[Premium-Rx] Harris RF-590A vs. WJ 8618B(S1) on HF

[Steve Pappin via Premium-Rx]

Peter,

There were several versions of the 8617B configured for LFE/HFE and they 
worked quite well. I have pictures of the 8617B-5 with 3.2, 10, and 50 KHz 
filters. These were configured to operate from 100 KHz up to 500 MHz. The 
UHF section is completely missing. In side band mode the firmware selected 
10 Khz as a roofing filter and the USB/LSB filters were either 2.82 KHz or 
3.2 KHz. The 3.2 KHz filter could be selected in any other mode, but not SSB 
since you need at least a 6.4 KHz roofing filter to feed ISB.

Best Regards,
Steve



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Peter Gottlieb" <hpnpilot at gmail.com>
To: <premium-rx at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, January 23, 2015 6:46 PM
Subject: [Premium-Rx] Harris RF-590A vs. WJ 8618B(S1) on HF


> I've been using my RF-590A for HF listening as my 8618B(S1) only went down 
> to 20 MHz.
>
> Recently I modified the 8618B(S1) to tune down to zero, but I didn't 
> expect great performance, as it seems designed as a VHF-UHF receiver (20 
> to 1100 MHz range).
>
> Well, wow, was I surprised.  Performance of the 8618B(S1) is outstanding 
> on HF.  The entire sound is better, it is easier to hear weak stations, 
> clearer and more readable. I have heard sensitivity drops a lot at the 
> very low end due to the PIN diode antenna switch, so I will have to 
> investigate that, but listening to a 392 kHz NDB the 8618B(S1) is slightly 
> more sensitive than the RF-590A so how much can I complain?  I think I 
> have too much noise here for going much lower anyhow.
>
> The 8618B(S1) does lack some of the niceties of the RF-590A such as 
> changeable AGC speed, but my unit does have SSB and variable BFO.  I could 
> use narrower filters (my narrowest is 6 Khz).
>
> I've also learned a lot about the internals (including firmware) of the 
> 8618B(S1) and have gotten to really like that receiver.
>
> It's very cool to have a receiver which goes from about 9 kHz all the way 
> to 1100 MHz.
>
> Just my 2 cents and comparison between two nice units.
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