Pages: [1] 2   Go Down

Author Topic: What has been your most useful accessory for improving your reception?  (Read 944 times)

VK2NZA

  • Member
  • Posts: 434

Thought I might start a thread in regard to most useful accessory items now or historically for improved receiver reception.

Historically  mine was the purchase of a Heathkit GD-125 Q' Multiplier.
This $15.00 (at the time 1970 ish) allowed my Realistic DX -150 communications receiver purchased with my paper run, lawn mowing income some degree of selectivity, something it lacked with its barn door IF width!
The GD-125 came as a kit like most heath items and was my first major electronics assembly.
I managed to assemble it correctly however had some assistance from a local Elmer to adjust the internal slugs for correct alignment and tap into the 455 khz IF on my receiver.
It worked surprisingly well and through the ancient art of regeneration via a broad and narrow setting was capable of razor sharp selectivity, it also had a notch circuit that worked quite well.
I loved the added features and with lots of knob twisting was able to receive QSL's form well over 70 SW stations worldwide.

In more recent times my favorite receive accessory has been a number of BHI AF DSP  filters, some with built in speaker as in my Neim NES 10 -2 Mk3 mobile DSP speaker, or my BHI Desktop DSP speaker but my favorite is my NEIM 1031 desktop inline DSP module.
These units can improve signal intelligibility and reduce background noise markedly and although I have several IF DSP transceivers, find that these units assist readability of weak or noisy signals even when using the IF DSP via my eg Icom SP20 or Yaesu SP- 5  filter speakers.

I wouldl be interested to hear other SWL'ers experiences with accessory items.
Logged

RENTON481

  • Member
  • Posts: 330
RE: What has been your most useful accessory for improving your reception?
« Reply #1 on: October 15, 2019, 06:46:25 PM »

A good antenna, obviously. When I had a 100 ft. outdoor antenna, it really helped. Even using the proximity effect, it worked well.

I also had a Realistic DX radio, the DX-160. It had sharp selectivity, but with long antennas it would overload, and a homemade antenna tuner worked will to reduce images.
Logged

W7XTV

  • Member
  • Posts: 1269
RE: What has been your most useful accessory for improving your reception?
« Reply #2 on: October 15, 2019, 08:20:55 PM »

A good antenna, obviously. When I had a 100 ft. outdoor antenna, it really helped. Even using the proximity effect, it worked well.

I also had a Realistic DX radio, the DX-160. It had sharp selectivity, but with long antennas it would overload, and a homemade antenna tuner worked will to reduce images.

The external tuner acts like a very basic preselector, as well as an antenna matcher.  So does the built-in "antenna trimmer" control that comes with the radio.  With wire antennas, I'm not sure you really need both.

But with the DX-160's overload problems, an attenuator between the antenna and receiver is necessary.  Even an uncalibrated 500 ohm pot connected as a voltage divider, similar to what was on some old regenerative receivers, would help.  I used one on my cheap Hallicrafters S-120A receiver 50 years ago, and it helped immensely, not only with shortwave overload, but with a local FM station that spattered every 500 kHz or so above 10 MHz.
Logged
He speaks fluent PSK31, in FT8...  One QSO with him earns you 5BDXCC...  His Wouff Hong has two Wouffs... Hiram Percy Maxim called HIM "The Old Man..."  He is... The Most Interesting Ham In The World!

N8YX

  • Member
  • Posts: 2449
RE: What has been your most useful accessory for improving your reception?
« Reply #3 on: October 16, 2019, 09:31:44 AM »

The single most useful thing that's improved my reception was the purchase of a good receiver.

All the antennas in the world aren't going to help dig out the weak ones if your radio drifts, suffers from poor image rejection, a high internal noise floor and lacks proper interference-fighting features. This was and is especially true if you're attempting to receive signals that require a BFO to demodulate.
Logged

VK2NZA

  • Member
  • Posts: 434
RE: What has been your most useful accessory for improving your reception?
« Reply #4 on: October 16, 2019, 05:59:48 PM »

Hi N8YX,WW7KE and Renton.
 There can be no doubt the performance of modern recivers surpass many of the past offerings for the price, excluding say a R-390A in good alignment, Racal RA-17, even the Drake R4's and SW-4A .
The DX-150 was my first comms receiver and I had a lot of fun with it, its quite surprising with a good antenna and prudent use of the RF gain what they were capable of.
Sadly mine was pretty deaf above 20 mhz and was subject to 'birdies" but for the price their was little else that came close.
Judicious use of the RF gain generally controlled overload via a large antenna
The RF gain was actually a capable RF attenuator as it effects both the IF and the RF front end as others have noted, the rig had a genuine product detector for SSB and it works well.

A friend who lived down the road from me had an RME -4350 (amateur band only) but in terms of build and performance compared with the DX-150 it was far superior, great selectivity, no spurious responses, and velvet smooth polished alloy tuning knob.
I was determined to step up and I did with a Racal ex military rig, it was an unusual model and used by the Australian miltary, can't remember the model no however it had 5 very tight selectivity options , an accurate analogue dial and hermatically sealed!

An Icom R-71A purchased in 1982 became one of my favorite rigs of all time, excellent selectivity, great SSB, PBT and super accurate readout.(10Hz) I fitted it out with the AM filter, the FL-44A SSB filter and a DC 13.8 volt kit, this led to obtaining over the years my two favorite listening rigs , an Icom IC-761 and an IC 765, very similar in performance to the R71a with extra's, the sensitivity and sound of these is excellent and if required have very clean for (12 volt) finals.

In regard to listening antennas I have a liking for large loops, i find they can be a couple of DB quieter than a dipole or long wire and provide a good signal as well as being balanced for transmitting.

Most rigs improve with an external speaker and I have several Icom/Yaesu/kenwood Comms speakers however for AM shortwave as others note a less expensive bookshelf speaker can provide a smoother fuller sound.

Logged

N8FVJ

  • Member
  • Posts: 1270
RE: What has been your most useful accessory for improving your reception?
« Reply #5 on: October 17, 2019, 02:24:16 AM »

Loop antenna for US AM broadcast band. Better than a 130 foot long wire antenna.
Logged

N8YX

  • Member
  • Posts: 2449
RE: What has been your most useful accessory for improving your reception?
« Reply #6 on: October 17, 2019, 10:00:09 AM »

An Icom R-71A purchased in 1982 became one of my favorite rigs of all time, excellent selectivity, great SSB, PBT and super accurate readout.(10Hz) I fitted it out with the AM filter, the FL-44A SSB filter and a DC 13.8 volt kit, this led to obtaining over the years my two favorite listening rigs , an Icom IC-761 and an IC 765, very similar in performance to the R71a with extra's, the sensitivity and sound of these is excellent and if required have very clean for (12 volt) finals.
I have three, plus five fairly modified R-7000s and a pair of IC-751As plus peripherals. Bringing up the rear is an IC-745/R-70 pair.

Currently, three of the R-7000s are in the lineup. The R-71As and two of the R-7000s are winter-refurb projects (the usual nonsense with VCO caps, BBRAM and at least one bad '71A front end.) I periodically cycle the Icom gear in and out of my station, but it definitely isn't for sale.  ;)
Logged

VK2NZA

  • Member
  • Posts: 434
RE: What has been your most useful accessory for improving your reception?
« Reply #7 on: October 17, 2019, 06:46:02 PM »

N8YX, the R-71A, and IC 751A/761/765 are all of a similar ilk, and perform extremely well when in good alignment, IMHO so many are purchasing the latest "screen spectacular' SDR's and they are very good however in real useage the benefits aren't that much over the best of the analogs.
I'm sure that will be argued, however the clarity of sound from these earlier classics is superb lacking the digital artifacts of DSP/SDR's.
I can switch multiple rigs to multiple antennas and my latest DSP rigs are not hearing anything my IC 761/765 can hear, I do have a Yaesu FT-1000D and its sound is very crisp for an analog but not so warm in sound on AM as the discussed Icom classics although my pair of IC-7410's comes very close.

The only problem I had with my R-71A in the 35 years I owned it was a loss of sensitivity under 7 mhz, and my local guru trouble shot it and had it up and working very quickly.
 I did fit a PIEXX Ram replacement board to alleviate losing RAMM due to a flat battery, and ran the unit from an external DC source to reduce internal heat.
I regret selling my R-71A however it went to a good home!
Logged

WB8VLC

  • Member
  • Posts: 1155
RE: What has been your most useful accessory for improving your reception?
« Reply #8 on: October 18, 2019, 04:52:41 PM »

Shutting my station down and having a Guinness or two has been the most satisfying accessory for me so far.


Hey I live in the  city so there's not much that works to get rid of crud.

Fortunately for me my worst noise is limited to the upper SSB end of 17 and 20 meters, the other bands are not that bad for me but when I'm chasing a new one on 17 or 20 ssb and the dx isn't on the CW end of these bands then the Guinness is my preferred option.
Logged

VK2NZA

  • Member
  • Posts: 434
RE: What has been your most useful accessory for improving your reception?
« Reply #9 on: October 19, 2019, 11:31:34 PM »

WB8VLC, I hear you!
No doubt so much RFI around now and so much less to hear!
I count my blessings living in a remote rural location with lotsa space for antennas.

happily down a Guinness or two also, what ever cranks yer tractor!
Logged

UTESWL

  • Member
  • Posts: 15
RE: What has been your most useful accessory for improving your reception?
« Reply #10 on: October 20, 2019, 07:17:00 AM »

The W6LVP Magnetic Loop antenna. It has been phenomenal with my SDRPlay RSP1a SDR. You can read my review of it here: https://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/13215
Logged

KQ4O

  • Member
  • Posts: 35
Re: What has been your most useful accessory for improving your reception?
« Reply #11 on: October 25, 2019, 03:26:20 PM »

There have been four things that noticably improved my SWLing and reception over the years (or should I say decades).

First is a really good antenna. I bought a used RF Systems T2FD in the late 1990's and it made life so much better!  It really does keep the noise out of the receiver. It made such a difference that I have two new ones still packaged just in case a storm takes out the first one. The T2FD may be a poor transmit antenna but for receive it's phenomenal!

Second is a high end receiver. Going from a Realistic DX-160 to a Drake R7...  Now, if it's not a top end consumer radio (or a professional premium receiver) I won't even consider it.

A good antenna splitter is great when I want to have multiple receivers going. I had an RF Systems SP-2 for my long wave loopstick feeding two receivers for comparison purposes.  Now I have an Elad ASA-15 which can feed five receivers from a quiet T2FD and use them all at the same time.

For improving listening enjoyment, the Sherwood SE-3 makes a world of difference. It holds lock like anything, better than most (if not all) that are built into the radios. Needed a mod to the R7 to use it but worth it.
Logged

VK8VWA

  • Posts: 1
    • HomeURL
Re: What has been your most useful accessory for improving your reception?
« Reply #12 on: December 14, 2019, 08:02:16 PM »

I have a BHI NEIM 1031 Noise eliminating module which I run on my JRC NRD 515.  It is great for pulling signals out of the noise.  I am in an urban environment the BHI has improved things a great deal.  I also use a Wellbrook ALA 1530 LNPro loop antenna which is much quieter than my wire antennas and works tremendously well on the MW broadcast band and below.  I also enjoy the multitude of settings one can adjust with SDR's which can be most useful for hearing difficult DX.
Logged

TURBO68

  • Posts: 53
    • HomeURL
Re: What has been your most useful accessory for improving your reception?
« Reply #13 on: December 15, 2019, 05:43:09 AM »

Main intrest for me is monitoring hf aircraft only in august this year i bought the W6LVP loop  its an excellent antenna for my hf receivers there hooked up to an Elad ASA-16  6 way active multicoupler last friday received my 2nd W6LVP loop do have other hf antennas which also include 2 wellbrook loops...

Regards Lino..
Logged

KC6RWI

  • Member
  • Posts: 901
Re: What has been your most useful accessory for improving your reception?
« Reply #14 on: December 16, 2019, 07:56:22 AM »

Interesting, I've never had much luck with finding good busy HF aircraft frequencies, I am near a busy area, I am going to have to check a freq guide. On another sad note, you are near that missing mh350, the malaysian air craft. There are some interesting time lines of what was going on in regards to communication, pings,tracking and such, a mystery.
Logged
Pages: [1] 2   Go Up