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write your own review of the Autek Research QF-1A.
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K4JPN
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 19, 2011 10:49
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Great Product
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I picked up one at a hamfest 25 years ago, used it primarly with my HW-8. Anyone who has owned a HW-8 knows the filters leave a lot to be desired. The Autek QF-1A with the HW-8 made a great combination. I could pull signals through the QRM and noise with ease. After many years of use the power/bypass switch failed, so I rewired in a new switch and that is the only problem I have ever had with it.
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N4ZAW
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 19, 2011 07:07
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The Sleeper Has Awakened!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I bought mine at the local hamfest for 10 bucks THREE YEARS AGO and never bothered to repair it. Well, it functioned, but had a nasty ac ground fault issue.I bought it because remembered the filtering features on a Kenwood TS-850 I used to own, and my twin 840 Yaesus lack any sort of tunable filtering (notch and all that). What a sweet rig that 850 was! Sorry for the digress.....
Anyhoo, I ripped the AC supply components out of it, slapped a 1/8" input n output jack on it, a pilot lamp to know when it was on, and plugged it in. FLABBERGASTING!! BLOWN-AWAY!! OFF n ON = NIGHT n DAY!! I still haven't mastered it's proper usage yet, but trust me -- I'll sure take the time to learn how to "play" it! I also acquired a QF-1 (an earlier version of the QF-1A), and plan to modify it as i did the QF-1A, and place it into service on my low bands-tuned FT-840.
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AE5J
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 18, 2011 10:22
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Another recommendation
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I thought I might have to retire my trusted Autek QF-1A after many years of faithful service. Why? Because I bought a new rig. I thought the Yaesu FT-450D with all the fancy bells and whistles filtering-wise might make the Autek redundant. Well, I was wrong.
I discovered, to my delight, that the Autek makes a great receiver even better. I set the 450D up for optimum receive with the amazing DSP filters and then kick in the Autek.
The results are even more dramatic than with previous rigs. Weak signal CW in very heavy background noise is now brought out to almost code oscillator quality. Perfectly readable with no noise. Amazing!
I will say this. If I was a manufacturer of radios, I would find out what makes the Autek so good and incorporate that circuitry internally into the audio stream of my rig. I think once folks got a chance to operate it, they would want nothing else. If you can find a good Autek (even the QF-1 works well) - BUY IT. You won't regreat it.
73 - Pete
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K8WV
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 11, 2008 19:26
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Every station should have one
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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In simple terms, this is a "must have." Especially if you operate CW.
The QF-1A is a class product. I use a Drake R4B, a well filtered Icom 740 and R70, all through a Timewave DSP9. The QF-1A is used ahead of the DSP9. Properly used the QF-1A improves copy on each of them on CW and SSB. The "peak" function is especially effective on CW.
Crystal, LC, DSP and audio filters all have their strengths, used carefully together the results can be amazing.
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KA9HJZ
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 24, 2007 17:21
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better than dsp
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I sold my QF-1A on Ebay and the guy sent it back, said it didnt work, so i tested it and it worked fine, better than my DSP for CW. So I decided to keep it,it magnifies the weaker signals and its the best auxilliary filtering system for CW, although i havn't tried the other new aux. filters, for the price you can't beat it but make sure you get the instructions with it.
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AA5TE
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 8, 2007 09:54
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Most bang for the buck
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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This thing will pull signals out of thin air! It can take a very weak CW signal from almost no copy, say a 119, to near 519 while eliminating a LOT of noise, which makes the strength seem a lot stronger - in other words, it can make a 119 seem like a 559 at times (not all the time, but it almost always makes every signal, SSB or CW, a great deal more readable and enjoyable to listen to). Worth every penny I spent on it.
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W2RDD
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 8, 2007 01:08
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Great add-on to any transceiver
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've had one for many years. At first to add filtering to a Kenwood TS-520S lacking an in-board cw filter. Now use it with all contemporary rigs, even with DSP, etc installed. I would higly recommend it as it goes beyond the filtering available in today's solid state rigs. It has pulled signals out of the noise that were unreadable using the filtering of my current transceivers.
A QRP operator, I appreciate that as I prefer working other QRPers whenever possible.
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N3YZ
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Rating: 5/5
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May 7, 2007 11:44
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Excellent Even With New Rigs
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I use the QF1A with a new Yaesu FT-857D. Purchased on eBay. Runs rings around the installed DSP. Excellent audio amp qualities. When adjusted well, can pull VERY weak CW from the mud. Incredible. Worth every penny.
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W8BBM
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 18, 2007 10:04
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Very Worthwhile
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have owned and used mine for about 10 years and found the performance outstanding. They are VERY easy to use and get used to. I actully prefer using my QF-1A in many cases over the IF filters I have in the main rig. Yes, it is that good! Shame they are still not made today. If you find one, buy it because it will be a great addition to ANY rig combination you may have.
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AE5J
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 16, 2007 08:31
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25 years of excellence
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have used an Autek off and on for almost 25 years so I have a bit of experience with it. After selling my original QF-1 in a fit of swapfest madness, I finally found a QF-1A in perfect condition and gladly parted with $25.00 for it.
I work mainly QRP CW and I have to say that the Autek is really outstanding at bringing very weak signals up out of the noise. As others have said it is the difference between unreadable and very good copy.
It does take some patience finding the exact combination of filtering that works for your ears, but once found it is like nothing else I have ever used. And when you really think about it, what real difference does it make what kind of filtering you use as long as your "ultimate digital filter" (your brain) gets a good signal.
I can't afford the mega-dollar transcievers with ultra-complex DSP so I'll just keep pulling them out of the noise with the little Autek.
Great product highly recommended. 73 all,
Pete AE5J
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