[Premium-Rx] Looking for recommendations on high performance VLF receiver.

[Terry O']

Tom,
You might check out the DMS-105.  It was originally designed as the 358 
receiver, but the customers used it primarily for subcarriers, so it was 
renumbered as a DeModulator Special.  It is basically a 357 on steroids 
with AM, FM, CW, USB and LSB and filters for bandwidths of 150 Hz, 1, 2, 
2,5, 4, 5, 5.5, 7, 8 and 16 kHz.  It also has translator outputs, at 
usually at 10, 50 or 100 kHz originally designed for predetection 
recording, but which work well with an SDR unit for further picking 
signals apart.

There's one on display in the National Cryptological Museum at Fort 
Meade.  I've owned several, but kept only an early version with a Nixie 
tube display because I love the way they look.

WJ also made a version for aircraft as a subcontractor to LTV in the Big 
Safari program. 
http://watkins-johnson.terryo.org/history/LTV/G917-1.htm#G9171DMS105

Terry O'
http://Watkins-Johnson.terryo.org
http://BlackRadios.terryo.org


On 4/9/2018 1:06 AM, Tom wrote:
> Hi Folks!
>
>
>    I've been having a blast pulling in VLF aircraft beacons in the 200-525 K/c range.
>
>    I am looking for recommendations for a premium receiver that will cover VLF. If it can cover say VLF to HF (maybe 10k/c - 30 Mc, that would be even better!)
>
>    Due to the nature and spacing of the signals, selectivity is an absolute must!  Signals can typically be 2 K/c apart from each other, creating all sorts of heterodyne issues.
>
>    My best receiver is the CEI-357 (R-1401): Sensitivity is good, selectivity is also quite good, but the noise blanker doesn't seem to work, and this a real performance killer (especially since we're getting into the noisy time of year!).
>
>    The CEI-357 has 6 K/c, 3 K/c, 1 K/c, and 100 Hz filters. For VLF work, the 3 and 1 K/c filters are what I primarily use. The 1 K/c filter gets used the most. Being able to use a .5 K/c filter would be a huge asset for pulling in the Canadian beacons that have the 400 Hz modulation.
>
>    Having the ability to go from AM to USB and LSB is also a huge plus: I bagged a beacon in the Caribbean (a 3900 mile path!) because I was able to switch to SSB and use a narrow filter.
>
>    Thanks in advance for your suggestions.
>
>
> -Tom
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