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Michael wrote:


I agree with you 100 %. I use an R-75 as my primary radio. It is a
great
radio for DX. I got mine brand new for under $500.00 with the free
UT-106
unit included. I almost always use ecss tuning with the R-75 in ssb
mode
when I scout for DX. I find that there isn't anything that I can hear
with
the R-75 that I can hear with more expensive radios. Earlier in the
year, I
was considering getting a new radio as an upgrade to the R-75. I was
lucky
enough to be able to borrow an NRD-545 from a friend to do some
experimenting. I found that the R-75 was just as capable as the NRD-545.
The experimentation convinced me not to spend more money on a new radio.
I
came up with the conclusion that regardless of what radio I get, I wont
be
able to hear anything that I cant hear on my R-75. This is partly a
compliment to the R-75 and partly a realization that my geographic area
is
not a good area to DX in. I live in a highly populated area in NJ with
lots
of noise sources. No matter how expensive of a receiver I get, it wont
matter one bit !!! My DX bottle-neck is my area and not my radio.
Still...
The R-75 does quite well considering !!!

Michael

I think this is true of most people. It's hard to find truly quiet
reception anymore. Recently I visited family in West Central Kentucky.
I was about a mile outside of a small town with a population of
approximately 3000. I was all psyched up, thinking that it would be a
super quiet spot for a little DXing. However, it seemed only marginally
quieter than Brooklyn--at least during the week I spent there! It's
just harder and harder to find quiet places.

Steve


I'd be psyched too at the prospect of trying out my gear in a rural area.
I'm surprised you didn't get better results in KY as compared to Brooklyn.
A few years back I took a Sony 7600g and 100' of wire with me on a trip to
up state NY. I was amazed at how low the noise floor was in comparison to
what I'm used to here in north NJ. Along with that, I was also astounded
by the number of stars that I could see in the night sky.

Michael