[1000mp] Inrad Filters. . . . .

[Thomas Beltran]

I have nothing against international crystal, in fact, I have lots of their
stuff - but I do wonder how much difference crystals make.  I had quite an
interesting experience with my Drake stuff.

Everyone always talks about how great the GUF-1 first IF filter is.  In
fact, most of the literature states that it will "transform" the receiver,
and many other statements about the dramatic difference.  [The difference is
that the stock first IF is I think a 6 pole 8 khz., and the Inrad is an 8
pole, 6 khz.]  I decided to keep the stock first IF, and then install the
GUF-1, using Rob Sherwood's switching board.  I put the Inrad filter where
the stock filter had been, and moved the stock filter out using short leads.
When I finished the work, I could not tell the difference.  I actually sent
the radio to Rob Sherwood, in Denver.  He checked everything out and said if
worked fine, and that he could see a difference on his test gear, but could
not hear a difference either.  The same was true with Rob's own 16 pole
second IF, 1.9 khz. filter - no difference between that, and the 8 pole
variety (although, physically, it was huge!)  He said he found out that it
looked good on paper, but not in practice - he discontinued it.


I ordered Yaesu SSB filters, primarily on the advice of W8RZ, who said that
other filters might (emphasize might) not work properly with the IDBT.  I
plan on ordering Inrad filters for CW, since there is no IDBT there.  But I
generally go with the least expensive thing that will do the job, which is
generally Inrad.

I am wondering if anyone has run any life tests, such as I did with the
Drake?  Tom W6EIJ