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Reviews For: Spectrum SCR-xxxxx

Category: Ham Repeaters

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Review Summary For : Spectrum SCR-xxxxx
Reviews: 1MSRP:
Description:
Repeaters from Spectrum Communications
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.spectrumcoms.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0012
WB5ITT Rating: 2006-03-26
It was the best of Rptrs, It is the worst of Rptrs Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have dealt with Spectrum from their early days...when the owner, Joe himself, answered the phone. The original SCR 1000 rptr used a SCR100 rcvr (10.7MHz IF and TV audio IF chips)..the squelch was touchy and poor in operation. The SCT100 xmtr has seen litle change since the 70s..and does give excellent audio. Spectal purity can be another thing altogether. I have seen some Spectrums last for decades with no problems...and others be crappy from day 1 and never get fixed (I have owned both). Quality control left a lot to be desired it seemed. The later SCR200 (and UHF 450) rcvrs were better. Double conversion and MC3357 IF chip with built in squelch which was MUCH better than the SCR100 rcvr ever was, but the SCR200/450 rcvrs have problems of their own too. One of the oldest Spectrum repeaters in Texas (owned by the Mobil Oil ARC in Beaumont, TX on 147.30) was recently retired and made the backup rptr to their new Vertex. The Spectrum was the most reliable and best rptr in the Beaumont area for years. Audio was perfect (they can even pass PL)...but then some of the other Spectrums in SE TX and other areas were PHOOEY! I just dont understand. Joe and his crew HAD a decent product (and the ads led you to believe they were fantastic...like the model they used)..but alas, that was in a limited number of boxes. The SCR77 and other SCRs (500, 1400, etc) use the same RF decks as the SCR1000 (some components have changed)..The latest version they offer, the synthesized model...RUN AWAY from it as fast as possible. I got a chance to TRY to retune a 6m box of theirs..the xmtr was the WORSE on a spectrum analyzer I have ever seen in my decades of 2way radio. The receiver had no noise blanker and just sucked.
If you find an older Spectrum that works, it can make a good backup rptr...but dont rely on new ones for your primary box...the cost is too high and the problems too many. Get a used GE mobile or even a GE rptr and save money (this also goes for the ICOM, etc series.)..UNLESS you just have to have a rptr you can change the freqs on the fly (like the Vertex, Kenwood, etc), a good clean xtal rig made into a rptr is the best money you can spend.