Picking a SW receiver...help!

[zz0468]

There's a whole lot more to consider besides sensitivity in choosing an hf receiver. The fact is, if you can hear atmospheric noise and static, it's as sensitive as it needs to be. Adding gain is not going to bring that signal in stronger than the noise that's riding with it. If you're going after ssb, or digital modes, frequency stability becomes a factor. You don't want to have to keep retuning because the receiver drifts. The term is a bit passé now, but what about bandspread... how fast is the tuning rate. 1 KHz steps are too much for anything but sw broadcast. Does the receiver you want to use do 100 Hz steps? How about 10 Hz steps?

How's the selectivity? Does it have switchable filters? Does it at least have filters that match the modes it's capable of? A receiver with a BFO capable of receiving SSB is going to be a poor performer if all it has is a 5 KHz IF filter for AM. Do you even know what the IF filter bandwidths are in your receiver of choice? If not, maybe it's because the manufacturer didn't tell you because they don't want you to know.

What about dynamic range? There are 50 watt ute stations right next to 100kw broadcasters. What are the chances a low cost receiver will be able to separate them? Will it put up with a nearby AM broadcast station or will it roll over?

Pay attention to sensitivity at the higher frequency ranges, at the low end, you can almost ignore it. Again, if you can hear static and noise, it's as sensitive as it needs to be. All those other factors (and more) are actually more important than 'sensitivity'.

 

[ka3jjz]

I would almost completely agree, depending on where you happen to live. Dynamic range and selectivity are very important if you are on the East Coast, trying to dig a low power Columbian or Mexican station on 49 meters (6 mhz) around 8pm local or so. Since most manufacturers don't list sensitivity specs at various frequency ranges - they usually list what you could consider an average sensitivity across the band - it's not quite moot, but almost.

All the things zz0468 mentioned are just as important to consider - particularly if you want to have the receiver really dig into the harder items to hear, such as digital or weaker broadcast stations. Unfortunately comparing a tabletop receiver (like the R75) and a portatop such as the Satellit is stretching the comparison a bit. Both have their good and bad points - no receiver made has no 'bad points'. Doing your homework ahead of time - reading the reviews linked in the Wikis is a good place to start - will help in making an educated decision.

73s Mike

 

[ryangassxx]

I would almost completely agree, depending on where you happen to live. Dynamic range and selectivity are very important if you are on the East Coast, trying to dig a low power Columbian or Mexican station on 49 meters (6 mhz) around 8pm local or so. Since most manufacturers don't list sensitivity specs at various frequency ranges - they usually list what you could consider an average sensitivity across the band - it's not quite moot, but almost.

All the things zz0468 mentioned are just as important to consider - particularly if you want to have the receiver really dig into the harder items to hear, such as digital or weaker broadcast stations. Unfortunately comparing a tabletop receiver (like the R75) and a portatop such as the Satellit is stretching the comparison a bit. Both have their good and bad points - no receiver made has no 'bad points'. Doing your homework ahead of time - reading the reviews linked in the Wikis is a good place to start - will help in making an educated decision.

73s Mike

Not that far of a stretch at all.. Like I said before.. The Satellit 800 IS the Drake SW8.. SAME EXACT RADIO.... People assume that because it's not in a small slick looking black box that it's not in the same league as some others. The Drake sw8 is widely regarded as one of the best shortwave receivers of all time.. I don't know why there is such a mental hurdle to get over about the satellit 800.. It looks different, but is every bit the same radio as the Drake sw8..

read over some of these reviews..

http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/600

 

[ka3jjz]

Ah but the SW8 actually came in 2 flavors - the SW8 and the SW8A, which as I recall, fixed some issues with the sync detector and RF stages. And the SW8 is a portatop - that is to say, a large portable with a handle. The R75 isn't. It's purely a desktop - and therein lies the difference. 73s Mike

 

[trace1]

I kinda like my US Army Signal Corps Radio Receiver BC-312-N...

 

[zz0468]

I kinda like my US Army Signal Corps Radio Receiver BC-312-N...

My beginner radio was a BC-342, essentially the same radio with a different power supply. A great way to get started! I still have one, found in a warehouse in it's original crate with manuals. It apparently sat out the war waiting for me to find it. =)

Regarding the Satellite 800 vs. the Drake SW8, I don't think the issue is whether those two are comparable. I think it's more of a comparison between those two tabletop/portable type shortwave receivers vs. something like the R75, which would fall under the category of 'communications receiver'. It may be academic to someone who's predetermined to favor one type of receiver over another, but there IS a difference. You probably won't find a Satellite 800 in any government agency hf stations or listening posts. You could well find an R75 there, though.

That is not to disparage the 800 or the SW8, it's just saying that they are in different categories. I could further argue the point that something along the lines of my Mackay outclasses the R75, and a newer Watkins-Johnson outclasses my Mackay. I'm not sure just who it is that says the Drake SW8 is "one of the best shortwave receivers of all time", but clearly, they haven't had the opportunity to play with a $20,000 commercial/government grade HF receiver.

There is a phenomenal performance difference between a receiver of this caliber, vs. anything of consumer grade. For anyone who is serious about doing anything other than dabbling in short wave listening, these high end radios are available for amazing prices if one is willing to take the time and look. The effort is worth it.

 

[trace1]

My beginner radio was a BC-342, essentially the same radio with a different power supply. A great way to get started! I still have one, found in a warehouse in it's original crate with manuals. It apparently sat out the war waiting for me to find it.

Yes the 312 and 342 are essentially the same, cool deal on your find though. I bought mine back in the mid 80’s when I was in the US Air Force.

 

[N5TWB]

Icom R75

I am certainly encouraged to see the good notices on the R75 here since I bought one today at a hamfest in NE OK from a ham that didn't want to take it home and it was near closing time: $200. It does not have DSP, however, and I would like to know if it would be worthwhile to spend the extra $140 to order the UT108 for the DSP capability. Any thoughts on antennas would also be appreciated...

 

[ryangassxx]

I am certainly encouraged to see the good notices on the R75 here since I bought one today at a hamfest in NE OK from a ham that didn't want to take it home and it was near closing time: $200. It does not have DSP, however, and I would like to know if it would be worthwhile to spend the extra $140 to order the UT108 for the DSP capability. Any thoughts on antennas would also be appreciated...

wow,.. thats a pretty awesome deal.. congrats on the great buy..

 

[ka3jjz]

I am certainly encouraged to see the good notices on the R75 here since I bought one today at a hamfest in NE OK from a ham that didn't want to take it home and it was near closing time: $200. It does not have DSP, however, and I would like to know if it would be worthwhile to spend the extra $140 to order the UT108 for the DSP capability. Any thoughts on antennas would also be appreciated...

That is a great buy! As for antennas, jump over to the antenna forum and post questions there. Be sure to be a bit more specific as to what your situation is - can't put up outside antennas, have space, and so forth all play a role. 73s Mike