[PCR-1000] pour HF performance

[R. J. Grasser]

Matty,

Thats alot of questions :-)

Radio-Crap discone is not a linear performer.  It can only be "tweaked" for
a 50 Mhz band segment (p/n 20-043).  Beyond that, it has more insertion loss
than gain.  "Shack" doesnt publish specs for their 20-176 model, and when
questioned about them, they were very evasive.  For $20.00 it cant do much
for you. :-(

Their discones are not intended for use below 25 Mhz (with major loss
insertion), so you are probably seeing major attenuation of the incoming
signals in HF.

In the VHF/UHF (30 Mhz to 1.3 Ghz) spectrum I use the "improved" ST-2 linear
vetical dipole array from Antenna Warehouse ($46.00 including 50 foot of
coax).  Zero to 0.5 Db of gain, but its linear across the bands.   In the
100 Khz to 54 Mhz range I use LF Engineering model H-800 active "probe"
<vertical monopole> with 30 Db of gain at 1.0 Mhz and pretty much 18 Db of
gain in the rest of its range.  It is EXPENSIVE however.

Also suggest the MFJ 1045C preselector to "notch out" the
images/harmonics/trash that is rampant in ultra-wideband receivers like the
PCR-1000 (new production, triple conversion types).

There are several reasons I picked the 1045C... Dual antenna inputs, and
dual receiver outputs for one.  At least 15 Db gain between 1.8 and 54 Mhz.
Battery operation.

No idea why your "rig" is deaf on HF, as mine is hyper-active even though
the sunspot cycle is near minimum.  Regularly get W6's at 1000 Hrs here in
Upstate NY. Copied Radio Croatia on 9.915 Khz with S-6 to 9 on the 10th.
Even asked for a QSL, as the signal was quite impressive.

Yes, HF does fade.  Its "skip" dependent after all.  Thats a characteristic
of the band (one reason your software has AGC).  Nothing you can do about it
unless you want to put up a 4-wire Rhombic antenna to minimize it (better
have a few acres of land).

Dont know about any "beacons" but you can try WWV on 5/10/15/20 Mhz to check
signals strength during any given period of time.  Its AM at minimum of 15
Khz bandwidth.

Collins 51S is well beyond my ancient Collins 75A1 circa 1956 :-)

I bought an AOR SR-1050V at a distress sale last year for $850.00 from a
Chapter 11 company.  Auctioneer had it labelled as a "spectrum analyser"
instead of an intercept receiver.  Only 2 bidders.   I was top, at $25.00
above the other guy.  SUCKER !!!!  :-) :-)

As far as band predictions; you might want to subscribe to any number of
"scanner" magazines that give frequency predictions for a given month.

Regards, RJ (rgrasser at frontiernet.net)


----- Original Message -----
From: "Robbins, Matty" <matty.robbins at intel.com>
To: "Discussion of PCR-1000 by Icom" <pcr-1000 at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, September 12, 2004 10:33 AM
Subject: [PCR-1000] pour HF performance


Hi All
I am connected with the Radio shack discone antenna. My RF performances
is really bad and I can not receive even one ham or sea to land
transmissions. I only receive very strong SW signals. Are there any
beacons that I can test my reception?   I have a bad feeling that some
thing is wrong on the SW bands on my receiver. On VHF and UHF the
reception is ok. Is the SW condition fading with time? I use to listing
to SW like 10-15 years ago and it seems that then there was much more to
hear? I must say that then I used a Collins 51S.
One more question is there a program that can tell me what is the best
band to listing to according to propagation conditions?

Thanks
Matty
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