[Premium-Rx] Help choosing HF receiver

Sun Jul 2 11:01:21 EDT 2023

Enrique,

I’m also a big fan of the 340, particularly because I find the audio less annoying than the 8711 or the HF-1000. Definitely worth a look.

I can scan the John Wilson review article Art mentioned if you need it, just contact me direct.

There’s also a nice HF to TT head to head comparison from Listening In June 2001 by George Zeller.

Happy hunting.

Scott ka9p

Make something good happen!

> On Jul 2, 2023, at 9:04 AM, Joseph Pistritto via Premium-Rx <premium-rx at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
> 
> i have one of these (Ten Tec RX340) that i acquired from another collector
> who passed on.  Ive used it a lot to receive longwave signals and its the
> most capable receiver ive personally used for this. (example: the
> Differential GPS longwave stations) as well as a lot of shortwave utility
> monitoring.
> I really like the way the receiver looks in the rack i have it in (there's
> also an oak cabinet available which i have too) and its extremely easy to
> use.
> I have an SE-3 (that i got with the receiver) but i havent actually used it
> with the receiver.
> 
> So second the motion on the RX-340.  I do see them for sale from time to
> time on Ebay.
>  -jcp-
>  N3CKF
> 
> 
> 
>> On Sun, Jul 2, 2023 at 4:41 AM Arthur Delibert via Premium-Rx <
>> premium-rx at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
>> 
>> Although not on your list, I would suggest the Ten-Tec RX340.  I have been
>> using one for several years and find it extremely capable.  (I had also
>> tried the AR-7030, NRD-545, etc., but when I run them side-by-side with the
>> 340, the 340 is the winner.)  The SSB audio quality is excellent,
>> bandwidths are extremely flexible, and ergonomics are thoughtfully
>> designed.  It's surprisingly light-weight and has a smaller footprint on
>> the desk than most other professional receivers.
>> 
>> There are two drawbacks.  First, the close-in dynamic range is poor.  In
>> practice, this is rarely a problem, especially in the tropical bands.  It
>> could be a real problem in the ham bands, where strong signals can pop up
>> anywhere, any time.  Second, the synchronous AM doesn't hold lock as well
>> as some consumer receivers; this can be remedied with the Sherwood
>> Engineering SE-3 synchronous detector.
>> 
>> I suggest you try to find John Wilson's review of the 340 in the October
>> 2001 Short Wave Magazine.  He gives a much better feel for the radio than
>> does Larry Magne's review in Passport.  For example, Magne criticizes the
>> 340 because not all bandwidths are available in all modes; that could be a
>> real limitation, but Wilson explains that in practice, for the synch
>> detector the bandwidth must be at least 4 kHz (not a problem is you're
>> using the Sherwood SE-3, in which case  you can use any BW), and for ISB
>> the bandwidth is fixed at 3.2 kHz.  Otherwise, all BWs are available in all
>> modes.
>> 
>> Regards,
>> Art Delibert, KB3FJO
>> 
>> 
>> ________________________________
>> From: premium-rx-bounces at mailman.qth.net <
>> premium-rx-bounces at mailman.qth.net> on behalf of Enrique Fernandez García
>> via Premium-Rx <premium-rx at mailman.qth.net>
>> Sent: Saturday, July 1, 2023 4:34 PM
>> To: premium-rx at mailman.qth.net <premium-rx at mailman.qth.net>
>> Subject: [Premium-Rx] Help choosing HF receiver
>> 
>> Dear group,
>> 
>> After having some conventional receivers, Drakes, Lowe, AOR and a Winradio
>> SDR I have decided to make a step further and geting a professional
>> receiver, although I had already got a Racal 1772 and for my taste it was
>> quite noisy.
>> 
>> I would be very pleased if the members of this forum could indicate me in
>> the right direction and throw some light in which receiver to choose since
>> I am a bit confused in this aspect.
>> 
>> I am mainly interested in voice signals, not digital modes, mainly BCB and
>> SWL, digging tropical band stations out of the mud so audio recovery and
>> audio in general is quite important.
>> 
>> After surfing the web and readind on eham and in forums, I have in mind
>> these receivers (in no special order):
>> 
>> -Racal 3791, but it is said that the audio is not as pleasant as the RA
>> 3701.
>> -Racal 3701, on the contrary of the DSP version RA3791 is an analogic IF
>> design  and as indicated before its sound is ways better but it does not
>> have the additional independent IF BW options
>> - R&S EK895, with the quasi-continuous tuning fitted.
>> - WJ 8711A
>> - Cubic CDR-3280
>> 
>> Any help and thoughts are very wellcomed. Any other receiver apart from
>> the above?
>> 
>> Thanks in advance
>> Regards
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