[Elecraft] Elecraft vs. Heath.

[Roelof Bakker]

Hello Vic,

>
But along the way people noticed that a single-conversion radio whose
major goal was something other than low parts count could provide
performance as good or better in some ways than the big boys.
<

This is a fine example that more is not always better.
One should assume that a double, triple or quadruple superhet receiver is 
superior to a single conversion design. Regarding strong signal handling 
capabilities this is not the case. The reason one went away from single 
conversion is that an economical general coverage receiver needs a high IF. 
Quality narrow filters at e.g. 45 MHz can be made, but are far more 
expensive than filters at a lower frequency. Hence the choice for a single 
wide and cheap filter at the first IF.

However nothing dramatic is on order with a double conversion design with a 
high first IF, when proper gain distribution is maintained. Non of the major 
players have been able to address this issue right, but for one: AOR with 
the AR7030. This receiver ranks number four in the Sherwood Engineering 
Receiver Test Data List.
This is achieved by an excellent active second mixer, the now obsolete 
Plessy SL6440.
The low noise local oscillator completes an at the time innovative design. I 
own one and will not part from it.

The receiver of the K2 is a simple and straight forward design. That the K2 
performs better than the competition has much to say about the (lack of) 
performance of the major brands. In Dutch we have a saying that goes like 
"among the blind one-eye is King".(I know someone who is in contesting and 
DX-peditioning. He told me that on an un-sponsored DX-pedition the group 
prefers to use K2's).

In my view the strength of the K2 is, besides a sound RF-design, contained 
in the software. I have built quite a few receivers here, but I seem to come 
back to the K2 again and again. It simply is a joy to use. Some of you seem 
to call this mo-jo.

Roelof Bakker, pa0rdt
Middelburg, Netherlands
JO11tm






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