I have a Drake R8 and an AOR LA-380 desktop loop antenna. MW seems ok with
this setup, but I am wondering if I could get noticeably better MW with the
Eton E1 and this antenna.

As an E1 owner and as one who owned an R8 for some 4 years ('91 to
'95), here's my take on it:

Unless you plan to use the portability of the Eton to get the radio out
of some noisy indoor environment that is preventing decent reception on
your Drake, I wouldn't expect the E1 to offer you noticeably better MW
reception. And the antenna you're using doesn't really lend itself to
portable applications.

While the Eton very nicely employs synchronous selectable sideband (as
in the Drake R8B), the Drake R8's overall performance is going to be
superior to that of the Eton E1.

For me, the E1 has become a favorite for portable applications. I've
come across no other portable that comes as close as the E1 does in
offering performance that approaches tabletop receiver quality.

junius




DeWayne wrote:
I have a Drake R8 and an AOR LA-380 desktop loop antenna. MW seems ok with
this setup, but I am wondering if I could get noticeably better MW with the
Eton E1 and this antenna.

I admit to never having used either model, but from reviews and such,
the R8 is supposed to be great for DXing both shortwave and medium
wave. Perhaps improving your antenna would be the better route to go.
The AOR is supposed to be a good loop, but perhaps you could try an
outdoor antenna to improve reception?

"Invader3K" wrote in message
oups.com...
I admit to never having used either model, but from reviews and such,
the R8 is supposed to be great for DXing both shortwave and medium
wave. Perhaps improving your antenna would be the better route to go.
The AOR is supposed to be a good loop, but perhaps you could try an
outdoor antenna to improve reception?


Can't have an outdoor antenna.

"DeWayne" wrote in message
...

"Invader3K" wrote in message
oups.com...
I admit to never having used either model, but from reviews and
such,
the R8 is supposed to be great for DXing both shortwave and medium
wave. Perhaps improving your antenna would be the better route to
go.
The AOR is supposed to be a good loop, but perhaps you could try
an
outdoor antenna to improve reception?


Can't have an outdoor antenna.

Do you have access to an attic? If so, Joe A. will
be able to tell you how he set up his Wellbrook
in his attic.

--Mike L.

DeWayne wrote:
"Invader3K" wrote in message
oups.com...
I admit to never having used either model, but from reviews and such,
the R8 is supposed to be great for DXing both shortwave and medium
wave. Perhaps improving your antenna would be the better route to go.
The AOR is supposed to be a good loop, but perhaps you could try an
outdoor antenna to improve reception?


Can't have an outdoor antenna.

What about an outdoor antenna that no one can see? Such an antenna
would deliver better performance for a fraction of the cost.

"Steve" wrote in message
oups.com...

DeWayne wrote:
"Invader3K" wrote in message
oups.com...
I admit to never having used either model, but from reviews and such,
the R8 is supposed to be great for DXing both shortwave and medium
wave. Perhaps improving your antenna would be the better route to go.
The AOR is supposed to be a good loop, but perhaps you could try an
outdoor antenna to improve reception?


Can't have an outdoor antenna.

What about an outdoor antenna that no one can see? Such an antenna
would deliver better performance for a fraction of the cost.

There may be a way that I haven't tried, but I'm not sure it's worth the
hassle. I'm happy with my SW performance, just wondering if adding a
portable would do better for MW with my AOR loop.

DeWayne,

[Hidden] Loop Antennas
- Big "Fancy" Flower Box with a Wood and Wire Trellis
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw...a/message/9150

Once knew a guy "The BlackSmith" who could not have an
Out-Door Antenna to use with his Yaesu FRG-7700 Receiver.

So he built his Wife a two Big "Fancy" Flower Boxes
(2' W x 8' L) and each had a nice Wood and Wire Trellis
{Loop Antennas}

The Flower Boxes sat in a rear corner of the backyard
(at 90* to each other) with a Fountain and small Pond
between them.

Each of the Trellis had Two Rectangular (6' H x 8' L)
Loop Antennas :
* One-Turn Shortwave Loop Antenna
* Ten-Turn AM/MW Loop Antenna.
http://www.mindspring.com/~loop_ante...loop_calc4.htm

NOTE - Having these Four Loop Antennas [Hidden] in the
Trellises of the Flower Boxes did require that he run Four
Coax Cables to an Antenna Switch in the Shack and then
he used a MFJ-956 -or- Grove Tun-3 Pre-Selector and
Antenna Tuner to Dial in his Loop Antennas.
http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...amps/2964.html

FWIW - I suggested that he only use two Loop Antennas
each AM/MW Ten-Turn Loop and a DC Relay that could be
Turned "ON" from the Shack to 'Open-Up' the Loop at the
Coax Cable Shield's Side to the Loop-End Juntion and
have it function like a Bent Random Wire Antenna about
280 Feet long. He like his design using the Four Loops.

OBTW - One small problem that he did have was that the
Fountain - Pond Pump Moter had to be turn "Off" when he
wanted to Listen to the Radios ;-(


DeWayne - So may be you could build a nice Flower Box
with a Trellis for a Window or two ) - iane ~ RHF
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/

Dear DeWayne,

Let me make a statement that you (and all here) should seriously
consider. NO shortwave radio with portable characteristics will match
the performance of a tabletop shortwave receiver, all other things
being equal.

While as RHF noted I am partial to the AOR AR7030 Plus (properly
configured) and, as I operate the set mostly via the RxWINGS
computer-control program and therefore have none of the complaints of
the person who does not like the AR7030's operating procedure (which
is, in fact, very easy to learn and use - I myself do operate the set
from its control panel every once in a while), the fact is that your
Drake R8 is very close in performance to the AOR and should be superior
in reception quality to the Eton E1, Grundig Satellit 800 (and yes I
own one of these too) or any other portable radio.

If you have a "weak point" (and I use this term carefully) in your
system, it is the antenna, good as the AOR LA-380 is according to all
reviews I have read. You might want to consider the Quantum Loop v.2
http://www.radiointel.com/review-qloop.htm for DXing on the MWs.
While I have no personal experience with it, Jay Allen is a respected
reviewer. If a Wellbrook Loop or an outside wire antenna is out of the
question for you, this might be an improvement over the AOR LA-380 on
MW. You would, of course, have to carefully research this one, though.

In short, I do not believe you need another radio; certainly, the Drake
R8 you have, assuming it is working properly, should be excellent for
MW DXing. The antenna is the key here - remember the antenna is always
more important than the radio.

As always, the above represents my opinions only. I hope they were of
some help to you.

Best,

Joe

P.S. Remember, I can handle things. I'm smart! Not like everybody says
.... like dumb ... I'm SMART and I want RESPECT!

JA - It's a Pakled World
http://www.eskimo.com/~bpentium/pakleds/

To the Pakled way of Thinking . . .
"We are Far From Home"
"We look for Things, Things We Need"
"He is Smart"
"It Is Broken - Can You Make It Go ?"
"You Think We Are Not Smart"
"We Like To Be Smart"
"You Are Smart - Make Us Strong"
"We Like Power"
"We Are Strong - You are Armed to the Teeth"
"We Are Strong Now - We have better Weapons"
"We Are A Force Now - We Will Have Respect"
"Attack - We Are Strong"
In conclusion : "They Are Smart - We Are Not Strong"

may the next generation enjoy strong signals ~ RHF