[Elecraft] XG2 - Kit and Drake R7 and Orion II Comparison

[Tom Childers, N5GE]

On Thu, 15 Nov 2007 10:40:55 -0600, you wrote:

I don't remember exactly, but it was like this:

R7 S meter readings were all S9 at 50mv.  With the preamp on they were all
around 20db over s9.

Orion II S meter readings were all around S9 at 50mv with the preamp off and 20
- 30db over S9 with it on.

I've just finished the R7 MDS calculations:

80m: -121db
40m: -129db
20m: -129db

Remember; the R7 hasn't had any maintenance alignment since the 80s, so I
thought the old geezer did pretty well :o)

It's not realistic to do MDS calculations on the Orion II rig, because the AGC
off setting does not really turn the AGC off.  It just sets the decay rate at
1000db per second, which prevents getting good RMS readings from the speaker or
headphone connections.  I found this out while trying to peak my XV144 RX on
random noise with the N-GEN using the Orion II.  I finally had to connect the
XV144 to an FT1000MP MK V to do the adjustment. 

>Tom,
>
>    Interesting! I've got the XG2 and a R-4C. I was told by Rob Sherwood 
>(of Sherwood engineering) that at 1 micro-volt, the meter should be at 
>S-3 and 20 over when set to 50 micro-volts. Since my rig was nowhere 
>near that and I couldn't seem to make it any better when adjusting it, I 
>packed it up and sent it to Rob to play with. It could also be that my 
>XG2 has some sort of problem too! Guess I should have sent it along for 
>testing! We'll see!
>
>    Also, just wondering what kind of S-meter readings you were getting 
>at the different XG2 settings from the two rigs.
>
>    Regards,
>
>    kurtt
>
>    Kurt Pawlikowski, AKA WB9FMC
>    The Pinrod Corporation
>    kurtt at pinrod.com
>    (773) 284-9500
>    http://pinrod.com
>
>Tom Childers, N5GE wrote:
>> Good morning.
>>
>> I finished building an XG2 last evening and used my Drake R7 and Orion II as the
>> test beds for the XG2.  
>>
>> Results:  The R7 receives the 1 micro volt signals on all three bands better
>> than the Orion II (less RX noise and clearer tone).  I did not do the SN
>> calculations scientifically, but to my ear the R7 was the better RX.
>>
>> The R7 will be 30 years old next spring and has not been aligned since the 80s.
>> I look forward to receiving my K3 in late January 2008.
>>
>> Tom, N5GE
>>
>> http://www.n5ge.com
>> http://www.eQSL.cc/Member.cfm?N5GE
>>
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>>   
Tom, N5GE

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