[Premium-Rx] From my viewpoint- What is Premium?

[Greg W. Bailey]

Fellow Members:

I have been following the thread regarding how some hardware has attained Premium status, while some has not.  I was amazed to find that even I was quoted in one of the posts.  Perhaps a little background will be of assistance-

When we kicked off this List the radio of interest was the 2050.  After a few months other pieces of equipment entered the arena.  Anyone that requested to be part of the group was added to the server causing the breadth of topics to increase.  It wasn't too long before the R390 was being discussed, and at that point I polled the membership as to what level of discussion was desired.  Without going back thorough the archives and trying to justify who said what, it was generally agreed that the subject level should be limited to receivers that were (1) technically sophisticated, and (2) not the topic of other newsgroups. 

There were a number of posts by various members on what attributes of sophistication a premium-rx should include.  As the discussion progressed it soon became obvious the more delineation used to define the premium-rx, the more exceptions were called for by those in participation.  Rather than allow the fledgling group to verbally implode, I attempted to generalize the definition which are those included in the introduction page of our website, specifically:

A "Premium Receiver" will incorporate solid state, digital display, and be microprocessor controlled.  It will be constructed in limited numbers for governmental applications and designed to a "mil-spec".  Receivers in this classification will not be exhibited elsewhere on the Internet and/or be associated with any special interest Internet user group.  Receivers that are "High-End", consumer available, and mass produced, are not appropriate.

Returning to the present thread and the question of why is a Harris 505 and 590 considered Premium when a 550 is not?  The simple answer. . . . because it was never questioned before. . . or when it was questioned, no absolute conclusion could be reached.  After four years of existence, perhaps the 250+ members of today's List are better equipped to reestablish what makes one receiver Premium, while another is not.

The membership should be aware that I have not always followed the policy regarding owning or operating a Premium to be a member.  While exceptions are in the minority, I generally have decided on the basis of the individuals reasons for applying, as well as on his or her receiver.  For example: we have representatives of the ARRL, FCC; individuals like Fred Osterman (Shortwave Receivers Past & Present), Mike Murphy (Murphys Surplus); organizations such as radio clubs; and so on.  

Please allow me make an observation about our members-

While the criteria used to establish the membership has been variable, it has fulfilled the goal of establishing a unique Internet newsgroup.  Each day I follow the exchange of information our membership provides: it is quality, constructive, and openly shared.  Our membership is establishing a benchmark, and if you don't believe me open Google and input the word: Racal, Harris, Eddystone, or other premium name.  You will see the Premium-Rx List is a major source of your return hits.  I recently entered PCR-1000, and the transcript of member John Wilsons Premium-Rx discussion was #1 on my return list.  I was not only amazed, but damn proud.

I think advancing this List, i.e. offering more avenues to exchange information, is a natural evolutionary path.  Perhaps redefining Premium is a part of this, but may I suggest that our time would be better spent generating a library of information on technically advanced receivers, not trying to split hairs over which is better (i.e. premium or not premium).

In a few days we will introduce a new Premium-Rx website.  It includes a section on Premium-Rx equipment.  I have authored a description on the Cubic 3150, and we propose to invite members (either in groups or individually) to generate a comparable description on other receiver/s.  Maybe this is the place to list the 505, 550, and 590, why not, they are all excellent receivers.

And while we are at it, perhaps we need to open a .pdf section on schematics, however, copyright issues have to be considered.

Best Wishes-

Greg

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