New SDR CommRadio CR-1

[EricCottrell]

Not sure if it would be possible,but how about P25 upgrade? Anyone?

Adding P25 could easily add $200 to $300 dollars to the cost. There is little benefit since it does not cover all the Public Safety bands. Most P25 around here is on UHF-T or 800.

I think of the receiver as mainly a HF receiver, with capability to listen to my local ham repeater or NWS Weather.

73 Eric

 

[NRD-505]

Since the SCAN function is disabled for VHF and UHF the CR-1 really isn't a "scanner" as we would think of one.

 

[dg_w]

Has anyone pitted the radio against the AOR 8600 radio? Just noticed the scanner limitation on Vhf and UHF? Is that something that could be resolved. Also is squelch available across all bands? Probably all things I would look for in a receiver of that price. From what I can tell the radio cannot receive the military airband range.

 

[WB2KTG]

Friday Firmware Festival 03-29-2013

Software (SW) changes completed this week:

a. Update to the CR1 DSP updater. Please reinstall using the new cr1_installer.msi file. Uninstalling
of the previous version may be required.

b. Adjusting of the volume is much faster; one full turn of the knob will cycle volume from minimum to
maximum.

c. Audio now similar level for all signals, both very strong and very weak

Please report your observations of how the audio now sounds vs. previously observed.

Thanks!

Bob

 

[n0ypd]

Notice a big difference in audio,but the receiver seems to be going in like a sleep mode or quiet mode if you turn the volume down after a while.Then a few turns of the VFO knob wakes it back up to full volume.It is strange,anyone else notice this?

 

[louiethegoat]

I am liking this radio a lot for its portability. It should have been a MW-HF only, radio since the VHF-UHF part of the radio is not full VHF-UHF band spectrum for us scanner listeners. When all the kinks are settled would like to add it to my shack.

 

[WB2KTG]

louiethegoat-

I think your patience will be rewarded shortly. The bugs are being exterminated on a daily basis. I think the common philosophy today is to think of the CR-1 as a MW/HF receiver with 'Bonus Bands' added for your listening pleasure. FM Broadcast is a feature to be added shortly. Mono only, but some easy listening is welcome once in a while. Air Band, the NOAA weather forecasting stations and 2m HAM bands are nice bonuses. Throw in being able to listen to the local sheriff, if not encrypted, and you've got some real nice added features. It's only getting better. Part of the fun right now is looking under the Christmas tree every Friday to see what new features Santa-Joel (S/W guru at CommRadio) has brought us. I'm thrilled at being able to take the CR-1 along with me, in my briefcase, when I go out of town for business. That, and a 20 ft length of wire to throw out the motel window and I'm all set.

Bob

 

[louiethegoat]

WB2KTG-

Sounds good, I agree ! If VHF-UHF is kept, should go up to 512 MhZ along with configurable step sizes , analog of course. I don't see going digital unless it is full tilt laden like a Uniden BCD 996XT. But then why would I need my 996XT ? It seems like an abrupt cut-off to end at 468 Mhz when most scanners end at 512.

 

[WB2KTG]

louiethegoat-

The CR-1 is designed to be an MF/HF receiver. The designer saw that additional VHF/UHF frequencies could be received and decided to enable that functionality. There are technical reasons why the frequency ranges are limited to what they are. I don't know all of the exact details, but for example, let's say the operating frequency of the DSP device is smack in the middle of a particular frequency band. It may not be possible to receive there also. All of the frequent suggestions to increase frequency coverage are appreciated, but there are some realities to be considered. It will cover a finite range of frequencies as listed by the data sheet. Rather than being disappointed by not being able to cover the complete 440MHz ham band, would you rather have it eliminated altogether? Same for air band, BC FM and the rest. These are bonus bands. Each band and each mode requires a finite amount of work effort to realize. Wideband FM demod, narrow band FM demod, AM demod, squelch, etc. Each is a chunk of software. The software timing between chunks can cause unplanned for consequences (i.e. bugs). Cleaning up the bugs can cause more bugs, etc. There is a whole pile of work that has gone into the CR-1 and the work is continuing until it is perfected.

Like you said: "It seems like an abrupt cut-off to end at 468 Mhz when most scanners end at 512.". This isn't a scanner. How many scanners, or even wide range receivers perform this well in the HF range? My ICOM IC-R20 sure doesn't. If you hook up a decent size antenna to it, it collapses into a seething ball of intermod! With about a 6 ft wire antenna it's reasonable, but not great. The CR-1 is a REAL HF receiver. I have it hooked to my Big *** Dipole, resonant at 1.4 MHz and it just sits there and performs. I have a BCD-396XT when I want to scan stuff, too. I'm happy with that.

 

[louiethegoat]

WB2KTG-

That's fine then. In my opinion it should be an MF/HF receiver only. Make it really perform well, as it already has great features without trying to be an all-band* (*limited to what ever frequencies they add to the MF/HF) receiver and call it a day. Add some of the requests mentioned as pertaining to enhanced functionality of the MF/HF bands, work out the bugs and this should be one neat little low-power portable just itching to find a place on my shelf.

 

[WB2KTG]

I'm thrilled just the way it is. In fact, I've got a spot for it in my Bug-Out-Bag, along with an external battery pack. The more frequencies the better!

Bob

 

[loumaag]

I'm thrilled just the way it is. In fact, I've got a spot for it in my Bug-Out-Bag, along with an external battery pack. The more frequencies the better!

I sort of agree with you Bob. As a matter of fact, I let the wife know that it wouldn't be amiss to consider that as a possible birthday gift for me.

Seriously, I like the extension into VHF, I assume that it does SSB up there also, so it certainly has a use that my scanners don't and I wouldn't have to go upstairs to get on the 706 just to see if 2m is open.

 

[WB2KTG]

loumaag-

SSB/CW is available everywhere now, so give your wife the go ahead... ;-)

Bob

 

[dg_w]

Traditional rx compares ion

Given the price bracket or the rx, I see it in the same bracket as the icom r75 and alinco r8e rx, as per my earlier post, can any give a comparison, how does this little wonder shape up against those traditional rx?

I am in the market to buy a new rx nod no tenure which way to go,

Thanks you

 

[ve6brz]

Finally had a some time and did the SW update. No problems with that. Audio is much better in all modes. Thanks guys. I wonder about the AGC in that when scrolling through frequencies in a given band (SSB) the audio drops if it hits a louder station or noise and stays there until one stops turning the tuning knob and then it recovers. Is that the AGC hanging on. Radio gets better ever week. Good stuff.

 

[WB2KTG]

dg_w-

If I am not mistaken, I believe CommRadio will be publishing a reference evaluation of a CR-1 in addition to one or more receivers in a similar price range. I, myself, am very interested in seeing the results. My reference receiver is a Racal 6790. The Racal was the nominal successor to the R-390A of fame in the 1960's and 1970's, and used by many three letter agencies for decades. The CR-1 holds it's own in comparison with the Racal, but I do not (at home) have the requisite test equipment to make a meaningful quantitative comparison, and I cannot bring either receiver to work to run tests on it. There have been numerous bugs discovered and extinguished during the beta development process. The latest software version has taken it a couple of steps closer to excellence.

I would anticipate the comparative testing to take place after the software load has stabilized to everyone involved in it's development's satisfaction. No sense testing earlier, time would better be spent improving it. Word will be definitely posted on the board when the data is available.

Bob

 

[corbintechboy]

Given the price bracket or the rx, I see it in the same bracket as the icom r75 and alinco r8e rx, as per my earlier post, can any give a comparison, how does this little wonder shape up against those traditional rx?

I am in the market to buy a new rx nod no tenure which way to go,

Thanks you

I don't own the R8T but I do own the Icom R75. I will give you my take.

The Icom is more expensive by around $170. It can be got used for closer to the price of the CR-1. Some observations:

The CR-1 is pleasant to operate and easy to get used to. The Icom is perhaps more fun to use if you like tweaking and using tools to dig out DX. For SSB the CR-1 is good, the R75 is great (but it goes back to that fine control thing and 1Hz tuning is a winner). The CR-1 will 'hear' everything the R75 will, but with twin PBTs (passband tuning) and excellent ECSS the R75 does have an advantage when the going gets tough. They both are very nice units and I am very glad to own both.

Now, do I think the R75 performs 170 dollars better then the CR-1? No I don't! The Icom does have the tools for tough situations but the CR-1 is more along the lines of use it and forget it. It works rather well and you can get lost in using it and become amazed by what this little radio is doing. I repeat it hears all the R75 will! It does it nicely as well.

Now if I had a choice between one or the other, the R75 would go. The R75 has no portability aside from big batteries and such. The CR-1 is more pleasant to operate and the CR-1 makes the R75 feel dated.

Both are great radios and either would serve you well for years to come. I however would recommend the CR-1. The R75 is just not that much better. And the CR-1 is still growing and maturing. Every Friday is like Christmas morning, really nice.

 

[sbjohnston]

I just did the latest software update (DSP 1660, PIC 1658) - went smoothly. Audio output is louder and more even, but there is significant distortion on strong AM signals. I am also experiencing the weird gain jumping related to tuning. It is as though the gain of the receiver is reduced during tuning, then pops back to normal after tuning stops. Or perhaps the AGC gets stuck at the gain reduction necessary for the biggest signal encountered in that spin of the dial, then jumps to the gain level needed for the frequency where tuning has stopped. This is quite annoying.

Steve WD8DAS

 

[K0OD]

Some of the many CommRadio website spelling errors:

"LW (150 kHz - 480 kHz): The CR-1 was desinged to tune down to 480 kHz. The tuner is programmmed to provide tuning to 150 kHz. However, there is no dedicated pre-selector in this range. The IF is also in this range and singals from other bands can be heard. The CR-1 performance is not guaranteed in this range and is provided for experimetnal purposes."

CR-1 Communications Receiver - CommRadio Store

 

[grem467]

I don't own the R8T but I do own the Icom R75. I will give you my take.

The Icom is more expensive by around $170. It can be got used for closer to the price of the CR-1. Some observations:

The CR-1 is pleasant to operate and easy to get used to. The Icom is perhaps more fun to use if you like tweaking and using tools to dig out DX. For SSB the CR-1 is good, the R75 is great (but it goes back to that fine control thing and 1Hz tuning is a winner). The CR-1 will 'hear' everything the R75 will, but with twin PBTs (passband tuning) and excellent ECSS the R75 does have an advantage when the going gets tough. They both are very nice units and I am very glad to own both.

Now, do I think the R75 performs 170 dollars better then the CR-1? No I don't! The Icom does have the tools for tough situations but the CR-1 is more along the lines of use it and forget it. It works rather well and you can get lost in using it and become amazed by what this little radio is doing. I repeat it hears all the R75 will! It does it nicely as well.

Now if I had a choice between one or the other, the R75 would go. The R75 has no portability aside from big batteries and such. The CR-1 is more pleasant to operate and the CR-1 makes the R75 feel dated.

Both are great radios and either would serve you well for years to come. I however would recommend the CR-1. The R75 is just not that much better. And the CR-1 is still growing and maturing. Every Friday is like Christmas morning, really nice.

So the CR-1 is performing ALMOST as good as a receiver originally designed around 15 years ago? Hopefully the product will mature and surpass it. It is good to see that many of the "gotcha's" have been and are being addressed. I can think of many needs this receiver will fill once it has matured.