So how much of a difference in sensitivity do you need to see (hear) an actual difference in practical terms?
You have to remember that figures are measured at a test bench with absolutely no other signals that can interfere.
I often test the true sensitivity using a an external antenna and inserting a signal to check how the sensitivity in the receiver are when it is exposed to the live RF in the air. Receivers like Icom R2 and R10 are super sensitive at the test bench but when using an external antenna they get 50 times worse in sensitivity, in the 10uV range. A scanner like Pro2006 have terrible test bench sensitivity but are unaffected by any external antenna. Test bench value for R2/R10 are something like 0,15uV and Pro2006 are 0,8uV. When connected to an antenna the R2/R10 have 10uV but the Pro2006 keeps its 0,8uV sensitivity, which then will receive much more than the Icoms. People swear by their Pro2006's that they are the most sensitive scanner they have, but that are only true when their scanners are exposed to the RF level in the air. If I use a FM broadcast filter with the Icoms they improve to about a 2uV to 3uV level but are still 5 times worse than the Pro2006. Icom makes other receivers that are much better, like the PCR1500/2500 that have something like a 0,5uV sensitivity are are totally unaffected by any antenna signal. It is the most sensitive receiver I have but lack any capability in scan speed and flexibility in programming and digital decode, so I take the discriminator signal and feed into DSDplus to decode what other scanners can't decode due to a too weak signal.
So do not stare yourself blind on the test bench figures that manufactures present. It is often a different story when used in real life enviroments. You'll have to live out in the countryside far away from any FM broadcast and TV transmitters and also cellular towers to be unaffected, but then you probably also do not have that much to listen to.
/Ubbe
