AOR AR-ONE - Is It Obtainable?

[hotdjdave]

I saw this receiver (the AOR AR-ONE) a few months back and WOW! It appears that this unit is not availble to the public.

First, does anyone have any comments about this radio?
Second, does anyone know if it is, or will be, obtainable in the USA?

http://www.aorusa.com/arone.html
http://www.usascan.com/files/arone.html
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/widerxvr/4560.html

Update: New links
http://www.aoruk.com/products/receiver/arone/arone.htm
http://www.javiation.co.uk/aor-one.html
http://www.radioworld.ca/swscan/swsc_aor.php
http://www.grove-ent.com/ARONE.html

 

[RayK]

What part of "goverment use or export" don't you understand.

 

[hotdjdave]

What part of "goverment use or export" don't you understand.

I understand it completely, smarty. That is why I asked the question.

I assume the only reason for this limitation is because of its ability to receive the cellular band. Being that it is availble for export means one can buy it in Canada or the Bahamas.

 

[mancow]

Don't you just love how everyone's an FCC and Customs Agent on here? Annoying bunch of.......

They do show up occasionally. There was one on here not too long ago in the for sale section. They were cool for their day but I wouldn't spend too much on one now. Plus there isn't much up in that range in the USA anyway.
Try Ebay or just call up Bandercom or some other over seas reputable outfit and see what happens.

 

[n4voxgill]

I don't think those are available for sale anywhere. You can check the AR8600 at the below site. It has the same coverage, just not the 10 VFO, but the price is still pretty high. I have bought from him without problem. But you have to understand that customs could stop the package. He has a large selection of receivers

http://www.javiation.co.uk/

 

[n4voxgill]

I meant to say this also. I have the european model of the AR8200, but there is almost nothing to listen to above 999 MHz. Those frequencies between 1 and 3 GHz are digital or weird modulation. There are a few ham frequencies in 1200 MHz, but almost nothing ever on them.

The best use of these receivers is the HF band between 1 and 30 MHz where you can pick up SSB marine and long range aircraft.

Forget the cellphone freqs. there is almost nothing left analog on 800 and what little there is you will not get because of the 120 degree antennas they use on the towers. All of the cell phones in above 1GHz are digital.

I enjoy HF monitoring but you need an outside antenna to really pick up distant signals. More and more military is moving to satelite and most of the drug war stuff is all encryipted now on HF.

 

[RayK]

Aor-one

there always a smarty asking dumb questions

 

[morfis]

I don't think those are available for sale anywhere. You can check the AR8600 at the below site. It has the same coverage, just not the 10 VFO, but the price is still pretty high. I have bought from him without problem. But you have to understand that customs could stop the package. He has a large selection of receivers

http://www.javiation.co.uk/

I guess Jonathan doesn't list them as he is unlikely to sell many. He'd be able to get one for you however an item of that value might arouse the interest of your customs people?

To answer the original question, yes the radio IS available.

Though it looks very similar to the AR8600 it is a completely different receiver in terms of performance.

 

[Schnoor1648]

Not that this would matter much to some people, but I noticed that no mention is made of an optional CTCSS decoder. I had an AOR AR-5000 a little while back. Absolutely great receiver and it scanned pretty fast. I got the optional CTCSS decoder and also purchased programming software. As much as I liked the receiver, I ended up selling it because there are enough things that I like to listen to that have DCS, are trunked, or are P-25 that I sold it to help finance other equipment. Again, AOR receivers are top notch. If they ever stepped up their game a little bit to compete against Uniden as an upscale alternate choice, I think it would be great. It would not be cheap, but AOR receivers also often have a very good resale value. Comparing an AOR to a Uniden might be considered similar to comparing a Motorola to a Kenwood. Or possibly a Thales/Racal to a Yaesu. (I say that and I own both Yaesu and Uniden products right now!)

 

[hotdjdave]

Thank You

I am glad that some of you get the point of my question. It is obvious that the item is "restricted" in the USA. That is why I asked the question of how to obtain one, else I would just put in my order and buy one.

Now, being what has been posted, I wonder if it is even worth the consideration. It is very expensive. Would it give me any advantage over what I already have (see my signature below)?

Thank you for those of you who helped me in this matter.

I also wonder when the FCC will give up their lame ban on the cellular band. It is obviously outdated. And why is there not a ban on 49 MHz and 900 MHz cordless phones, which are still widely used in analog mode? The only reason for the latter that I can see is that celular phone towers transmit with much higher power and are "receivable" at much further distances, as opposed to a cordless phone that has a range less than a few houses down the street (in a suburban neighborhood that is).

 

[AZScanner]

And why is there not a ban on 49 MHz and 900 MHz cordless phones, which are still widely used in analog mode?

Bite your tongue. Don't give the congresscritters any ideas.

 

[hotdjdave]

Shhh!

Bite your tongue. Don't give the congresscritters any ideas.

You're right; shutting up now! :lol:

 

[KMS83713]

Aor Ar-one

Ya know it's a funny thing: the "cellular band" isnt analog anymore, cell phones are digital requiring a very sophisticated algorythm to tap into,so there really isnt a reason to block this frequency band anymore. Why is this band blocked?
Another reason this scanner isnt available to joe public is maybe because it is capable of scanning ANY frequency in 1Hz steps (right?)! I dont know any other scanner that can do that.
There are things going on out there in the 4rd and 5th decimal point we will probably never hear, most scanners just dont have the speed and resolution.
A shady online auction is probably the only way to get it here, or someone on the "inside".

 

[morfis]

Or just buy it from outside the USA as you would do for other unblocked radios. I'd be a bit worried about customs on something of that value but "amateur radio equipment" usually seems to be OK as long as they don't already suspect you of being a terrorist?