Westinghouse H-104 (seven tube) Web Site: http://md_dxing.tripod.com |
Wannabe:
Well, you can read and compare the specs... one thing you'll notice is the winradio goes to 180 Mhz with the extended version I have--it is great... I have never sat it right beside an old table top and compared--with same antennas... It works well is all I can claim... I got mine off ebay... I paid under $200.00 with shipping included--but just looked and can't find any there right now... John "Wannabe DXer" wrote in message news:1118885606.4d986edc073875493c6adfc28ec40f6d@t eranews... How well does this Winradio stack up to high quality tabletop sets? "John Smith" wrote in message ... This works well for me: http://www.thiecom.de/english/g313i/ Warmest regards, John |
"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? |
Wannabe DXer wrote:
How well does this Winradio stack up to high quality tabletop sets? "John Smith" wrote in message ... This works well for me: http://www.thiecom.de/english/g313i/ Warmest regards, John The 313i holds its own against desktops. Also consider the Icom 746Pro. craigm |
Long wire with a co-ax feed-in.. as high as possible and far away from electrical interference.. check out the web site below http://www.hard-core-dx.com/nordicdx...age/index.html AN-LP1 is OK .. random wire is much bettter.. |
"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. |
"Jim Hackett" wrote in message ink.net... 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... Yes... I use an external. I have two options set up. I can use it through my RCA 40-5000 external speaker, or, if the signal really needs to be dressed up, I pipe it through my PC's sound card. I have a five piece PC speaker set up with a sub woofer and a full software mixer/eq. I can get anything to sound good with that. It comes in especially handy on signals with muffled audio. I can really thin it out with the software eq. Michael |
"Wannabe DXer" wrote in message news:1118895587.c8c22f714fe276225fb33327fa7825fc@t eranews... "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. The 746 Pro is actually a transceiver. You dont have to use it to transmit of course. I wouldn't recommend using it to transmit either. Serious problems with the transmitter section. Regardless, as a DX'ing receiver, it would be a great choice. Michael |
"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. Speaking of location: I just did a simple test with my portable. I drove out of town to a fairly remote area with no power lines or other nearby sources or interference. Just using the whip antenna I was able to pick up a lot of stations with little noise. But when I returned home, I couldn't pick up most of those stations at all, and most of the others were covered with noise. I'm wondering now if any receiver/antenna setup would do me much good due to my apparently noisy location. |
Wabe DXer - In a word "Move" ~ RHF
. . . . . |
"RHF" wrote in message oups.com... Wabe DXer - In a word "Move" ~ RHF LOL! I'll let the wife know that we're selling the house! ;-) |
I would take my portable and walk around the yard.. marking where the signal is strongest and the interference is least.. THEN put an antenna up in those low noise locations |
First install a real antenna, then consider the receiver
-- CL -- I doubt, therefore I might be ! "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? |
- There is a possibility of using the AN-LP1 to filter out electrical / man made noise.. - whilst using an outdoor antenna to pull in more signal.. Try putting up an outdoor antenna, in the quiet areas of your yard (Plant morning glories around it if anyone objects to it's looks.. ) & if it's too noisy, try some kind of coil of antenna wire right on tghe AN-LP1 loop.. Play with the idea .. |
"Dan" wrote in message oups.com... I would take my portable and walk around the yard.. marking where the signal is strongest and the interference is least.. THEN put an antenna up in those low noise locations Thanks. I'll give that a try and see if I can find a good place for an antenna. I'm just hoping that there *is* a low noise place in my yard! |
"Caveat Lector" wrote in message news:Lfgse.195$SF5.72@fed1read07... First install a real antenna, then consider the receiver -- CL -- I doubt, therefore I might be ! Will do! |
"Dan" wrote in message ups.com... - There is a possibility of using the AN-LP1 to filter out electrical / man made noise.. - whilst using an outdoor antenna to pull in more signal.. Try putting up an outdoor antenna, in the quiet areas of your yard (Plant morning glories around it if anyone objects to it's looks.. ) & if it's too noisy, try some kind of coil of antenna wire right on tghe AN-LP1 loop.. Play with the idea .. With that power substation just down the road from my house I'm wondering if there is a quiet area in my yard. I'll take my radio out in the backyard this evening (too hot now, almost 100F out there!) and see what I come up with. |
Hello,
I just finished reading all the posts here to date (June 16, 2005 at 2040 UTC) and I must say that most of the replies to you are well-reasoned and thought out. I think that if you follow many of the suggestions that have been written, you will be pleased with the results you obtain. May I make my suggestion for a good receiver/antenna combination? Go on to the Universal site and look at ther AOR AR7030 Plus receiver. I have had one for over a year now and each day I am more impressed with it. In addition to being a superb receiver, one of the finest ever designed, it can also be controlled from your computer via a free computer program called RxWings, if you are interested in that sort of thing. I've been using this computer program for almost as long as I have owned the receiver and it is, in my opinion, first-rate. I would recommend buying the NB7030 Noise Blanker/Notch Filter option for the radio. As for an antenna, it seems that you, like me, live in an electrically-noisy location. Yes those power lines 250 meters away from your location are going to cause problems (as you have already discovered). The solution? A Wellbrook ALA 330S Active Loop Antenna, in my opinion the finest shortwave antenna currently on the market. You can go to Wellbrook's website to view all the particulars; you would buy it from THE SHORTWAVE SHOP in the UK (Wellbrook's only dealer) if you want to use a credit card. The results achievable with this antenna in an electrically-noisy location are nothing short of astounding. A TV rotator is helpful as the antenna, like all loops, exhibits directionality especially at lower frequencies and you might as well take advantage of this functionality. That combination, the AOR AR7030 Plus (with the NB7030) and the Wellbrook ALA 330S is not cheap. Nor is the antenna "convenient" to buy. And, especially, the installation of the antenna is quite a precise affair - you must be willing to carefully read and follow (to the letter) the quite-clear installation instructions (with one exception: placement of the antenna is not at all critical as the instructions suggest; I have mine mounted in my attic on a Radio Shack rotator where it performs superbly; it can be mounted outdoors, high or low - even on a deck rail or fence post). The learning curve of the AOR AR7030 Plus, though nowhere nearly as difficult as PASSPORT purports, is still something that must be mastered. (Of course this applies to any communications receiver; it's not enough to know what buttons to press; you have to know when and under what circumstances to press them! This comes only with experience.) All that notwithstanding, if you can afford it (and apparently you can), the results obtainable with the AR7030 Plus and the Wellbrook ALA 330S are well-worth the money!! I wish you the very best of luck with whatever you purchase. Joe |
Dan wrote:
Try putting up an outdoor antenna, in the quiet areas of your yard The quiet area of my yard turned out to be 65' above ground. Then, I'm blessed with a community with all underground utilities too. And a great earth ground system. bill KC9CS Gulf Coast of Florida |
Thanks. I'll take a good look at both the R-75 and the 746 Pro
I wouldn't bother with the 746 pro unless you are planning to get a ham ticket...I just don't see much point in spending money on a transmitter, when that could be saved, or applied to other receiver features.. Also...A 746pro ain't exactly cheap...I would think a R-75 costs much less, and is just as good for SWL purposes. I think the R-75 would be a good choice. You are not going to hear anything on one, that you couldn't hear on the other...Actually, this is basically the case between any of the better radios... Some of the PC win radios , ten tec, etc, are pretty good. They have lots of features you can diddle with...But... I sorta prefer a stand alone radio...IE: If I decide to take it camping, who wants to have to drag along a PC, etc... I have many decent radios, but for SWL I use my little IC-706mk2g the most lately... http://www.icomcanada.com/products/a...2g/706mk2g.htm But, like the 746, it's a transceiver..But...I'm a ham, so it's not a waste of money...:/ I like it because it covers LW to UHF, all modes, in one radio. 30hz to 200 mhz, straight line, and then covers from 400-470 mhz. So I can listen to HF, or switch to other stuff like aircraft, police, etc...Has 4 scan modes, and is a good scanner...Good on MW too... Most versatile radio I have, hands down. I could sell everything I have, and keep that one radio, and survive quite ok. At one point, they were down in the $750 range, but I hear due to the devaluation against the yen, the prices are back up to about $900 or so...Thats what I paid for mine in 2001....You can get the HF only R-75 for a good bit less than that...MK |
"Brian Denley" wrote in message 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 I have to agree. -- 73 and good DX. B.H. Brian's Radio Universe http://webpages.charter.net/brianhill/500.htm |
"Dan" wrote in message oups.com... I would take my portable and walk around the yard.. marking where the signal is strongest and the interference is least.. THEN put an antenna up in those low noise locations I walked around my backyard last night and to my surprise the whole yard with the exception of one spot seemed pretty quiet. The only really noisy spot was near my AC compressor. So I'm thinking that despite the fact that there's a small power substation with power lines nearby, that most of the noise I'm getting is comming from within the house itself. So perhaps my problems will be solved by simply setting up a good outside antenna rather than using the AN-LP1. |
"Joe Analssandrini" wrote in message oups.com... Hello, I just finished reading all the posts here to date (June 16, 2005 at 2040 UTC) and I must say that most of the replies to you are well-reasoned and thought out. I think that if you follow many of the suggestions that have been written, you will be pleased with the results you obtain. May I make my suggestion for a good receiver/antenna combination? Go on to the Universal site and look at ther AOR AR7030 Plus receiver. I have had one for over a year now and each day I am more impressed with it. In addition to being a superb receiver, one of the finest ever designed, it can also be controlled from your computer via a free computer program called RxWings, if you are interested in that sort of thing. I've been using this computer program for almost as long as I have owned the receiver and it is, in my opinion, first-rate. I would recommend buying the NB7030 Noise Blanker/Notch Filter option for the radio. I've gone to Universal Radio's website and read about the AOR AR7030+ reciever and did a google search for reviews on it as well. It would seem that it would be a great pick for a top-notch DXing setup! As for an antenna, it seems that you, like me, live in an electrically-noisy location. Yes those power lines 250 meters away from your location are going to cause problems (as you have already discovered). The solution? A Wellbrook ALA 330S Active Loop Antenna, in my opinion the finest shortwave antenna currently on the market. You can go to Wellbrook's website to view all the particulars; you would buy it from THE SHORTWAVE SHOP in the UK (Wellbrook's only dealer) if you want to use a credit card. The results achievable with this antenna in an electrically-noisy location are nothing short of astounding. A TV rotator is helpful as the antenna, like all loops, exhibits directionality especially at lower frequencies and you might as well take advantage of this functionality. Actually, I now think some if not most of the noise problems are internal to my house rather than external. I poked around in my backyard last night with my portable radio, and to my surprise most of the noise was gone. I also checked out my front yard and found it was somewhat noisier, but it's also the side closest to the power substation, so perhaps my house is providing a bit of shielding from it? I'm wondering if some sort of low mounted outdoor antenna might be my best bet. I'm thinking that if I get it too high up in the air then it would be more line-of-sight to the power substation and might be noisy again. (Maybe I ought to take my portable up on the roof and see what I get up there?) That combination, the AOR AR7030 Plus (with the NB7030) and the Wellbrook ALA 330S is not cheap. Nor is the antenna "convenient" to buy. And, especially, the installation of the antenna is quite a precise affair - you must be willing to carefully read and follow (to the letter) the quite-clear installation instructions (with one exception: placement of the antenna is not at all critical as the instructions suggest; I have mine mounted in my attic on a Radio Shack rotator where it performs superbly; it can be mounted outdoors, high or low - even on a deck rail or fence post). I've also read some reviews on this antenna, and most if not all gave it rave reviews. He's a review that I found interesting and helpful. http://www.radiointel.com/review-wellbrook.htm The learning curve of the AOR AR7030 Plus, though nowhere nearly as difficult as PASSPORT purports, is still something that must be mastered. (Of course this applies to any communications receiver; it's not enough to know what buttons to press; you have to know when and under what circumstances to press them! This comes only with experience.) All that notwithstanding, if you can afford it (and apparently you can), the results obtainable with the AR7030 Plus and the Wellbrook ALA 330S are well-worth the money!! I wish you the very best of luck with whatever you purchase. Joe Thanks Joe. Your post was very helpful to this shortwave newbie! |
In article 1119208556.bdf46749713b734146fe6f29f1b9f3b9@megan etnews2,
"Wannabe DXer" wrote: "Joe Analssandrini" wrote in message oups.com... Hello, I just finished reading all the posts here to date (June 16, 2005 at 2040 UTC) and I must say that most of the replies to you are well-reasoned and thought out. I think that if you follow many of the suggestions that have been written, you will be pleased with the results you obtain. May I make my suggestion for a good receiver/antenna combination? Go on to the Universal site and look at ther AOR AR7030 Plus receiver. I have had one for over a year now and each day I am more impressed with it. In addition to being a superb receiver, one of the finest ever designed, it can also be controlled from your computer via a free computer program called RxWings, if you are interested in that sort of thing. I've been using this computer program for almost as long as I have owned the receiver and it is, in my opinion, first-rate. I would recommend buying the NB7030 Noise Blanker/Notch Filter option for the radio. I've gone to Universal Radio's website and read about the AOR AR7030+ reciever and did a google search for reviews on it as well. It would seem that it would be a great pick for a top-notch DXing setup! As for an antenna, it seems that you, like me, live in an electrically-noisy location. Yes those power lines 250 meters away from your location are going to cause problems (as you have already discovered). The solution? A Wellbrook ALA 330S Active Loop Antenna, in my opinion the finest shortwave antenna currently on the market. You can go to Wellbrook's website to view all the particulars; you would buy it from THE SHORTWAVE SHOP in the UK (Wellbrook's only dealer) if you want to use a credit card. The results achievable with this antenna in an electrically-noisy location are nothing short of astounding. A TV rotator is helpful as the antenna, like all loops, exhibits directionality especially at lower frequencies and you might as well take advantage of this functionality. Actually, I now think some if not most of the noise problems are internal to my house rather than external. I poked around in my backyard last night with my portable radio, and to my surprise most of the noise was gone. I also checked out my front yard and found it was somewhat noisier, but it's also the side closest to the power substation, so perhaps my house is providing a bit of shielding from it? I'm wondering if some sort of low mounted outdoor antenna might be my best bet. I'm thinking that if I get it too high up in the air then it would be more line-of-sight to the power substation and might be noisy again. (Maybe I ought to take my portable up on the roof and see what I get up there?) That combination, the AOR AR7030 Plus (with the NB7030) and the Wellbrook ALA 330S is not cheap. Nor is the antenna "convenient" to buy. And, especially, the installation of the antenna is quite a precise affair - you must be willing to carefully read and follow (to the letter) the quite-clear installation instructions (with one exception: placement of the antenna is not at all critical as the instructions suggest; I have mine mounted in my attic on a Radio Shack rotator where it performs superbly; it can be mounted outdoors, high or low - even on a deck rail or fence post). I've also read some reviews on this antenna, and most if not all gave it rave reviews. He's a review that I found interesting and helpful. http://www.radiointel.com/review-wellbrook.htm The learning curve of the AOR AR7030 Plus, though nowhere nearly as difficult as PASSPORT purports, is still something that must be mastered. (Of course this applies to any communications receiver; it's not enough to know what buttons to press; you have to know when and under what circumstances to press them! This comes only with experience.) All that notwithstanding, if you can afford it (and apparently you can), the results obtainable with the AR7030 Plus and the Wellbrook ALA 330S are well-worth the money!! I wish you the very best of luck with whatever you purchase. Joe Thanks Joe. Your post was very helpful to this shortwave newbie! I came to the conclusion years ago that loop type antennas are the best bet for most people. The amplified loops can be made smaller and due to size you have more options where to locate it but they are more expensive than the passive loops. You can build a shielded passive loop out of coax. A general purpose one of 40 to 60 foot circumference should be electrically balanced and the smaller ones ( 20 foot) can be non-balanced for more gain. The small non-balanced ones pickup both the E and M fields of a passing EM wave where the balanced one picks up the M part only. The difference between the balanced and unbalanced is where the shield is split. Say you take a 50 foot piece and loop it back on itself ten feet from one end. At that point you solder the center conductor of the end of the cable to the shield. The the outer shield of the cable is not connected and floats. The 10 foot section behaves as a transmission line to the radio in this example. This will probably be to much antenna on the lower bands for most table top or any sensitive radio. This is not a shielded loop. This loop is high output and responds to both the E and M fields, which is why you have a larger output. To make a balanced loop at that 10 foot point you solder both the center conductor and shield of the cable end to the coax shield. Then half way around the loop you cut the outer insulator and shield only. Now you have a balanced loop that only responds to the M field. The output will be less but so will the local noise that is limiting your reception. The balanced loop is shielded against local common mode E field noise. This balanced loop will be the most like the Wellbrook if you can manage to get it some distance from local noise sources. You need it to be some distance away from the local noise sources so the noise field is equal over the area of the loop so it can be canceled. Here a small 1 meter loop like the Wellbrook has the advantage. It can be much closer to local noise sources and cancel them out. Another advantage the Wellbrook has is flatter response over the 3 to 30MHz range. The response of the passive loop will change over that range depending on its size but not a lot. Another advantage the Wellbrook has is that you can turn it but you can always build two passive loops at right angles to each other and switch between them. This is good for all except nulling of course. I think the Wellbrook is worth the money but if you don't want to spend that much or if you like to make your own passive loop its easy. The noisiest locations will probably still do better with the Wellbrook though. I don't think you can beat a well designed small amplified loop for a poor receiving location. -- Telamon Ventura, California |
What a beautifully and clearly written explanation!
"Telamon," if you don't already write reviews (or have never even thought of doing so), you certainly should! Best, Joe |
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