Fairhaven RD500VX

[majoco]

Hi all,

Anyone heard of/seen/got one/got one for sale?

Only made for a couple of year 1998/9 in the UK - sold by a couple of up-market vendors and then not seen again. There is a very poor you tube demo but that's it. It really sounds too good to be true from this brief sales pitch.......

• Main features of the RD-500VX
• Frequency coverage 10kHz to 1750MHz continuous, no gaps
• Reception modes LSB, USB, AM, CW, Synchronous AM and NBFM, Wideband FM, Stereo FM
• Tuning steps 5Hz in SSB,CW and AMS modes, 100Hz in AM mode. Step size increases with spin-wheel rotation.
• Memories: 13,200 or 54,000 memories (on board), each with 20 characters of text, frequency, mode and auxiliary setup screen per entry.
• Display Alphanumeric character display showing frequency to 10 Hz, tuning or S- meter, record text and menus.
• 26 VFO's
• Built in HAMCOM decoder for SSTV, FAX
• Remote Control
• Database for backing up and editing
• Aerial inputs 50 ohm input via SO-239 socket.
• High-impedance HF input for whip aerial / cancelling aerial.
• RF attenuator 20dB.
• Dimensions Size 205mm wide x 65mm high x 193 deep
• Weight approx. 1600g.
• Power Requirements: 12v DC 500mA+
• Options include:
  • Mini PC keyboard
    Internal battery pack
    Firmware upgrades for decoding etc.

• Supplied Accessories
• 220v AC, 12vDC/1Amp ower Supply (UK Only)
• Remote Conrol Unit
• RS232 cable
• CD ROM with software and utilities
• Manual

[/unquote]

I want one!

 

[morfis]

Usually when things appear too good to be true it's because they are.

I had one here for a few months on test but unfortunately my rather lengthy report went back with it.
I didn't ever consider buying one afterwards. It was nighmare to use but from memory it wasn't a 'bad' receiver as such but didn't have the flexability or ease of use of things like the AORs of the time.
That pretty much explains why they weren't made for very long (though I remember a radio engineer friend saying that there were parts which were borderline end of life at build time). It would have been interesting to see it developed but sales didn't provide the required funding or impetus to do that with excellent wide coverage receivers already available from better established manufacturers.

They do crop up for sale occasionally over here but almost always end up unused or as single frequency monitors. I only know one person who still owns one and that sits as an airband scanner on half a dozen locally strong signals.

 

[majoco]

Thanks for that, Morfis, I'll take it off my bucket list. Now, about the Braun T1000CD....