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R75 & R8B
I am running Drake R8B and am thinking about buying the ICOM R75. Does
anybody here own both and could you comment? I think I can probably still get one for 600 from HRO or Universal. 73 Bob N9NEO |
wrote in message
oups.com... I am running Drake R8B and am thinking about buying the ICOM R75. Does anybody here own both and could you comment? I think I can probably still get one for 600 from HRO or Universal. 73 Bob N9NEO HERE WE GO AGAIN !!! I'll fire the first shot. I own an R75 with full Kiwa mods, and I have used an R8, R8A & R8B. I find that the R75 is a better radio for utility and DX'ing. I also find the R75 to be an adequate radio for program listening before it gets any mods and a very good radio for program listening after the Kiwa sync and audio mods. I find the R8B to be SUPERLATIVE as a program listening radio and very good as a DX'ing rig. I dont care what any of the bench statistics are, the R75 performs better as a DX'ing rig then the R8B. I could resolve DX signals with the R75 that I could not with the R8B. I dont care how good the am synch is on the R8B is, or how good the audio quality is. Those advantages count for nothing when your trying to DX very weak and messy signals. For that type of work, you are best served putting your rig in SSB and using ECSS tuning. In that capacity, the R75 is a more capable rig. I dont need to see bench test stats of any kind. I learned this through actual use of both rigs. The R75 performs better for DX'ing then the R8B. Also keep in mind that I did my trials and comparisons of both Radios with two very good antennas. Now, lets here from DXAce -- Respectfully, Michael Location: New Jersey Primary Receiver: R75 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 ICOM PCR-1000 Westinghouse H-104 (seven tube) Web Site: http://md_dxing.tripod.com |
wrote in message oups.com... I am running Drake R8B and am thinking about buying the ICOM R75. Does anybody here own both and could you comment? I think I can probably still get one for 600 from HRO or Universal. I can honestly say I own neither, but from having seen the discussions on r.r.s before about those two, the IC-R75 is good value for the money, but the R8B (and the AOR 7030+) are better in absolute terms. Seems to be the consensus that if you're on a budget, an IC-R75 will do well. If you do the work needed to make the R75 roughly the equal of the R8B, you'll end up spending enough money extra to make the cost difference between the R8B and the R75 vanish. --Mike L. |
"Michael" wrote in message ... wrote in message oups.com... I am running Drake R8B and am thinking about buying the ICOM R75. Does anybody here own both and could you comment? I think I can probably still get one for 600 from HRO or Universal. 73 Bob N9NEO HERE WE GO AGAIN !!! It beats another Katrina thread. I'll fire the first shot. I own an R75 with full Kiwa mods, and I have used an R8, R8A & R8B. I find that the R75 is a better radio for utility and DX'ing. I also find the R75 to be an adequate radio for program listening before it gets any mods and a very good radio for program listening after the Kiwa sync and audio mods. I find the R8B to be SUPERLATIVE as a program listening radio and very good as a DX'ing rig. I dont care what any of the bench statistics are, the R75 performs better as a DX'ing rig then the R8B. I could resolve DX signals with the R75 that I could not with the R8B. I dont care how good the am synch is on the R8B is, or how good the audio quality is. Those advantages count for nothing when your trying to DX very weak and messy signals. For that type of work, you are best served putting your rig in SSB and using ECSS tuning. In that capacity, the R75 is a more capable rig. I dont need to see bench test stats of any kind. I learned this through actual use of both rigs. The R75 performs better for DX'ing then the R8B. Peter and I were just in a thread about the R75's sync, and he was mentioning that he received info from an Icom rep on how to properly work the sync that isn't in the manual online. Did you hear about anything like that when you were comparing the two?? Also keep in mind that I did my trials and comparisons of both Radios with two very good antennas. Now, lets here from DXAce Of course, the mean between the two extremes (you and Ace) is pretty much that the R75 is good value for the money. The entertaining comparisons are the Sat 800 vs. the R75. Of course, the E1 could sub for the Sat 800 these days. --Mike L. |
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"Michael Lawson" wrote in message ... wrote in message oups.com... I am running Drake R8B and am thinking about buying the ICOM R75. Does anybody here own both and could you comment? I think I can probably still get one for 600 from HRO or Universal. I can honestly say I own neither, but from having seen the discussions on r.r.s before about those two, the IC-R75 is good value for the money, but the R8B (and the AOR 7030+) are better in absolute terms. Mike, I dont agree with you. I think the R75 is a better radio for DX'ing then the R8B. Just because the R75 cost WAY less then the R8B, it dosent have to mean that the R75 dosent perform better then the R8B. I've used both radios and the R75 was better for resolving difficult DX. -- Respectfully, Michael Location: New Jersey Primary Receiver: R75 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 ICOM PCR-1000 Westinghouse H-104 (seven tube) Web Site: http://md_dxing.tripod.com |
Thanks for the comparisons.
A guy down the street has a R75 for sale and I can take it for a test drive. I'll probably go for one and play with it for a while. Yea, $600 is a lot of money for a radio. Especially since I'm into the Drake for $900 and I still need to get the tuning resolver fixed! At least I got the VHF card and the MS-8 speaker for the price. If the guy down the street wants to let his go for a reasonable price I might jump on that. Otherwise I'll get HRO to make a deal with me. They are a nice bunch. Just north of here and UPS ground gets here next day every time I order from em. 73 Bob |
"Michael" wrote in message ... "Michael Lawson" wrote in message ... wrote in message oups.com... I am running Drake R8B and am thinking about buying the ICOM R75. Does anybody here own both and could you comment? I think I can probably still get one for 600 from HRO or Universal. I can honestly say I own neither, but from having seen the discussions on r.r.s before about those two, the IC-R75 is good value for the money, but the R8B (and the AOR 7030+) are better in absolute terms. Mike, I dont agree with you. I think the R75 is a better radio for DX'ing then the R8B. Just because the R75 cost WAY less then the R8B, it dosent have to mean that the R75 dosent perform better then the R8B. I've used both radios and the R75 was better for resolving difficult DX. When I talk absolute terms, I don't mean DX only. I meant essentially a radio that can do it all, and where the radios rank there. Discounting both you and Ace as the two ends of the spectrum, the consensus seems to be that the R8B is the better overall radio, but the R75 is a good radio overall for the price point. If you can live without a great stock sync, the R75 is a good radio. --Mike L. |
"Michael Lawson" wrote in message ... "Michael" wrote in message ... "Michael Lawson" wrote in message ... wrote in message oups.com... I am running Drake R8B and am thinking about buying the ICOM R75. Does anybody here own both and could you comment? I think I can probably still get one for 600 from HRO or Universal. I can honestly say I own neither, but from having seen the discussions on r.r.s before about those two, the IC-R75 is good value for the money, but the R8B (and the AOR 7030+) are better in absolute terms. Mike, I dont agree with you. I think the R75 is a better radio for DX'ing then the R8B. Just because the R75 cost WAY less then the R8B, it dosent have to mean that the R75 dosent perform better then the R8B. I've used both radios and the R75 was better for resolving difficult DX. When I talk absolute terms, I don't mean DX only. I meant essentially a radio that can do it all, and where the radios rank there. Discounting both you and Ace as the two ends of the spectrum, the consensus seems to be that the R8B is the better overall radio, but the R75 is a good radio overall for the price point. If you can live without a great stock sync, the R75 is a good radio. --Mike L. Mike, I think your commentary is fair, but you haven't stated that the R75 is a better DX'ing radio. Many people that have used both radios including myself prefer the R75 to the R8B for DX'ing because it does a better job resolving very weak and messy DX. That's not brand loyalty, that is user proven fact. Add to that, the R75 is a very good radio for program listening. The criticisms with the R75's stock AM synch and audio section are WAY over worked. Even if it is unmodified, with an external speaker, the R75 is perfectly adequate for program listening. The criticisms with the R75's stock AM synch and audio section are WAY over worked. In my opinion, that makes the R75 the better ultimate value and the WAY better value for dollar. -- Respectfully, Michael Location: New Jersey Primary Receiver: R75 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 ICOM PCR-1000 Westinghouse H-104 (seven tube) Web Site: http://md_dxing.tripod.com |
Michael wrote: wrote in message oups.com... I am running Drake R8B and am thinking about buying the ICOM R75. Does anybody here own both and could you comment? I think I can probably still get one for 600 from HRO or Universal. 73 Bob N9NEO HERE WE GO AGAIN !!! I'll fire the first shot. I own an R75 with full Kiwa mods, and I have used an R8, R8A & R8B. I find that the R75 is a better radio for utility and DX'ing. I also find the R75 to be an adequate radio for program listening before it gets any mods and a very good radio for program listening after the Kiwa sync and audio mods. I find the R8B to be SUPERLATIVE as a program listening radio and very good as a DX'ing rig. I dont care what any of the bench statistics are, the R75 performs better as a DX'ing rig then the R8B. I could resolve DX signals with the R75 that I could not with the R8B. I dont care how good the am synch is on the R8B is, or how good the audio quality is. Those advantages count for nothing when your trying to DX very weak and messy signals. For that type of work, you are best served putting your rig in SSB and using ECSS tuning. In that capacity, the R75 is a more capable rig. I dont need to see bench test stats of any kind. I learned this through actual use of both rigs. The R75 performs better for DX'ing then the R8B. Also keep in mind that I did my trials and comparisons of both Radios with two very good antennas. Now, lets here from DXAce That would be 'hear', and I disagree with your findings! dxAce Michigan USA "I swear by, not at, Drake receivers.© |
I own an R75, have had a chance to use the R8B at length on a few
occasions. If you did a left column/right column point-by-point, I think the Drake would come out ahead, though not by much. On a value-per-dollar basis, the Drake shrinks to second place immediately. Botoom line is that both are excellent receivers, though. Tpony ----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==---- http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =---- |
"Michael" wrote in message ... "Michael Lawson" wrote in message ... "Michael" wrote in message ... "Michael Lawson" wrote in message ... wrote in message oups.com... I am running Drake R8B and am thinking about buying the ICOM R75. Does anybody here own both and could you comment? I think I can probably still get one for 600 from HRO or Universal. I can honestly say I own neither, but from having seen the discussions on r.r.s before about those two, the IC-R75 is good value for the money, but the R8B (and the AOR 7030+) are better in absolute terms. Mike, I dont agree with you. I think the R75 is a better radio for DX'ing then the R8B. Just because the R75 cost WAY less then the R8B, it dosent have to mean that the R75 dosent perform better then the R8B. I've used both radios and the R75 was better for resolving difficult DX. When I talk absolute terms, I don't mean DX only. I meant essentially a radio that can do it all, and where the radios rank there. Discounting both you and Ace as the two ends of the spectrum, the consensus seems to be that the R8B is the better overall radio, but the R75 is a good radio overall for the price point. If you can live without a great stock sync, the R75 is a good radio. --Mike L. Mike, I think your commentary is fair, but you haven't stated that the R75 is a better DX'ing radio. Many people that have used both radios including myself prefer the R75 to the R8B for DX'ing because it does a better job resolving very weak and messy DX. That's not brand loyalty, that is user proven fact. Add to that, the R75 is a very good radio for program listening. The criticisms with the R75's stock AM synch and audio section are WAY over worked. Even if it is unmodified, with an external speaker, the R75 is perfectly adequate for program listening. The criticisms with the R75's stock AM synch and audio section are WAY over worked. In my opinion, that makes the R75 the better ultimate value and the WAY better value for dollar. Ah, but the reason why I can't is because I haven't personally listened to them both side by side. I can only go on what people here and elsewhere (such as on eham.net or dxing-info or other places) have said, and it seems that in overall terms, the R8B is the better of the two. Hey, if someone wants to give me a couple to work with, I'm game; right now, I'm a bit pressed for funds for something like that. --Mike L. |
DXing can mean different things to different people. To some, it means
being able to catch an ID and/or address in an otherwise unlistenable broadcast. To others, it might mean being able to understand the bulk of the broadcast, so that you can understand what's being discussed. At least in my experience, ECSS tuning is especially well-suited to the former type of DXing, but not so well-suited to the latter type of DXing. Why? Because constantly changing noise conditions and adjacent frequency interference limits your ability to twist all the knobs in just the right way at just the right time. That's why the latter sort of DXing, at least in my opinion, benefits from an outstanding sync detector like the R8B's. It makes signals more listenable, not just for a moment, but for the long haul. These are generalizations of course. I'm not saying ECSS tuning never works over the long haul. Sometimes it does, but not as well or as reliably as sync detection. That's why DXers need BOTH ECSS tuning AND sync detection. Steve |
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"dxAce" wrote in message ... Michael wrote: wrote in message oups.com... I am running Drake R8B and am thinking about buying the ICOM R75. Does anybody here own both and could you comment? I think I can probably still get one for 600 from HRO or Universal. 73 Bob N9NEO HERE WE GO AGAIN !!! I'll fire the first shot. I own an R75 with full Kiwa mods, and I have used an R8, R8A & R8B. I find that the R75 is a better radio for utility and DX'ing. I also find the R75 to be an adequate radio for program listening before it gets any mods and a very good radio for program listening after the Kiwa sync and audio mods. I find the R8B to be SUPERLATIVE as a program listening radio and very good as a DX'ing rig. I dont care what any of the bench statistics are, the R75 performs better as a DX'ing rig then the R8B. I could resolve DX signals with the R75 that I could not with the R8B. I dont care how good the am synch is on the R8B is, or how good the audio quality is. Those advantages count for nothing when your trying to DX very weak and messy signals. For that type of work, you are best served putting your rig in SSB and using ECSS tuning. In that capacity, the R75 is a more capable rig. I dont need to see bench test stats of any kind. I learned this through actual use of both rigs. The R75 performs better for DX'ing then the R8B. Also keep in mind that I did my trials and comparisons of both Radios with two very good antennas. Now, lets here from DXAce That would be 'hear', and I disagree with your findings! I'm blaming that one on my spell check. Michael |
I once owned a Kiwa Modded R75 and a R8B at the same time.
I still own the R8B. |
Too late my friend.
regards, Bob N9NEO |
Tom Holden wrote:
"dxAce" wrote in message ... Radio hobbyists refer to the reception of an AM signal using the SSB mode on a receiver as "ECSS reception" Synchronous AM detectors can also be ECSS detectors, provided one sideband is suppressed by the receiver, the acronym for which I suggest is SECSS .... Otherwise they are SECDS(B) - the 'B' is optional, or SDSB, and, for symmetry, an alternative for SECSS could be SSSB..... Tom Rather than make up or otherwise abuse definitions, how about keeping the details straight, rather than add to the confusion. Sync detectors phase lock a locally generated carrier to the signal. The signal and the carrier go to a product detector. ECSS amplifies the carrier and applies it and the original signal to the product detector. (Hint: look up the definition of exalted.) Receiving an AM signal in SSB mode is simply that. The common theme - all use a product detector. craigm |
On Thu, 22 Sep 2005 22:02:36 -0500, craigm
wrote: Rather than make up or otherwise abuse definitions, how about keeping the details straight, rather than add to the confusion. Sync detectors phase lock a locally generated carrier to the signal. The signal and the carrier go to a product detector. ECSS amplifies the carrier and applies it and the original signal to the product detector. (Hint: look up the definition of exalted.) Receiving an AM signal in SSB mode is simply that. The common theme - all use a product detector. craigm Actually, the original carrier is disregarded, as its selective fading is what causes the distortion in the first place. In a product detector the carrier is generated in the receiver, is it not? If the receiver carrier and the transmitter carrier are both present in the detector intermod products are produced; anything from motorboating to a whine. |
R8B = Rythm & Blues.
cuhulin |
No, I found the R8B to be a far superior radio.
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On 23 Sep 2005 13:13:40 -0700, "mike0219116"
wrote: No, I found the R8B to be a far superior radio. ''Superior'' when talking about tabletops is rarely a matter of ''far'' unless one is comparing a Chinese Grundig Annversary model with a JRC 535, if you catch my drift. |
David wrote: On 23 Sep 2005 13:13:40 -0700, "mike0219116" wrote: No, I found the R8B to be a far superior radio. ''Superior'' when talking about tabletops is rarely a matter of ''far'' unless one is comparing a Chinese Grundig Annversary model with a JRC 535, if you catch my drift. That would be hard to do, 'tard boy, as you've drifted so far to the left. dxAce Michigan USA |
On Fri, 23 Sep 2005 17:03:39 -0400, dxAce
wrote: David wrote: On 23 Sep 2005 13:13:40 -0700, "mike0219116" wrote: No, I found the R8B to be a far superior radio. ''Superior'' when talking about tabletops is rarely a matter of ''far'' unless one is comparing a Chinese Grundig Annversary model with a JRC 535, if you catch my drift. That would be hard to do, 'tard boy, as you've drifted so far to the left. dxAce Michigan USA I've found the Left meets the Right in Patriot Land. |
David wrote: On Fri, 23 Sep 2005 17:03:39 -0400, dxAce wrote: David wrote: On 23 Sep 2005 13:13:40 -0700, "mike0219116" wrote: No, I found the R8B to be a far superior radio. ''Superior'' when talking about tabletops is rarely a matter of ''far'' unless one is comparing a Chinese Grundig Annversary model with a JRC 535, if you catch my drift. That would be hard to do, 'tard boy, as you've drifted so far to the left. dxAce Michigan USA I've found the Left meets the Right in Patriot Land. You wouldn't know 'Patriot Land' if it crawled up your drug addled ass and decided to spend the winter, 'tard boy. You'd better go back for another adjustment on your meds. dxAce Michigan USA |
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R75 & R8B
First of all thank you to all that have read and or responded to my
post. Good reviews of radio caused me to buy one. R75 was delivered today. (UPS man ran into my wife and told her I bought a new radio. I'm glad I told her I got new radio before she mentioned it:-) I like it's size compared to the Drake R8B. I expect the future will even see smaller units with superior performance - I hope. Readout is easier on these old eyes than the Drake as well. Panel layout is nice. Performance is very good and many options to tame noise and lots of buttons to play with and tweak. The audio doesn't seem to be as clean as the Drake. There is for sure some distortion going on that I'll have to check out. I've been playing with a 5btv verticle and a 160m dipole for the antennas. I've got at least a half dozen antennas on the property, so I gotta get a couple of coax switches going on. I may have more to say later. I am newbie to high performance radio and to tell the truth mostly run Hammarlund SP600 and Racal RA17L type boatanchors. I recently had to sell the SP600 to buy the Drake. The Racal is actaully a smokin good unit with an amazing front end. So if you have some advice or tests I should try on makng comparisons to Drake then I am all ears. bye, Bob |
R75 & R8B
wrote:
R75 was delivered today. (UPS man ran into my wife and told her I bought a new radio. I'm glad I told her I got new radio before she mentioned it:-) I like it's size compared to the Drake R8B. I expect the future will even see smaller units with superior performance - I hope. Readout is easier on these old eyes than the Drake as well. Panel layout is nice. Performance is very good and many options to tame noise and lots of buttons to play with and tweak. The audio doesn't seem to be as clean as the Drake. The built-in speaker on the R75 is the size of a teabag. Virtually *any* extension speaker dramatically improves the sound. And it's great through headphones, of course (I do almost all my listening with headphones). Tony ----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==---- http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =---- |
R75 & R8B
wrote in message ups.com... First of all thank you to all that have read and or responded to my post. Good reviews of radio caused me to buy one. R75 was delivered today. (UPS man ran into my wife and told her I bought a new radio. I'm glad I told her I got new radio before she mentioned it:-) I like it's size compared to the Drake R8B. I expect the future will even see smaller units with superior performance - I hope. Readout is easier on these old eyes than the Drake as well. Panel layout is nice. Performance is very good and many options to tame noise and lots of buttons to play with and tweak. The audio doesn't seem to be as clean as the Drake. There is for sure some distortion going on that I'll have to check out. Are you using the onboard speaker versus an external one? In almost all cases, an external speaker works much better, and you can also play with a better a/b comparison by moving the speaker's terminals between two radios. I've been playing with a 5btv verticle and a 160m dipole for the antennas. I've got at least a half dozen antennas on the property, so I gotta get a couple of coax switches going on. I may have more to say later. I am newbie to high performance radio and to tell the truth mostly run Hammarlund SP600 and Racal RA17L type boatanchors. I recently had to sell the SP600 to buy the Drake. The Racal is actaully a smokin good unit with an amazing front end. So if you have some advice or tests I should try on makng comparisons to Drake then I am all ears. ::drool:: SP600..... I like radios that help keep me warm in the basement in the winter. --Mike L. |
R75 & R8B
From:
Organization: http://groups.google.com Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave Date: 29 Sep 2005 20:28:43 -0700 Subject: R75 & R8B First of all thank you to all that have read and or responded to my post. Good reviews of radio caused me to buy one. R75 was delivered today. (UPS man ran into my wife ... I hope she's okay! Greg |
R75 & R8B
Wife is fine Greg and doesn't complain when I buy a radio now and then.
I'll probably keep her for another 25 years. Michael, R75 runs internal speaker for now. When using phones there seems to be a little distortion that I don't hear on the Drake. I'm using a pair of Rad Shack $19.95 phones with the impedance unknown. Maybe I will save up and get a better pair of phones. Maybe Tony will advise me on a pair. The phones may actually be better matched to the Drake which may be part of the distortion prob on the Icom???? Can't readily find the output impedance spec on either. Icom says 10% distortion at 2watts which means little. And yes, the external speaker is just about useless. I'm not sure what I'm going to do there. Most of the 75m AM guys I hang with tap off their boatanchor detectors and run directly into a nice hifi audio system. That's probably what I'll do someday with the Drake and Icom. We also run real wide signals, but don't tell anyone. Jim, To tell the truth I am sure that others are better qualified to answer any questions relating to performance. I am new to SWL and until I bought the Drake in the spring I was strictly a boatanchor operator. As far as filters go I am running stock ones for now, and not too sure how they are called up in the menus. It appears the 9mc if has either a 2.4kc or a 15kc filter selectable. Seems the 455kc If has same filter options. Again, others would be more qualified to comment. SSB and AM has been fine with the filters supplied. I am looking forward to some CW work over the winter at 5wpm :-) Maybe more filters then. I bought from HRO up in New Hampshire. I took David's advice and haggled with them and paid about $570. I just pointed out that Universal radio had them for $570. Guy went and checked and said no prob - $570. I buy from HRO cause a nice bunch over there. Also I just give em my callsign and they got my whole history. Also they are so close that UPS ground gets here overnight anyway. For what it's worth I think the R75 is a fine unit. I will agree with others that it has some operating modes that just might give it the edge over the R8B with messy DX work. The R8B with VHF and speaker list price was very high. I think the R75 may be a good value for the money. One went on Ebay for $405 yesterday. I asked guy history and he told me he bought used over 2 years ago. So resale is still very high and he made out ok. 73 Bob |
R75 & R8B
From: Organization: http://groups.google.com Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave Date: 30 Sep 2005 16:56:48 -0700 Subject: R75 & R8B Wife is fine Greg and doesn't complain when I buy a radio now and then. I'll probably keep her for another 25 years. :) Greg |
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