Best HF Receiver

[pjxii]

But, it is important to remember that that list is sorted by third order dynamic range narrow spaced. Or, (if I remember right), dynamic range at 2 kHz spacing. So when you say "specs are pretty bad compared to a modern receiver with crystal or mechanical IF filters" you really have to indicate which specs you mean. Sensitivity, phase noise, noise floor, image rejection, etc, can be very good in those older radios.

There is a great deal of helpful information from Rob Sherwood's list but, as you stated, it is sorted by narrow spaced dynamic range which is most important for amateur operators in a contest and not necessarily the most important specification for everyone's needs (it's not my top criteria). There's a PDF on his site which goes over all that and explains what the data actually means in a receiver which helps a lot.

 

[pjxii]

JRC made a great radio, but if the display dies you now own a very nice door stop.

This is exactly why I got a Drake SPR-4 and loaded it with all the crystal ranges that I have any interest in. I like having one good radio with analog readout just in case. The one JRC receiver that I would like to own is the 505 but those are very expensive, too much for me.

 

[prcguy]

There is a great deal of helpful information from Rob Sherwood's list but, as you stated, it is sorted by narrow spaced dynamic range which is most important for amateur operators in a contest and not necessarily the most important specification for everyone's needs (it's not my top criteria). There's a PDF on his site which goes over all that and explains what the data actually means in a receiver which helps a lot.

I have owned and used two radios at the very bottom of Rob Sherwoods list and they were horrible and frustrating to use. Not because of the layout or human interface but from lots of overload problems on a large antenna and one was fairly deaf on a small antenna making it a poor performer no matter how you use it. Looking at dynamic range numbers I'll predict when you get below about 65dB wide spaced dynamic range you may not be happy with the performance on a large antenna.

I also agree when you get into the top performing radios on Rob Sherwoods list other factors should come into play deciding on what to buy like radio layout, ease of use and a friendly menu system. In the 100dB+ narrow spaced dynamic range arena you may never get to test its ultimate limits so look for other things to sway your decision.

 

[kc2asb]

This is exactly why I got a Drake SPR-4 and loaded it with all the crystal ranges that I have any interest in. I like having one good radio with analog readout just in case. The one JRC receiver that I would like to own is the 505 but those are very expensive, too much for me.

That was exactly my thinking when I bought a used FRG-7 a few years ago, and then a second one. As for JRC, I have a 515, which turn up frequently. The 505 seems to be very rare.

 

[RufusDawes]

There are many mods described out there for the FRG-7, one is to replace the analog display with digital... It does look cool, but for the life of me I don't know why anyone would want to do this to the legendary Frog. Part of its charm is not having digital precision on the frequency dial, and other controls, and trying to figure out what you are listening to LOL

Regarding the JRC, despite my prior comments I will probably acquire one some day, it has such a good reputation.

Presently looking for a Hammerlund HQ-180, if anyone wants to let go of theirs send me a message.

 

[kc2asb]

There are many mods described out there for the FRG-7, one is to replace the analog display with digital... It does look cool, but for the life of me I don't know why anyone would want to do this to the legendary Frog. Part of its charm is not having digital precision on the frequency dial, and other controls, and trying to figure out what you are listening to LOL

For an analog receiver, the FRG-7's dial calibration is actually good. The worst I've ever used is the Realistic DX-160.

 

[pjxii]

I have owned and used two radios at the very bottom of Rob Sherwoods list and they were horrible and frustrating to use. Not because of the layout or human interface but from lots of overload problems on a large antenna and one was fairly deaf on a small antenna making it a poor performer no matter how you use it. Looking at dynamic range numbers I'll predict when you get below about 65dB wide spaced dynamic range you may not be happy with the performance on a large antenna.

I have to ask which two receivers you're referring to. I have a great nostalgic love for the receivers on dxing.com's Modern Receiver Survey list, particularly the tabletop models. I've certainly not tried even half of them but quite a few.

 

[pjxii]

There are many mods described out there for the FRG-7, one is to replace the analog display with digital... It does look cool, but for the life of me I don't know why anyone would want to do this to the legendary Frog. Part of its charm is not having digital precision on the frequency dial, and other controls, and trying to figure out what you are listening to LOL

I agree with this completely, adding a digital readout would take away the FRG-7's character.

I was going to buy one a while back but then I found a DX-302 at a good price. The exact opposite is true of that one because it was designed with digital readout. The 302 may not be as good a receiver but it has a couple of things going for it that are not on the Frog, like two selectable bandwidths (and I have gathered a collection of various filters over the years to experiment with) plus it will tune below 10 kHz.
It was worth picking up cheap for those things.

 

[pjxii]

As for JRC, I have a 515, which turn up frequently. The 505 seems to be very rare.

There's one on eBay now going for a bit over $1200 plus shipping from a reputable seller. It's not an unreasonable price considering what they normally go for when they turn up, plus it has the memory unit installed. Right now though I can't justify the purchase for myself, too many other things to take care of. I'm sure that whoever buys it will be getting a terrific receiver.

 

[kc2asb]

There's one on eBay now going for a bit over $1200 plus shipping from a reputable seller. It's not an unreasonable price considering what they normally go for when they turn up, plus it has the memory unit installed. Right now though I can't justify the purchase for myself, too many other things to take care of. I'm sure that whoever buys it will be getting a terrific receiver.

$1,200 for a NRD-505 is not as bad as I thought, but still a chunk of money. I paid $800 for my 515 roughly 7 years ago, from Ebay seller Big Apple.

 

[RufusDawes]

eBay seller Big Apple is the man, you might pay a little more for his offerings but all my purchases from him have been better than he advertised it.

 

[kc2asb]

eBay seller Big Apple is the man, you might pay a little more for his offerings but all my purchases from him have been better than he advertised it.

Agreed. His reputation was the only reason I took the plunge on the NRD-515. It was better than described and packed so well it could have been dropped from 2 floors up and survived.

A few months later I purchased the matching speaker for the 515 from him. It came with the original box and looked nearly NOS.

Sorry for the cluttered photo - currently rearranging things in the shack - the 890XLT does not normally live on top of the 515. LOL

 

[Token]

I have to ask which two receivers you're referring to. I have a great nostalgic love for the receivers on dxing.com's Modern Receiver Survey list, particularly the tabletop models. I've certainly not tried even half of them but quite a few.

I was not aware of the dxing.com's Receiver lists, either the Modern Receiver Survey list or the Favorite Tube-Type Shortwave Receivers list.

Looking at those lists I currently own a tad over half the receivers on the Tube list, and have, at one time or another in the past, owned roughly 3/4 of the list. I currently own maybe 1/4 the Modern Receiver list and have owned a bit over a third of them.

I realize it is not, and cannot be, a complete list of receivers, but there are some conspicuously (in my opinion) absent receivers on those lists. On the Modern list, weird that they have the DX-120, but not the DX-75 on the Tube list, or that they have the PCR-1000, but not the 1500 or 2500, and where is the Lafayette BCR-101 or HA-600? On the tube list, how is the Hallicrafters S-53 not on the list, or the S-51? And no HE-80 or BC-XXX anything? No National NC-183 of any flavor? No RMEs?

T!

 

[K9KLC]

I have to ask which two receivers you're referring to. I have a great nostalgic love for the receivers on dxing.com's Modern Receiver Survey list, particularly the tabletop models. I've certainly not tried even half of them but quite a few.

I'd like to know which too he's referring to also.

 

[pjxii]

I realize it is not, and cannot be, a complete list of receivers, but there are some conspicuously (in my opinion) absent receivers on those lists. On the Modern list, weird that they have the DX-120, but not the DX-75 on the Tube list, or that they have the PCR-1000, but not the 1500 or 2500, and where is the Lafayette BCR-101 or HA-600? On the tube list, how is the Hallicrafters S-53 not on the list, or the S-51? And no HE-80 or BC-XXX anything? No National NC-183 of any flavor? No RMEs?

T!

I always wondered why the RF-2200 wasn't there but the '2600 and '2800 are.

Using the Universal Radio online catalog click on Tabletop Receivers (then click Discontinued Receivers) and there's a more thorough list of receivers they previously sold as new. No Realistic obviously but they did sell used ones they got in on trade.

 

[pjxii]

Sorry for the cluttered photo - currently rearranging things in the shack - the 890XLT does not normally live on top of the 515. LOL

View attachment 190710

Nice radio room! I don't feel so bad now for having as many as I have, and I feel bad not having the ones I sold anymore...

 

[kc2asb]

Nice radio room! I don't feel so bad now for having as many as I have, and I feel bad not having the ones I sold anymore...

Thanks! That is only about 1/3 of it. An Icom R-7000 is to the right of the 515. Unseen are a Kenwood R-5000, JRC NRD-525, Icom R-75. Yaesu FRG-7, Hammarlund HQ-129X and National NC-173. Most of my scanners are to the left of the 515. There are other radios in the basement. I have way too many and will probably move some along eventually.

 

[pjxii]

Thanks! That is only about 1/3 of it. An Icom R-7000 is to the right of the 515. Unseen are a Kenwood R-5000, JRC NRD-525, Icom R-75. Yaesu FRG-7, Hammarlund HQ-129X and National NC-173. Most of my scanners are to the left of the 515. There are other radios in the basement. I have way too many and will probably move some along eventually.

Which version of the Drake R8 line is that in the lower right corner?

 

[pjxii]

I always wondered why the RF-2200 wasn't there but the '2600 and '2800 are.

Using the Universal Radio online catalog click on Tabletop Receivers (then click Discontinued Receivers) and there's a more thorough list of receivers they previously sold as new. No Realistic obviously but they did sell used ones they got in on trade.

https://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/commdisc.html

 

[kc2asb]

Which version of the Drake R8 line is that in the lower right corner?

It's an R8B, purchased from Universal Radio about 25 years ago.

I have an original R8 also, but the internal power transformer went bad years ago. I tried running it off 12V, but no luck. I think the transformer may have to be bypassed in order to run it on 12V.