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Equipment / Receiver Question
« on: August 26, 2013, 0327 UTC »
Hello to the group. I have been in the radio broadcast business on a part time basis for 30 years and a radio lover all my life. Long enough to know that commercial (and largely community radio as well) has gone steadily downhill especially since deregulation. There may be a few exceptions and it is those exceptions that radio nuts like myself are willing to go to great lengths to hear.
Recently I picked up a Sony ICF 2010 which immediately rekindled my desire to get into other options of hearing cool stuff on the airwaves. A desire that was short lived a number of years back after purchasing a DX 392 and having no luck with it. After stumbling on this sight and playing with the Sony at the shack I own at the 6000' level of Sequoia National Forest I am now in the throes of this great obsession and addiction. After purchasing the ICF 2010
I immediately put up a random wire of around 120'. It was a crude start and I love the radio but now see it's shortcomings, particularly the front end overload and the idea of the static discharge screwing up the unit scares me. After researching the many mods (and realizing I ain't no tech) I have come to the conclusion that I am maybe better served to buy a good desktop receiver than to ship this off to mod heaven and wallet hell. I have available to me either a Kenwood R1000 for 200 clams or a Icom R75 for 400.00 both in excellent working order. Which one is the better buy and which will serve my purpose of AM Dxing the broadcast band and tuning in the great Pirate stuff I see is going on from 6920 to about 6950??? I will also be listening to the ham cats and anything else I can find. Will it behoove me to spring for a MFJ 956 tuner or would I need one with these units? I will mainly be using a random wire but buying a pre-made sloper or something may be in the cards as well. Repeat; I am no tech.... but I do have a few acres to play on. Sorry for the long-winded introduction and thanks!!
Recently I picked up a Sony ICF 2010 which immediately rekindled my desire to get into other options of hearing cool stuff on the airwaves. A desire that was short lived a number of years back after purchasing a DX 392 and having no luck with it. After stumbling on this sight and playing with the Sony at the shack I own at the 6000' level of Sequoia National Forest I am now in the throes of this great obsession and addiction. After purchasing the ICF 2010
I immediately put up a random wire of around 120'. It was a crude start and I love the radio but now see it's shortcomings, particularly the front end overload and the idea of the static discharge screwing up the unit scares me. After researching the many mods (and realizing I ain't no tech) I have come to the conclusion that I am maybe better served to buy a good desktop receiver than to ship this off to mod heaven and wallet hell. I have available to me either a Kenwood R1000 for 200 clams or a Icom R75 for 400.00 both in excellent working order. Which one is the better buy and which will serve my purpose of AM Dxing the broadcast band and tuning in the great Pirate stuff I see is going on from 6920 to about 6950??? I will also be listening to the ham cats and anything else I can find. Will it behoove me to spring for a MFJ 956 tuner or would I need one with these units? I will mainly be using a random wire but buying a pre-made sloper or something may be in the cards as well. Repeat; I am no tech.... but I do have a few acres to play on. Sorry for the long-winded introduction and thanks!!
