[Premium-Rx] Ten-Tec RX-340 ??

[Walter Salmaniw]

At 11:04 AM 03/09/2005, you wrote:
>Hank
>For weak signal reception, the 340 often keeps up with the 
>wj8712p/8711a/hf1000a, but never exceeds (the Wj circuits do a 
>better job with weak circuits). Both TT and WJ weak signal improved 
>with use of SE-3.
>TT340 does a poor job compard to WJ on trans-pacific mw dxing where 
>the AM stations are on 9khz spacing while US on 10 (which means that 
>you often have a weak TP station just 1, 2 or 3 kHz from a strong 
>USA station, even with phasing). The skirts on the DSP filters of 
>the TT just don't hold up well in this situation.
>SAM on TT does not work well -- I don't use it. Instead you'll see 
>that I use a SE-3 (and also for the WJ).
>
>Don
>....take a look at Guy Atkins' article at 
><http://www.dxing.info/dxpeditions/grayland_2004_7.dx>www.dxing.info/dxpeditions/grayland_2004_7.dx 
>The 8712p's, 8711a's and 1000a's are far superior to the other 
>premium receivers I own. Each has its own SE-3, DSP599zx, and Sony 
>E10...(tehre are 8 receivers in this image). Note that I fillone of 
>the 8 slots with a 340 instead of an 1000A - - while it is rare, 
>there have been two occasions where the TT did a better job 
>recovering audio on an extremely weak signal...the audio on the TT 
>is better than the WJ in these cases (the signals were stronger on 
>the WJ's but not as listenable at the noise level in these cases)
>


It's good to hear from Don.  He KNOWS what he's talking about.  Just 
look at those receivers!  Well, I own the 340, an AOR 7030+, HF-2050, 
Icom 756 Pro2, a Collins R-390A, and a NRD 535D.  Right off the bat, 
the latter is not in contention whatsoever.  Now the going gets a lot 
tougher.  My favourite (I'm ready for the eggs gentlemen) on Trans 
Pacific MW reception is the AOR.  This has been "souped up" by Craig 
S. at KIWA and is one hot performer on the split frequencies.  I echo 
completely Don on the 340s lack of performance on MW.  It is a 
DOG.  I was so unhappy with mine initially that I seriously thought 
about immediately selling the thing again.  Close in performance 
sucks.  The set completely de-senses if there's a strong adjacent MW 
station.  My other receivers simply don't have the same problem, at 
least not to the same extent.  There is a remedy, however, which 
involves a roofing filter.  John Bryant has successfully installed  a 
4 kHz filter from KIWA, especially made for the 340, and I'm next in 
line, as soon as Craig sends me one.  Having said this, the Ten Tec 
is a thing of beauty ergonomically.  I enjoy tremendously the look 
and feel of the receiver, and it performs admirably on SW.  It's 
especially good on utility stations as well.  The Icom is a wonderful 
performer, and beats any of the receivers on SSB, for which it was 
primarily made.  There is a steeper learning curve which is necessary 
before you can reach it's full potential, but darned those tiny 
buttons and knobs.  I love the spectrum screen on it.  For wonderful 
audio recovery, I still don't think there's any receiver that can 
touch the 2050.  I've owned 7 over the years, and still have 3.  All 
have been identical in quality.  Nothing goes wrong with them, as 
long as they are kept cool.  It's a basic receiver, with only one 
bandwidth on SSB,...a limitation that the others don't have.  It can 
at times outperform my other radios.  Probably the quietest and most 
sensitive receiver I own is the 390A.  Well, in reality I rarely fire 
this puppy up....just too darned slow and awkward to bandscan, but if 
the going gets tough, this is my big gun.  Hope that gives some ideas 
from the pilot's seat!.....Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC