AOR - are they really that good?

[basprog]

What is it with the AOR mystique? Aside from bells and whistle, what differentiates a $500 AOR from say a $500 Icom R20? I'm just wondering because I've read references elsewhere on the net that AOR is about the closest you can come to commercial Motorola quality when it comes to the basic radio guts where it matters most.

Selectivity, sensitivity, dynamic range... somebody give a rational for adding AOR to the shack..

 

[kd7rto]

Selectivity, sensitivity, dynamic range... somebody give a rational for adding AOR to the shack.. [/QUOTE]

Because I have a few AOR items to sell.

 

[cj5]

Well, if you decide to go with the Icom R20, I got a $400 one I'll sell ya.

 

[MarkWestin]

Hello,

I won't be selling my AR8200 (series 3) anytime soon, but I would sell my Icom IC-R5 if someone made me an offer.

Mark

 

[trimmerj]

I bought an AOR 2500 in the early 90's. Worst mistake I ever made.

 

[Declared_Hostile]

That depends entirely on the AOR in question. AOR has produced some outstanding radios like the 3000, 8200,8600, AR-One and of course the AR-5000 series but it has also produced some atrocious garbage - the AR-2700 AR-7000 are two that immediately come to mind. AOR tends to really push the envelope when it comes to their products. Sometimes they really get it right and produce superb equipment. Sometimes however they really mess up and produce some horrid garbage that makes you wonder if the engineers and marketing team and design team were all sitting around smoking crack.

 

[cristisphoto]

Aor

THeir more pro than RadioShacks Stuff
as far as durabiliy thats questionable

 

[timmer]

I've had an AR3000 for many years, 12-15? I can't remember exactly, and an AR2002 which I've had since '86, I believe. I wouldn't part with them. The 3000 can take darn near any outdoor antenna I can plug into it without being overloaded with signals. The 2002 is almost the same except I have to use a simple fm trap on the antenna line. When I plug the same outdoor antenna into my RS scanners, they are overloaded with intermod, etc. The 3000 is very sensitive and very good on aircraft bands both civ. and military. The only other radio that I know of that is more "bulletproof" than this is the Icom r8500, which is no longer made. You can sometimes find them on ebay for $1200-$1500.

 

[scannerrail]

What is wrong with the AR-2700?

 

[n4voxgill]

The AR3000 is definitely a classic. Most of them are 20 years old, or more, and they continue to be solid performers. The Radio Shack 2004-2006 are classics also. My AR8200 III has great sound compared to any scanner that I have heard. It is a great performer. I don’t get rid of my classics as they continue to do what I bought them for. Buy top of the line and you get what you pay for. Even my BC245 is used just for railroad listening. It has to be about 10 years old and has never given me a bit of trouble.

 

[chuckinnc]

Good question Ill let you know in a few weeks

I just bought a AR5000+3 & SDU5500, spent more on it than all my other scanners & my
Icom706mk2g ham tranceiver and alot of other stuff. Ive only had it a few days, I have
numerious BC & PRO scanners like bc9000xlt, pro2006 and many others. I cant say much
now but one main thing i noticed is the readout is dead on, no birdies, no intermod or
anything else. If its really worth the price difference i will let you know later on.
I certian of one thing, after using a SDU on the 10MHZ scale i will never have a communications receiver without one built in or the capibility of driving one.

 

[w8jjr]

I've had my ar5000 for 7 years. Wont give it up. I got the ar25 (digital modual) and that works fine also.

 

[Lodis]

I have also heard the hype surrounding some of the AOR radios, particularly the AR8200. I have an AR8200 MK2 and although the build quality is not as good as the Icom, the sensitivity, selectivity, quality of audio and volume is simply excellent. I do make more use of my Uniden radios (UBC3500/BR330T) but there is no denying the AR8200 is one of the best portables I have ever owned. One feature I really do like is the built in discriminator tap.

Deciding between the R20 and the AR8200 is a difficult choice. You will find the AR8200 most likely easier to use from a user interface point of view but it lacks built in CTCSS and has no DCS, it has no built in recording and the slot card can only record 20 seconds of audio. The R20 on the other hand has built in 4 Hrs digital recording, CTCSS/DCS decode, better build quality but is more difficult to operate due to some illogical and step intensive programming steps.

Something both of these radios lack that I think is one of the best features that any portable radio can have is Close Call, this is mainly why my Unidens get more use.

 

[yaesumofo]

Aoo of this talk of AOR radios and not even a mention of the AR AOR8000 THE classic Hand held. A work of Rf art.
A breakout radio ahead of it's time.
Really cool.
The 8200 and the nk versions are quite good as well the plug in modules are a fantastic addition.
The engineering ARO does on these radios is amazing. OPen one and look. no space wasted the boards look beautiful.
Too bad the the mid line AOR's have been trummped by the apco radios of today. My 396 does just about everything the 8000 does with a couple minor excptions and a whole lot more.
Evolution..intertesting.
Also two totally different philospohies in rf design.
Aor did not waqnt to pay uniden or anybody else royalties for patient use. so they went their own way.
Yaesumofo

I have also heard the hype surrounding some of the AOR radios, particularly the AR8200. I have an AR8200 MK2 and although the build quality is not as good as the Icom, the sensitivity, selectivity, quality of audio and volume is simply excellent. I do make more use of my Uniden radios (UBC3500/BR330T) but there is no denying the AR8200 is one of the best portables I have ever owned. One feature I really do like is the built in discriminator tap.

Deciding between the R20 and the AR8200 is a difficult choice. You will find the AR8200 most likely easier to use from a user interface point of view but it lacks built in CTCSS and has no DCS, it has no built in recording and the slot card can only record 20 seconds of audio. The R20 on the other hand has built in 4 Hrs digital recording, CTCSS/DCS decode, better build quality but is more difficult to operate due to some illogical and step intensive programming steps.

Something both of these radios lack that I think is one of the best features that any portable radio can have is Close Call, this is mainly why my Unidens get more use.

 

[Turbo68]

I have been buying AOR & ICOM receivers for over 20 years and they are excellent radios to own and I recently bought the AOR-8600MK2 and the ICOM-R9500 and I am impressed with what these 2 companies and what they done with there radios and that probably explains why a lot of goverment agencies use these radios worldwide.

Regards Lino:ALINCO-DJX2000E,AOR-3000A,AOR-8200MK3,AOR-8600MK2,ICOM-R5,ICOM-R20,ICOM-PCR1000,ICOM-R2500,ICOM-R9000,ICOM-R9500,UNIDEN-245,UNIDEN-396,UNIDEN-780,UNIDEN-785E,UNIDEN-996,RADIO SHACK-PRO96,REALISTIC-PRO2035,YAESU-VX7R,YAESU-VR500,YAESU-VR5000.

 

[va3css]

Aoo of this talk of AOR radios and not even a mention of the AR AOR8000 THE classic Hand held. A work of Rf art.
A breakout radio ahead of it's time.
Really cool.

I'll never sell mine.

Never!

 

[cristisphoto]

I'll never sell mine.

Never!

I wont say never a thats bad luck
But ist the way I feel bout my AR8200 Mk3
Awesome receiver
I sit at Starbucks
with my JAVA
Monitoring Time Pop Communicatios
and My BCD396T
or my Icom IC R3
or my Rat shack 97
And Im HIGH as a Kite
and no its not just the Caffiene as caffiene calms me
LOL