Newbie needs advice on receiver

[Fishers-dude]

Hello everyone. I know you all probably get this question a lot but I could not find an active thread that helped me. I am looking to get into HF monitoring. I have a budget of roughly $1500 for both my receiver and antenna. I have spent the last three months pouring over amateur radio magazines trying to figure out which unit is best for a noob. I have a couple of limitations beyond my meager budget.

First, my neighborhood has restrictive covenants that absolutely prohibit outside visible antennas. Thus, I have to mount it in the attic of my two- story home. My radio shack is in my master bedroom which is on the second floor of my house.

Second, I have a Uniden 796D scanner with a Scantenna mounted in my attic. The coax for my scantenna runs about a total of 20 feet vertically from my attic, down the inside of my wall in the master bedroom and then to my scanner. My HF unit will be on the same desk as my scanner and the coax will probably share the same space down the inside of my wall. I have no idea if my HF antenna and unit will cause problems with scanner reception or vice-versa. I have no idea how long my attic space is but can find out if vital. I live in Indiana so my attic space is about 15 degrees F right now or I would have measured it for you already.

Third, I need something easy to operate and understand. So there you are. I need help with receiver selection and antenna selection and thoughts on conflicts with my scanner gear. Thanks for taking the time to help out a newcomer to the hobby!

 

[KD4JAF]

This is what I have and work's with no problems what so ever. The sloper is in my attic as well and I hear World Wide. You can achieve well under your budget of less than $800.00

Icom R75
Information

Free UT106 DSP Card when purchasing The R75!

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS:
Dimensions: 241(W) x 94(H) x 229(D) mm or 9.5"(W) x 3.7"(H) x 9.1"(D)
Frequency Coverage: 0.03 - 60.000000MHz (guaranteed: 0.1 - 29.99MHz and 50 - 54MHz only. 0.03 - 29.99MHz only for Asia version.)
Mode: USB, LSB, CW, RTTY, AM, S-AM, FM
Memory Channels: 101 (99 regular, 2 scan edges)
Frequency Stability: Less than ±7 ppm from 1 min. to 60 min. after power on. After that, rate of stability less than ±1 ppm/hr. at +25°C (=77°F).
Temperature Fluctuations: 0°C to +50°C (+32°F to +122°F) less than ±5 ppm
Power Supply Requirement: 13.8 V DC ±15% (negative ground)
Current Drain (at 13.8 V DC): Standby: 0.9 A, Maximum audio: 1.1 A
Antenna Connector: SO-239 (50), push connection terminal (500)
Weight: 3.0 kg; 6 lbs., 10 oz.
REMOTE Connector: RS-232C D-sub 9-pin
CI-V Connector: 2-conductor 3.5 (d) mm (1/8")

RECEIVER SPECIFICATIONS:
Receive System: Triple conversion super heterodyne
Intermediate Frequencies:


Mode 1st (MHz) 2nd (MHz) 3rd (kHz)
USB/LSB* 69.0115 9.0115 455
CW* 69.0106 9.0106 455.9
RTTY* 69.0105 9.0105 456
AM*/S-AM 69.0100 9.0100 450
FM 69.0115 9.0115 450

*May differ according to selected IF filter.
Sensitivity:

Frequency range (MHz) SSB/CW/RTTY AM/S-AM FM
0.1 - 1.8 (Preamp OFF) 2.0 µV 5.6 µV -
1.8 - 28 (Preamp 1 ON) .016 µV 1.6 µV -
28 - 29.99 (Preamp 1 ON) 0.16 µV 1.6 µV 0.22 µV
50 - 54 (Preamp 2 ON) 0.13 µV 1.0 µV 0.2 µV

SQL Sensitivity (threshold): SSB, CW, RTTY: Less than 5.6 µV (Preamp 1 ON); FM: Less than 0.32 µV (Preamp 2 ON)
Selectivity: SSB, CW, RTTY: More than 2.1kHz/-6 dB, Less than 4.0kHz/-60 dB; AM, S-AM: More than 6kHz/-6 dB, Less than 20kHz/-60 dB; FM: More than 12kHz/-6 dB, Less than 30kHz/-60 dB
Spurious And Image Rejection Ratio: More than 70 dB (except IF through/50MHz band)
Audio Output Power (at 13.8 V DC): More than 2.0 W at 10% distortion with an 8 load
PHONES Connector: 3-conductor 6.35 (d) mm (1/4")
External SP Connector: 2-conductor 3.5 mm (1/8 in)/4-8

DX-SWL Shortwave Sloper Antenna

Multi-Band Performance covering Medium Wave AM (.5-1.6 MHz),
120 MTRS(2.3-2.5 MHz), 90 MTRS (3.2-3.5 MHz), 60 MTRS (4.75-5.0 MHz), 49 MTRS (5.95-6.2 MHz), 41 MTRS (7.1-7.3 MHz), 31 MTRS (9.5-9.9 MHz), 25 MTRS (11.65-12.05 MHz), 21 MTRS (13.6-13.8 MHz), 19 MTRS (15.1-15.6 MHz), 16 MTRS (17.55-17.9 MHz), 13 MTRS (21.45-21.85 MHz)

The Model DX-SWL antenna is a very unique and very effective adaptation of existing antenna theory. It operates as quarter wave sloper which means the wires are a quarter wave long, or multiples of a quarter wave on each frequency band. Compared to half wave dipole, the other quarter wave, which is necessary for performance and the proper feed point impedance, is made up of the "Down-Lead" wire which is attached.

With a quarter wave sloper, the center conductor of the coax is attached to the wires and the shield of the coax is attached to the down lead. A standard SO-239 UHF connector is provided on the Model DX-SWL for this purpose. Excellent performance is attained with installation heights of only 20 to 40 feet.

By design, the quarter wave sloper is known to be an excellent DX and long haul antenna. The current lobe, which defines the major radiation characteristics of the antenna, is up high at the feed point and is not subject to attenuation from buildings, trees, etc. as a vertical antenna whose current lobe is at ground level. At the Alpha Delta location, side by side comparisons between the Model DX-SWL and a 32ft commercial vertical with 18 radials show the DX-SWL to be as much as 10 dB stronger into Europe and Africa.

Since a sloper has an optimized low angle radiation pattern for peak DX performance, it will greatly outperform a dipole mounted at the same height, for those really distant weak signal DX stations. The difference can be phenomenal.

The Alpha Delta Model DX-SWL is fully assembled, uses stainless steel hardware and UV protected coils and components and No. 12 wire. It is designed to survive severe weather environments. Insulators and support rope are included.

 

[Waldo325mvfd]

I've got a YAESU FT-817 and it does all mode if you want the best get it.
HF/VHF/UHF.
Its ultra compact about 4 by 6. runs on 8 AAA's, a rechargable battery, AC, or DC power. 8)

 

[K2KOH]

I agree with KD4JAF...I also own an R75, which you can get for a song now with the DSP. I have it connected to a simple fifty foot longwire, and it pulls in Sydney Air Traffic Control most mornings I listen (I'm on the East Coast, so this is a good catch). Very happy with this radio!

 

[Fishers-dude]

Thanks for the advice. Anyone else out there have any ideas?

 

[woody_461]

Another vote for the R75.Best bang for the buck!You would have to spend quite a bit of money to rival,or surpass this radio on HF.

 

[kb2vxa]

Hi Fisher-dude and readers,

A dipole in the attic fed with coax and a balun is probably your best bet and it doesn't have to be run in a straight line either. As long as it doesn't double back in close proximity to itself it's simply a bent dipole. I would use a trap system or fan dipole rather than these multi-band affairs with the elements paralell in close proximity, they're clumsy to bend and the resonances upset one another. Oh, a fan dipole is just that, each dipole cut for the band and connected together at the center, the ends fanned out like bat's wings. Then again I had one cut for 20M in an attic that worked well except for 80M and 160M where performance fell off but was acceptable.

"First, my neighborhood has restrictive covenants that absolutely prohibit outside visible antennas."

Your restrictions went out the window under federal law some years ago. It preempts restrictions saying that antennas intended for broadcast reception such as TV and sat dishes but not limited to must be reasonably accomodated but I'm not a lawyer, do your homework and get a copy. Since ham antennas aren't for broadcast reception that battle is ongoing.

If the indoor antenna is a static and RF noise catcher as they tend to be and you have a place where you can erect an outdoor antenna as unobtrusively as possible you can shove the law in the Covenent Nazi's face. Frankly I prefer a Grogan aimed at the posterior. (;->)

 

[leftystrat]

I am looking to get into HF monitoring. I have a budget of roughly $1500 for both my receiver and antenna.

As the others have pointed out, you can get a lot of receiver for that money. I hear great things about the R75. I have a Grundig Satellite 800 on the way, which is also highly rated. I think the R75's are under $600 new and a great deal used. The 75 and the 800 have been discontinued but you can get new units.

Ten Tec makes some great rcvrs also. The (discontinued) Drake R8 is supposed to be a killer unit.

Don't forget the venerable Boatanchors (old, heavy tube rcvrs) for something different down the road. Some are very sensitive - you just won't get digital displays or memories.

First, my neighborhood has restrictive covenants that absolutely prohibit outside visible antennas. Thus, I have to mount it in the attic of my two- story home. My radio shack is in my master bedroom which is on the second floor of my house.

Well, either that or you can be tricky about it. There's a product called Ventenna that sits on your roof and just plain doesn't look like an antenna. You can also run thin guage wire, which comes in different colors, so people won't notice it.

Do a search on `stealth antennas'.


Best of luck and let us know how you make out.

 

[Halfpint]

Yet another vote for the ICOM IC-R75. Though... I'd also suggest that you might also want to take a look at the ICOM IC-PCR1000, too. You'll have to buy the DSP module separately and either get it installed, Universal Radio will install it for you if you buy it at the same time as the receiver, or you can install it yourself. Both receivers are danged good units and the PCR1000 will also give you coverage, VHF-Lo through UHF-Hi, to `backup' your scanner on `analog' signals on top of HF coverage. (There is supposed to be a program out there that will supposedly do P25 but I haven't actually tried it so I can't say yea or nay as to whether it works.) Anyway... Either receiver and a good antenna like the `sloper' mentioned previously should get you in fairly well under your `limit' *and* give you great service. (BTW, as far as I can tell the `rumors' are that both models have been discontinued and Universal radio is about the only place left that still has them for a decent price so you may have to get whichever one you decide upon pretty quickly. {WAN GRIN!})

(`Disclaimer?': I happen to own both models and like them quite a bit. I *also* do quite a bit of my `shopping' with Universal Radio, too. I *do not* work for either company! I'm just a satisfied customer. {VB GRIN!})

Just an `Olde Fart's' 2¢ worth. (GRIN!}

 

[bigbird]

Have a Icom r75 and love it. Was thinkig about upgrading a Drake R8b

For the $$$ you can not go wrong with the r75

 

[leftystrat]

Grundig Sat 800

Just picked up a used 800 on a good deal.

Very early impressions:

PROS
Excellent perfprmance (blows my others away)
many antenna inputs
huge display, backlit
AM/SSB to 30k, FM bcb, AM aircraft
70 memories
plenty of VOLUME, good sound
well laid-out
easy to operate (haven't opened the manual yet)
sync detector for SSB


CONS
squelch only on aircraft band
needs some kind of audio filtering


NOT SURE
4' whip (!)


They're out of production but still easy to get new, refurb, or used.

Buy one.


As I mentioned, it could use some signal processing to weed out the hiss and noise. What do people normally do for this?

 

[jay427]

You may want to look at some Ham rigs if you think you may want to transmit someday, lots of good rigs to chose from here. I have been running a Yaesu FT-920 for the past 6-7years and it works for me. I have been doing more SWL than Talking these days.

I myself still love the magic of HF.

Good Luck and have fun

Jay, n0mdf