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write your own review of the Autek Research QF-1A.
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AB7JK
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Rating: 2/5
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Jan 8, 2007 10:23
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Smoke and Mirrors
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I owned a QF-1A a few months but then sold it. When first purchased used I was excited and thought it really made a difference but as time went on I felt less so. Problem is the notch setting used to knock out background noise also reduces the signal. If you peak the signal it increases the background noise. The result - a wash. At no time did the filter ever improve what I was listening to.
Then I began to realize I was spending way too much time fiddling with the knobs and not enough time transmitting/receiving so I stopped using it (I was trying to improve the quality of the signal which was not possible).
The filter is basically a curiosity not worth the cost.
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K9MQ
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 4, 2006 11:28
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Enhances Rigs with DSP
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've had my Autek QF-1A for about 5 years. I picked up for a good price at a hamfest originally to use with my Kenwood TS-830S. I primarily use the Peak function on it and it has really helped me bring out stations out of the noise. About a year ago, I finally upgraded to a Yaesu FT1000MP Field that has DSP filtering in it. I find that I use the Autek more than the DSP in the rig (though both do different things and help in different ways). Recently I have added a 1.8khz SSB filter and found that in some cases that the audio pitch is to high for me and I am able to adjust it a more suitable level with the Autek.
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WA4053SWL
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 16, 2006 15:30
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Amazing Filter
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I have two filter, the Autek QF-1A and TimeWave-9, and the two are fantastic, but the QF-1A no is DSP, is almost a DSP, as it removes the tones en the amateur bands is amazing, and as it eliminates QRM's.
I SWL and my general personal setting to SW and HAM bands is:
AC ON.
AUX.NOTCH FREQ = SW 1100 HZ AND HAM 11000 TO 9 O'CLOCK.
PEAK-NOTCH-LOWPASS-HP = LOWPASS.
SELECTIVITY = AMONG "LP"
FREQUENCY = 2500 HZ TO 9 O'CLOCK [TO AVOID QRM]
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AF8X
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Rating: 4/5
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Dec 26, 2005 11:14
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Very good
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I previously owned the QF-1A and don't remember why I got rid of it. I guess because of the newer technology (DSP) But just bought another one. The only reason I didn't rate it as a 5 is because it is powered by 120vac. I converted mine to 12vdc so that I could use it portable. I am very pleased with its performance.
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K5YY
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 23, 2005 21:25
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great accessory
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Have used one of these for a long time and like about as well as my Timewave 59+! Does things differently but gets the job done if you are willing to read the instructions and understand what the controls mean.. This is not a "plug and play" device, you gotta know about LP and HP filtering and notch function, etc... It does a GREAT job of coping with QRM of all kinds and for an average used price of about $75, much less than the DSP units out there..
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AB7JK
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 23, 2005 19:04
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Perfect solution
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I bought this filter to use with an FT-747GX for SW and MW DX. Now my radio sounds like one of those fancy-schmancy $1200 receivers. It allows peak, notch, high pass, low pass and all permutations. I find it works best fed to quality computer speakers with headphones. I tested it once with a barely audible CW signal, found the right settings and the signal popped out and I had to pull the headphones off to save my hearing. I owned a few DSP rigs a few years ago (IC-718, R75), but their audio quality was inferior compared to the Autek QF-1A. A top notch piece of equipment I can recommend to anyone to improve receiver performance.
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WA2JJH
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Rating: 5/5
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May 4, 2004 18:15
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A RX improvement bargain
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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This is handy for any radio. I first tried it on my Drake TR-7. Love the radio. However the TR-7 does not have notch and the PBT is not as good as the twin dual slope pbt on my Kenwood TS-850.
This jewel makes up for that. The notch is sharp. The large control makes it essy to use.
I use either the low pass or high pass with the drakes PBT to emulate the PBT on the TS-850.
I can get rid of QRM from both sides of the passband.
You must get as good as loud speaker in your rig. There is a learning curve to get the best results out of it. I have also found to turn the unit off while tuning my vfo. If you do not turn off the autek to bypass, SSB tuning becomes difficult.
So tune in the weak station, and peak him out of the mix, or notch out QRM.
For $40 used on ebay, you cannot go wrong!
If you like to build your own direct conversion receivers, the autek will save on much building.
A local oscillator/mixer, the autek becomes the last stage that will make your own designs sound like an off the shelf RX.
The fact that IT IS NOT DSP does not mean anything. It is on par with audio DSP's.
A nifty hamburger helper for cheap RX's too!
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K4JQL
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 2, 2004 16:52
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Very effective filter
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've owned one for over 18 years. It has a full time Notch filter and a selectable second filter, (High Pass, Low Pass, Notch or Peak). I wouldn't part with mine. Pulls out the weak cw signals and it works very effectively on voice.
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KB4ZYJ
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 24, 2003 04:31
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It Works
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Looking For another Filter Like The Autek QF-1A Is There Anyone Out Here Who Wants To Part With It I Have A Friend That Needs One Real Bad Of The Noise Level He Has At His QTH You Can Email Him At dechols@cfl.rr.com Thanks KB4ZYJ
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AK2A
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 24, 2003 20:42
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Cost effective
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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On CW,Ive compared this unit to 2 other analog and no less than 5 of the most popular dsp (including the most expensive) They all help but I like the QF1a the best.Im rigging up a relay switching arrangement to try to find out what speaker/rig/filter arrangement is best for weak-signal cw work.Will let the gang know what I come up with. It is also possible to use the QF1A in PARALLEL with another filter. I like the Idiom Press scaf-based low pass filter. gives the bi-noural cw feel much more than the all-in-one-box implementation. Just try to give your filters a good sounding, efficient speaker, eg. a 40 watt alarm horn. Be creative and experiment
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