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Reviews For: Idiom Press/Ham Supply SCAF-1

Category: Filters, Audio: (DSP and others)

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Review Summary For : Idiom Press/Ham Supply SCAF-1
Reviews: 93MSRP: 108.95 kit 148.95 assembled
Description:
The new SCAF-1 filter from Ham Supply/Idiom Press makes your radio listener friendly, whether you are an SSB or CW operator. Using a modern but little known technology called SCAF filtering, the SCAF-1 is an active audio low pass filter offering user control of the filter cut-off frequency, yielding a stunning 96dB per octave roll-off of signals above the cut off frequency, and no white noise. It is the perfect partner for your crystal or mechanical filters. And, unlike most audio filters, there is absolutely NO ringing.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.hamsupply.com/logikit-scaf-1-noise-filter/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00934.7
K4BXN Rating: 2008-11-20
Well, now. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Well, now this is a great addition to many stations. I have had one for years and used it with many rigs ... older ones (Omni C, Corsair II, Drake TR-7, etc.) newer ones (Orion, Omni VII). I have also used other outboard DSP units (by MFJ, RadioShack and Timewave). This SCAF-1 Audio Filter has its place and is an inexpensive way to improve the audio output of many rigs. I mostly operate CW.
73/Crit/K4BXN

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Earlier 5-star review posted by K4BXN on 2005-06-17

Have had the SCAF-1 for over a year. It is not a miracle worker but it definately helps my Omni C rig out in reducing unwanted noise ... QRM and band noise. I use it all the time and if it broke or was stolen would replace it promptly.
N0XEM Rating: 2008-11-20
Great working filter! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Read the reviews on this filter and thought I would try it on my Kenwood TS-2000. Am I glad I did! The 2000 does pretty good on it's own but when you put this in line the receive increases dramatically.

Now I'm able to put out very weak signals and hear them very well. Does a great good job rolling off interference several kHz away and completely does away with static crashes.

If you have a high end radio you will most likely not need one. But for me it works great with my TS-2000. Will remain in my shack for a long time to come.
SM5HUA Rating: 2008-05-17
Best audio filter there is! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Got my SCAF-1 a few months back and been testing it on lots of different rigs. On my 950SDX it isnt such a big deal but using it on say the TS870 or 850/DSP100, Astro 103BX - wow! I've had all audio filters there is, from the Datongs back in the 80'es to Timewave, the NIR's and really nothing beats the SCAF-1.

So if you want a truly good filter, go for it. This filter is so good and easy to use so it should really be built-into the rigs by default...

73s de Peter / SM5HUA
K7XV Rating: 2008-01-30
This thing works great! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is the best $90.00 I have ever spent. I bought it to use it with a Icom IC-718. Never mind buying the cw filter for the rig. This
SCAF-1 filter works better than the cw filter that I bought for the rig.You can only have your choice of one filter for this rig "CW or SSB". Skip both and get this filter. You will be glad you did. I downloaded the audio sample files on there web page before I ordered the filter. It works just as it does on there web page. If you own a rig with limited filtering
this SCAF-1 is a must have.
AA4XX Rating: 2007-12-01
A Valuable Tool Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
My new SCAF-1 proved its utility during the recent ARRL 160M CW Contest. I was immediately and completely impressed with the SCAF's ability to substantially reduce band noise and to provide discrimination against adjacent QRM. During the contest, stations were packed quite closely. By utilizing the IF BW and Passband tuning on my Argonaut II and then adjusting the SCAF's front panel control, the bone crushing signals on Top Band were readily tamed. Switching the SCAF in and out of circuit via the front panel on/off switch made me smile, as it was obvious that the filter was doing just what I had hoped it would do. The SCAF-1 reduces operator fatigue. As a matter of fact, I ended up operating till 4AM, jazzed by the fact that I could now dig out any signal of interest. Once I determined the preferred setting of the front panel control, I left it there for the duration of the contest.
The SCAF-1 has earned its place in my shack.
OE3SGU Rating: 2007-11-11
simple and effective Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
great filter, so simple to operate yet so effective. it even improves theIC-7000, not so speak of the simpler radios I am using like the FT-817. highly recommended
NK8A Rating: 2007-11-10
Great dsp accessory Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have had my scaf-1 for a short time and thought I should write a review. Well ,In my opinion the scaf- 1 performs totally as claimed in the advertisments.I operate mainly cw and the unit has amplified and has "cleaned" cw signals from white noise to the point of nice audio to listen to. The radio I have it connected to is a Kenwood ts 570dg.
F5NZY Rating: 2007-10-10
Depending of your rig... Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Hello,
The benefit of the SCAF-1 is depending of the rig you are using with.

For my IC756Pro, no benefit.
For my IC756, slight benefit.
For my FT-817nd, a lot of benefit.

As all the products from Idiom Press I purchased, the ratio price/quality is excellent.

The publicity says "your transceiver will sound like a $2500+"

It does! and it is well done!

You absolutely need one in the shack!

73's de Steph, F5NZY
KD0BAI Rating: 2007-09-20
does the job well Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
My ts-570 is a good radio but the band has had so much noise lately that i looked at lots of noise filters for ssb. I ordered the SCAF-1 and dealt with Rob, very customer oriented. The filter (assembled) is very small and easy to place in station. filter needs regulated power supply so used my back up power supply. The filter was used on ssb only so far and it slammed the door on all the hissing, buzzing and made coping distant signals easy. with the filter on, voice sounds pretty much the same clarity for weak signal as for strong signal. when used with radios DPS was able to easily get a clear voice signal. only two problems are that it does no good to be able to hear distant voice and call them since they are losing you in the hiss that you no longer hear. other problem is that if you turn the filter off without lowering the vol. control on radio it will knock you out of the chair when you suddenly get blasted with band noise. voice clairity is amazing. good investment especially with lots of qrm, qrp or just to be able to copy voice clearly.
KG4TUM Rating: 2007-09-19
Excellent Product Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought the assembled unit and received it today. Within a few minutes, I was up and running. This blows away the optional DSP unit in my IC-718. And I find I don't need my 500hz CW filter anymore. I spent a bit of time with it tonight on 30 and 40 meters, and I could copy signals that I could not have copied without it. I went looking for weak signals down in the noies and with the flip of a switch, they were clear. It is much more enjoyable copying CW without all the noise.