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1-4 of 4 messages
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Best AM ricebox transceiver
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by KB9WIS on November 1, 2004
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Can anyone tell me which transceivers have really great TX audio on AM? I'm looking for a transceiver that may be able to sound as nice as a Johnson Ranger Boatanchor.
Any suggestions/comments?
Any input would be appreciated,
Kb9wis
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RE: Best AM ricebox transceiver
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by WB2WIK on November 2, 2004
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Currently, all the "high end" (large home station type) transceivers have excellent sounding AM available. A slightly older rig that sounds phenomenal, as far as I'm concerned, is the Kenwood TS-850S, adjusted to 25W carrier power output.
Listening to it in a second receiver, and also looking at its output waveform on an oscilloscope, the TS-850S sounds *and* "looks" far better than any Johnson Ranger I've ever seen. It achieves 100% modulation (25W carrier, 100W PEP output power, closing the envelope on negative cycles right down to a dot) with such low distortion I can't hear any. Its fidelity is very, very good and there aren't any detectible artifacts from the PLL or anything else.
Every time I've checked into the "Collins AM net" the comments I get are, "Great sounding AM," and people have often asked how I've modified the boat anchor to sound so good. I eventually 'fessed up and told them it was a Kenwood, not a boat anchor, and I didn't have to do anything except adjust the carrier power and mike gain.
The TS-870S sounds the same. But then, I've also used FT-1000MPs and IC-756PROIIs that work about as well on AM, too. One of the cool advantages of the old TS-850S is that it has factory-stock selectable IF filters with 12 kHz and 6 kHz bandwidth, so for it to become an "AM" rig is only a matter of pushing the mode button and adjusting carrier and mike gain levels.
I have a DX100 in the garage that I'd like to work on to make it sound as good as the Kenwood, and maybe one day this will happen. As it is, it's "stock" and isn't nearly as crisp or well modulated as the TS-850S.
WB2WIK/6
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RE: Best AM ricebox transceiver
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by WB1AEX on November 14, 2004
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The Yaseau FT 102 could win the prize for having the most outstanding out-of-the box audio on AM. If you are comfortable with a soldering iron, it is not a big deal to go through the low level audio stages and increase the coupling cap values and lighten up on the bypass cap values to end up with very clean, unrestricted audio response. Even in stock form it will sound very natural with an electret mic. Keep the three 6146 finals loaded very lightly (20-30 watts out), resist the urge to hit the audio too hard, and you won't be disappointed. I'd be happy to arrange a schedule with you to hear one.
73,
Rob, WB1AEX
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RE: Best AM ricebox transceiver
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by KZ1X on November 16, 2004
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Steve WB2WIK is correct about the modern, advanced radios. I have looked into this extensively and played a fair bit in my shop to see what was going on. After all, not long ago, ham rigs with "AM" sounded pretty crummy, and some radios I have now, like my IC706mk2g, doesn't sound all that great on AM despite it being a newer model.
The reason some modern, higher-end rigs sound good on AM? Their carrier waveforms are digitally generated.
Rigs like the 756 have oodles of DSP power available on TX to do that job. It's the same reason their SSB signals sound nice and have great carrier and alternate-sideband suppression.
Have a look (as I have) on a spectrum analyzer and you too will be convinced. Take one of the rigs mentioned, operate it at a sensible carrier level, then drive a good amplifier if you need the boost.
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