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Author Topic: Which radio...  (Read 1207 times)

PU2OZT

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Which radio...
« on: November 30, 2019, 07:28:25 AM »

...would you die for?
https://www.youtube.com/user/jonglei/videos
Not thousands visualizations of Fernando's, ain't weird.

Oliver
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KC6RCM

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Re: Which radio...
« Reply #1 on: November 30, 2019, 08:47:20 AM »

I enjoy listening to longwave and the Ten-Tec RX-340 works well for that.
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ALPARD

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Re: Which radio...
« Reply #2 on: November 30, 2019, 09:37:22 AM »

Just added an old ICOM R-71E into my listening room, and am delighted with its performance.

I have been drooling over R-71E many year ago, but they were too pricy. Now it is really affordable at used market, and still works 1st class.  It reminds me of my NRD 525 when I had it about 15 year ago, and traded it for something else.  I regretted parting with the NRD 525 at the time sorely, but  this R-71E feels par on the performance and handling.
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K7LZR

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Re: Which radio...
« Reply #3 on: November 30, 2019, 10:44:31 AM »

Nowadays, most high end radios don't wow me anymore because they - to me anyway - don't offer any more features or performance than the average mid dollar SDR receiver/computer combo. The SDRPlay RSP1A for example, using most any of the available software packages will offer a very good panaromic display, waterfall display, infinitely adjustable brick wall IF filtering, demodulation of most all modes, virtually unlimited amounts of memory channels, etc. etc. and very good raw performance to boot.

I come from the era when Watkins-Johnson, high end Collins, etc. were the dream rigs. And the features mentioned above were just dreams for most and very pricey for others. But now, it isn't necessary to spend gobs of cash for performance, reliability, and useful perks and features.

So to answer your question, I guess that my answer would be none, really. They're all good :)   
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VK2NZA

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Re: Which radio...
« Reply #4 on: November 30, 2019, 01:33:14 PM »

Alpard,  I would concur regarding your liking for the Icom R-71 E/A, I purchased one new in 1982 and it was with me until just recently when i sold it to an avid young SWL'er.
The R-71A is a surprisingly good rig and fitted with the appropriate filters is hard to beat, sensitive , selective , superb SSB and although some have critiqued the AM sound I found it satisfactory having fitted the 6khz filter and the FL-44A SSB filter.
I also owned a JRC NRD 535 and would agree the performance to be similar, the 535 was ergonomically better however nothing really between the two in usage.
One advantage to the JRC is a non volitile CPU  compared to the R-71A requiring a battery to maintain.
I have in my collection an IC 761 and IC-765  that are direct decendants of the R-71A although non volitile CPU's.
The IC-761 is just a fully optioned IC 751a with all the best filters and a larger foot print.
The IC-765 has a superior DDS synthesiser with 10 hz resolution vs the R-71A /IC 761's PLL synthesiser with 1 khz resolution
Both of these rigs are superlative analog rigs and make for easy reception with excellent build quality and great ergonomics and compensate well for the sale of my R-71A.
   Ross
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ALPARD

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Re: Which radio...
« Reply #5 on: November 30, 2019, 02:48:33 PM »

Hello Ross

I am enjoying the R71E recently and listening to more of the SW broadcast programs now :)
I also have an IC-751A transceiver,  similar to R71E.  I decided to buy the R71E after getting the IC751A recently. The IC751A suffered damage during courier transit, and there is no CW, AM output, but SSb is fine.  The IC751A reception quality impressed me, and drove me to look for an R71E.

The SSB reception is best I have experienced from HF radios, and AM reception is also excellent when WIDE filter is selected.

The IC751A has new RAM board so it will keep on working, but R71E I am not sure, I haven't even opened it to look inside because everything is working perfect.

I think and hope it must have the new RAM board fitted, otherwise, it would have gone non functional already.  I have saved a few my favourite freq. into the memory bank of the R71E, and it is all working OK.  If ever, it still has the old volatile RAM board, then replacing it should be easy job and the cost of the board is now about $30 USD from eBay.

I was listening to the R71E tonight, it just sounded like my old NRD525. In fact I prefer this R71E for the looks and the sturdier build and the smooth audio.

My next shopping list is a good SDR, and will look for SDRPlay RSP1A.   I thought I left the SWL hobby many year ago, but I am still on it.  Just took a break, and returned I feel :)

Thanks for sharing your experience with the R71E/A and NRD535.

73 de Al.
« Last Edit: November 30, 2019, 02:50:59 PM by ALPARD »
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N8YX

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Re: Which radio...
« Reply #6 on: December 03, 2019, 08:59:10 AM »

I enjoy listening to longwave and the Ten-Tec RX-340 works well for that.
Longwave:

ITT Mackay Marine 303AR, 3031A or 3041 (I'm on the hunt for an example of the latter and own one each of the former).

Shortwave:

Speaking in terms of receivers, a toss-up between the Icom R-70/R-71A and the Drake R7. I have mine paired with their matching transceivers and peripherals when the gear is in the lineup.

An honorable mention goes to the Kenwood R-820. Though it isn't general coverage, I've modded all three of mine for extra bands (via their "Aux" bandswitch spot) and extended SWBC converter coverage range. Every now and then - when I get bored with the various "full-auto" rig/peripheral combos I have - I'll set the TS-820S/R-820/SP-820/SM-220 ensembles up and have a little hybrid fun.
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UTESWL

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Re: Which radio...
« Reply #7 on: December 06, 2019, 01:08:38 PM »

Nowadays, most high end radios don't wow me anymore because they - to me anyway - don't offer any more features or performance than the average mid dollar SDR receiver/computer combo. The SDRPlay RSP1A for example, using most any of the available software packages will offer a very good panaromic display, waterfall display, infinitely adjustable brick wall IF filtering, demodulation of most all modes, virtually unlimited amounts of memory channels, etc. etc. and very good raw performance to boot.
   

Well said. Anyone buying an expensive receiver for SWLing today either is doing it out of nostalgia or simply doesn't know that mid range SDR's have made those expensive items obsolete.
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HFCRUSR

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Re: Which radio...
« Reply #8 on: December 07, 2019, 10:11:59 AM »

Nowadays, most high end radios don't wow me anymore because they - to me anyway - don't offer any more features or performance than the average mid dollar SDR receiver/computer combo. The SDRPlay RSP1A for example, using most any of the available software packages will offer a very good panaromic display, waterfall display, infinitely adjustable brick wall IF filtering, demodulation of most all modes, virtually unlimited amounts of memory channels, etc. etc. and very good raw performance to boot.
   

Well said. Anyone buying an expensive receiver for SWLing today either is doing it out of nostalgia or simply doesn't know that mid range SDR's have made those expensive items obsolete.
Well then color this listening station and its operator obsolete-I'll take that as a compliment.
When my beloved obsolete R71A crapped out on me in August of 2018 I ran out to HRO and bought the R8600 to take its place at the desk because I like having a real rig at my fingertips. Running that one along with the obsolete SX-88, the obsolete R75 and the way-obsolete DX-160, I'm having a hell of a lot of obsolete fun here in obsoleteville :o
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Not a ham, but an avid hobbyist in HF world. All things, short of transmit happen in this shack.

ALPARD

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Re: Which radio...
« Reply #9 on: December 07, 2019, 11:29:27 AM »

Yeah, I like the real rigs on my finger tip, rather than some software device on PC.

My PCs are also doing some other business stuff usually. It will mean getting another PC for SDR, and it gets more expensive to actually get up and running too.

Plus, if want to rely on the software for SWL or Ham Radio, then why not just go for the Apps. on the smart phones or iPads? It is totally free and they do the same job.

SWL and Ham Radio is not about getting grips with the modern techs. or for the marvels of convenience and practicality or lots of buttons and the Menus.  But rather experiencing the classic technology of communication as they used to in the early Golden era of our history.

SWL and Ham Radio is obsolete classic hobby by nature anyway :), or keeping with the tradition, as our bygone and senior SWLs and Hams used to do during the golden times of our culture i.e. the 1960s and 1970s. :)

There got to be element of challenge, simplicity and foundation in this hobby, or the true pleasure is hollow and empty lost in the thin air.  Software is now too omnipresent and convenient for anyone to feel any degree of novelty or fun from it.
« Last Edit: December 07, 2019, 11:43:55 AM by ALPARD »
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ALPARD

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Re: Which radio...
« Reply #10 on: December 07, 2019, 11:54:53 AM »

Another factor is that now these old classic radios cost less than a piece of new 2m collinear antennas in the 2nd hand used market, so that if one can shop around wisely for good used old radios, then it is good time to get the full station set up for less than cost of a used laptop.
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UTESWL

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Re: Which radio...
« Reply #11 on: December 07, 2019, 09:23:51 PM »

Another factor is that now these old classic radios cost less than a piece of new 2m collinear antennas in the 2nd hand used market, so that if one can shop around wisely for good used old radios, then it is good time to get the full station set up for less than cost of a used laptop.

I run my SDRPlay RSP1a SDR on an HP Envy 15 nr 4030 laptop I picked up on eBay for $60. For less than $250  I got a setup (laptop + SDR) that rivals "real(old)radios". I'm having a lot of fun picking out utility signals to listen to and decode.

Best thing is I can simultaneously have 8 different receivers outputting to various decoding apps while I listen to USB voice.

This morning I simultaneously decoded High Frequency Data Link (HFDL) signals from airlines communicating with ground stations in Hat Yai Thailand, South Korea, Guam, Alaska, San Francisco, Panama and New York and automatically plotted their planes positions on a world map while also listening to USB voice communications from planes and ground stations around the Pacific (Tokyo Radio, Manilla Radio, Auckland Radio, San Francisco Radio).

Try that on your R71a. I think you'd need like 9 of them to do what I did. How much would that cost again?

I can do with one SDR and one old obsolete (2012) laptop what you guys would need a shack full of radios to do, if they could do it all.
« Last Edit: December 07, 2019, 09:39:36 PM by UTESWL »
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ALPARD

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Re: Which radio...
« Reply #12 on: December 08, 2019, 02:44:02 AM »

Yup, I am not saying SDRs are bad. They are good in some respect, and there are demands for them too I suppose.

But, it depends what one is up to. I mean, to start with, I don't listen to Utils on SW, and I never run more than one radio at one time. So running so many different bands and freq, even with one SDR is not for me.  I mostly listen to the SW broadcasting stations and the Amateur Ham bands.  I don't need the fancy waterfall displays on my PC screen for that.

Also I like being independent from Software updates and bug fixes for the SDRs.  i had enough pain and trouble doing the updates when I was using the dreaded WINDOWS 3, 4,7, and 10 in the past.  They slows your PC down, and always something didn't work after the updates.  I used to feel my PCs were under the ransom of the updates.

And I like the idea, if something goes wrong with my radio, I would open it up, and having a good look at it trying to fix or repair it myself.  I am currently working on repairing and restoring 3-4 old radios.

That is not possible with SDRs.  It is a black box with tiny PCB with tiny SMDs driven by the software, which is also blackbox.  There is no option for mods, or repairs if needed. You are dictated by  the SDR company's control. All you are allowed to do is to set it up, watch the waterfall display of the spectrum, and listen to it, and no more.  But you could do it on the Apps. I don't think you even need to attach the antenna, but just use your broad band internet connection, and hear all the Utils and everything on the AIR, if wanted to, all for FREE of charge.

So why did you even pay 50$ for a SDR and attach HF or VHF/UHF antenna to it, and hook it up on your PC?

 I think it is still useful for the people who don't want fuss with mods, and repairs, and just get on with listening the band.  And I am planning to get one eventually when I see a good deal on it.

It is just different interests, not necessarily one is better than the other.  For me, tuning around without any knowledge what I will listen today on the band, improving the set by replacing the parts, and trying repairing it by myself when they go wrong, and the way they sound mellow analogue rather than dry hard digital, and the way the set looks, ... they are all part of the fun :)

So, it is not that simple and it is not correct to judge, that I bought the R71E just purely for nostalgic reason only.
« Last Edit: December 08, 2019, 03:02:33 AM by ALPARD »
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HFCRUSR

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Re: Which radio...
« Reply #13 on: December 08, 2019, 12:32:51 PM »

Another factor is that now these old classic radios cost less than a piece of new 2m collinear antennas in the 2nd hand used market, so that if one can shop around wisely for good used old radios, then it is good time to get the full station set up for less than cost of a used laptop.

I run my SDRPlay RSP1a SDR on an HP Envy 15 nr 4030 laptop I picked up on eBay for $60. For less than $250  I got a setup (laptop + SDR) that rivals "real(old)radios". I'm having a lot of fun picking out utility signals to listen to and decode.

Best thing is I can simultaneously have 8 different receivers outputting to various decoding apps while I listen to USB voice.

This morning I simultaneously decoded High Frequency Data Link (HFDL) signals from airlines communicating with ground stations in Hat Yai Thailand, South Korea, Guam, Alaska, San Francisco, Panama and New York and automatically plotted their planes positions on a world map while also listening to USB voice communications from planes and ground stations around the Pacific (Tokyo Radio, Manilla Radio, Auckland Radio, San Francisco Radio).

Try that on your R71a. I think you'd need like 9 of them to do what I did. How much would that cost again?

I can do with one SDR and one old obsolete (2012) laptop what you guys would need a shack full of radios to do, if they could do it all.
That's pretty cool especially since you've got your ute hobby pretty damn covered. But I need some education on something-when you say you can run 8 receivers at the same time, are those all your receivers or are you tapping receivers from other people? Also, what antenna(s) do you run for your SDR?
I admit I know zero about the SDR world.
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Not a ham, but an avid hobbyist in HF world. All things, short of transmit happen in this shack.

ALPARD

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Re: Which radio...
« Reply #14 on: December 09, 2019, 04:21:08 PM »

There seem to be many WEB SDR sites on the Internet, to which you can link with your Internet Browser of PC, and listen to all the air waves on the full spectrum for FREE.

I browsed the SDR sites tonight with my Mac PC,  did some HF (80m and 160m band) listening, and indeed the reception signal and quality of the audio was very good.

But I still like tuning around my old ICOMs, Yaesus and Kenwoods. :)
« Last Edit: December 09, 2019, 04:32:21 PM by ALPARD »
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