[Premium-Rx] A request for assistance in choosing a new receiver

[michaelob666 at ntlworld.com]

Dear Tom

I am coming to this rather late cos work keeps interfering.  It should not 
be allowed.

As has been advised elsewhere, it all depends on what you want to listen to.

I like top quality professional construction, a very silky, finger tip spin 
tuning and clean smooth recovered audio.  That eliminates a great many 
receivers.

I would opt for a Racal 3701.  It lack some frills such as a noise blanker 
but has pass band tuning in some modes.  The panel is very instinctive to 
use and it uses top quality push switches.  You do not need to spend hours 
reading a well tabbed manual festooned with yellow stickies in order to use 
it, unlike most modern ham rigs.

Rigs with drop down menus and endless boring button pushing are a total pain 
in that place where the light does not shine.

If you don't mind an older rig with no memories and traditional rotary 
controls and a bomb-proof front end, try the Racal RA1772, but beware that 
they are about 40 years old and their PSUs can be troublesome.   That said, 
there is plenty of advice available on the cures and there are no hard to 
find components.  The manuals are very detailed and are available in paper 
form or as downloads.  They are built like a tank and will last for many 
more decades.

Good luck.
Michael
G8MOB



-----Original Message----- 
From: Tom via Premium-Rx
Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2015 11:30 PM
To: premium-rx at mailman.qth.net
Cc: Tom Branton
Subject: [Premium-Rx] A request for assistance in choosing a new receiver

Good evening everyone,


I’m interested in acquiring a military/commercial receiver.  I’m a ham 
(KF5WBS) but find I spend 98% of my time listening to the band instead of 
talking.  I found a very nice Racal 6790/GM that was renovated by Gary 
Wingert but I wonder if I should consider additional makes/models in 
selecting my first general coverage receiver.


Any suggestions, recommendations or words of wisdom would be very much 
appreciated.


Kindest regards,


Tom Branton
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