Many of you know that I was one of the first to use the AR-DV1. I have not posted on the AR-DV1 in a while, but I notice that there are quite a few fans of the radio who are using them, and now two well known software programs for the radio. The radio seems particularly popular in Europe, where many of the YouTube videos are coming from.
My initial complaint was that the DV1 should be more like a scanner, with faster scanning and trunking. I was quickly told by Taka at AOR in Torrance (in person on many visits about 15 miles from my house) that the DV-1 was a receiver and not designed as a scanner. I lost interest in the DV1 when comparing it to radios like the x36HPs and now the TRXs.
However, we have lots of VHF stuff to monitor along with all the digital trunking systems here in Los Angeles. One big VHF area I like is marine traffic. We obviously have a ton of stuff going on here along the coast of So. Calif, and my QTH is about 12 miles from the beach.
Have always been able to hear louder marine channels on scanners, but often not the boats out 20 or 30 miles calling in into the harbor. None of my scanners seem to be able to do this. The AR-DV1 is really great on more distant VHF and picks up stuff none of my scanners will. This includes some boats down in San Diego making their way up to Los Angeles. Of course my 2/440 rigs like FTM-400, TM-V71A, and IC-5100 will also do a great job.
So what's my point. I guess that I am glad that the AR-DV1 is a receiver. We have a lot of good scanners out there now, but the AR-DV1 for me consistently hears weak VHF, weak P25, and weak DMR that my Unidens and Whistlers will not hear. With new firmware, scan speed is not bad, maybe 25 or 30 a minute. Certainly nowhere near a dedicated scanner. And no trunking. But I do find myself listening more and more the AR-DV1 and am impressed with its sensitivity on VHF and UHF. As an 100 Khz to 30 Mhz receiver, not bad either. In many ways comparable to my IC R8500, but does require my MFJ tuner to avoid AM intermod up to about 10 Mhz, whereas the R8500 does not.
Its a lot of money, about $1200, but I can see why some people have really maintained their interest in the radio and even wrote some special software. I guess my interest has also been renewed because of the announced new ICOM R8600. It will be interesting to see how these radios compare, although the the 8600 will be at about a $2000 price point.
Anyway, I do spend quite a bit of time listening to the AR-DV1, more than I thought I would. I can see why some folks have maintained their interest.
.
My initial complaint was that the DV1 should be more like a scanner, with faster scanning and trunking. I was quickly told by Taka at AOR in Torrance (in person on many visits about 15 miles from my house) that the DV-1 was a receiver and not designed as a scanner. I lost interest in the DV1 when comparing it to radios like the x36HPs and now the TRXs.
However, we have lots of VHF stuff to monitor along with all the digital trunking systems here in Los Angeles. One big VHF area I like is marine traffic. We obviously have a ton of stuff going on here along the coast of So. Calif, and my QTH is about 12 miles from the beach.
Have always been able to hear louder marine channels on scanners, but often not the boats out 20 or 30 miles calling in into the harbor. None of my scanners seem to be able to do this. The AR-DV1 is really great on more distant VHF and picks up stuff none of my scanners will. This includes some boats down in San Diego making their way up to Los Angeles. Of course my 2/440 rigs like FTM-400, TM-V71A, and IC-5100 will also do a great job.
So what's my point. I guess that I am glad that the AR-DV1 is a receiver. We have a lot of good scanners out there now, but the AR-DV1 for me consistently hears weak VHF, weak P25, and weak DMR that my Unidens and Whistlers will not hear. With new firmware, scan speed is not bad, maybe 25 or 30 a minute. Certainly nowhere near a dedicated scanner. And no trunking. But I do find myself listening more and more the AR-DV1 and am impressed with its sensitivity on VHF and UHF. As an 100 Khz to 30 Mhz receiver, not bad either. In many ways comparable to my IC R8500, but does require my MFJ tuner to avoid AM intermod up to about 10 Mhz, whereas the R8500 does not.
Its a lot of money, about $1200, but I can see why some people have really maintained their interest in the radio and even wrote some special software. I guess my interest has also been renewed because of the announced new ICOM R8600. It will be interesting to see how these radios compare, although the the 8600 will be at about a $2000 price point.
Anyway, I do spend quite a bit of time listening to the AR-DV1, more than I thought I would. I can see why some folks have maintained their interest.
.